First Team
JIM GOODWIN | GLEN'S VODKA CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER OF THE SEASON
15th May 2024
United and Hearts shared the points after today's SPL encounter at Tynecastle.
After the efforts of midweek, United were without Danny Cadamarteri, a starting place was given to Barry Douglas, and Morgaro Gomis rested. The game kicked off in bright sunshine and the travelling Arabs who had endured a blustery journey down the M90 found the capital calm.
Peter Houston's pre match preparations were quickly altered when Danny Swanson who had shown good skill and drive attacking the Hearts goal on his first start of the SPL term broke down after only two minutes with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
He was replaced by David Robertson and battle recommenced.
Hearts quickly set out their stall playing high balls to striker Kevin Kyle who was an unsurprising handful for the United defence. The striker was first to trouble the the United rearguard when one of his knock downs was bundled past Pernis by Templeton clipping the top of the bar.
Hearts' physical approach to the game continued and Kevin Kyle did not endear himself to the travelling United support through his treatment of United's defenders and his constant complaining to the officials when he was challenged.
After 20 minutes, United won their first corner which was cleared and it also was to be a set piece that led to Hearts opening the scoring. United lost possession cheaply in the Hearts penalty area and a run from well inside his own half saw Suzo play a ball to Templeton who fired a shot low across Pernis and into the far corner. Whilst United had perhaps not created any clear cut opportunities thus far it was harsh that they went behind to such an avoidable goal.
United started the second half positively and looked dangerous when they passed the ball as Hearts continued to use Kyle as a battering ram. The game went from end to end without either goalkeeper being sorely tested then the tangerine storm descended.
Goodwillie who had been engaged in a personal battle with Darren Barr all afternoon found himself bursting clear on goal. He attempted to square the ball to David Robertson for a tap-in finish but the ball was cleared and somewhat typical for Goodie's afternoon the ball struck him and went out for a goal kick. United were by no means out of it and continued to press for an equaliser. Good work from Douglas and Conway on the left saw United put the home defence under pressure they finally cracked when Darren Barr needlessly handled a long throw in, giving the referee no alternative but to award a penalty.
Suzo was booked by the referee for failing to clear the area but given that he had slowed play down at every previous opportunity, this was perhaps overdue. United captain Jon Daly struck the kick well but Hearts goalkeeper Kello saved well to his left and pushed the ball clear for a corner.
Was it going to be another one of those days for United? The team didn't think so. United continued to apply pressure down the wings and when it looked as if Garry Kenneth was about to launch a long throw into the Hearts box he gave it short to David Robertson. His lobbed cross into the box was nodded away by Kyle only for sub Morgaro Gomis to catch the ball sweetly on the half volley 25 yards from goal sending a screamer past the despairing dive of Kello.
Not happy with this, United continued to press and Conway had two efforts well saved by Kello as United looked to finish the game
The game ended with United firmly in control and the Hearts fans glad to see their team holding on to a point. Overall a decent performance by United with perhaps a few too many missed final passes which would have delivered the three points.
Teams:
United: Pernis, Dillon, Douglas, Kenneth, Watson (Gomis 67) Conway, S Robertson (Shala 78) Swanson (D Robertson 4) Buaben, Daly, Goodwillie
Substitutes Not Used: Banks, Dixon, Dods, Casalinuovo
Hearts: Kello, Barr, Bouzid, Thomson, Jonsson, Suso (Obua 76) Black, Templeton (Novikovas 80) Stevenson, Mrowiec, Kyle
Substitutes Not Used: Balogh, Kucharski, McGowan, Thomson, Robinson.
Att: 12898
Ref: Thomson
Pictures courtesy of Mike Bishop, Hearts FC.
Click here for the full report by Grant Letham.
After the efforts of midweek, United were without Danny Cadamarteri, a starting place was given to Barry Douglas, and Morgaro Gomis rested. The game kicked off in bright sunshine and the travelling Arabs who had endured a blustery journey down the M90 found the capital calm.
Peter Houston's pre match preparations were quickly altered when Danny Swanson who had shown good skill and drive attacking the Hearts goal on his first start of the SPL term broke down after only two minutes with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
He was replaced by David Robertson and battle recommenced.
Hearts quickly set out their stall playing high balls to striker Kevin Kyle who was an unsurprising handful for the United defence. The striker was first to trouble the the United rearguard when one of his knock downs was bundled past Pernis by Templeton clipping the top of the bar.
Hearts' physical approach to the game continued and Kevin Kyle did not endear himself to the travelling United support through his treatment of United's defenders and his constant complaining to the officials when he was challenged.
After 20 minutes, United won their first corner which was cleared and it also was to be a set piece that led to Hearts opening the scoring. United lost possession cheaply in the Hearts penalty area and a run from well inside his own half saw Suzo play a ball to Templeton who fired a shot low across Pernis and into the far corner. Whilst United had perhaps not created any clear cut opportunities thus far it was harsh that they went behind to such an avoidable goal.
United started the second half positively and looked dangerous when they passed the ball as Hearts continued to use Kyle as a battering ram. The game went from end to end without either goalkeeper being sorely tested then the tangerine storm descended.
Goodwillie who had been engaged in a personal battle with Darren Barr all afternoon found himself bursting clear on goal. He attempted to square the ball to David Robertson for a tap-in finish but the ball was cleared and somewhat typical for Goodie's afternoon the ball struck him and went out for a goal kick. United were by no means out of it and continued to press for an equaliser. Good work from Douglas and Conway on the left saw United put the home defence under pressure they finally cracked when Darren Barr needlessly handled a long throw in, giving the referee no alternative but to award a penalty.
Suzo was booked by the referee for failing to clear the area but given that he had slowed play down at every previous opportunity, this was perhaps overdue. United captain Jon Daly struck the kick well but Hearts goalkeeper Kello saved well to his left and pushed the ball clear for a corner.
Was it going to be another one of those days for United? The team didn't think so. United continued to apply pressure down the wings and when it looked as if Garry Kenneth was about to launch a long throw into the Hearts box he gave it short to David Robertson. His lobbed cross into the box was nodded away by Kyle only for sub Morgaro Gomis to catch the ball sweetly on the half volley 25 yards from goal sending a screamer past the despairing dive of Kello.
Not happy with this, United continued to press and Conway had two efforts well saved by Kello as United looked to finish the game
The game ended with United firmly in control and the Hearts fans glad to see their team holding on to a point. Overall a decent performance by United with perhaps a few too many missed final passes which would have delivered the three points.
Teams:
United: Pernis, Dillon, Douglas, Kenneth, Watson (Gomis 67) Conway, S Robertson (Shala 78) Swanson (D Robertson 4) Buaben, Daly, Goodwillie
Substitutes Not Used: Banks, Dixon, Dods, Casalinuovo
Hearts: Kello, Barr, Bouzid, Thomson, Jonsson, Suso (Obua 76) Black, Templeton (Novikovas 80) Stevenson, Mrowiec, Kyle
Substitutes Not Used: Balogh, Kucharski, McGowan, Thomson, Robinson.
Att: 12898
Ref: Thomson
Pictures courtesy of Mike Bishop, Hearts FC.
Click here for the full report by Grant Letham.
