Hearts ended their barren run in front of goal with a resounding win over Dundee United at Tannadice.

Callum Paterson put the Tynecastle side ahead with his first league goal for the club before Arvydus Novikovas hammered in a long-range strike.

Gavin Gunning went close as the hosts strived for a route back.

But it was the visitors who struck next after a slack piece of defending by Sean Dillon allowed 17-year-old Paterson to add his second of the day.

Hearts came into the match without a goal in their last three league matches - and without a win in five - and started like a side short on confidence.

The home side dominated the early play, but despite having the vast majority of the ball, they did not threaten the visitors goal.

Hearts stunned their hosts by taking the lead after 28 minutes.

Paterson latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the 18-yard-box and fired a low left-foot drive into the bottom right-hand corner of the net with United goalkeeper Radoslaw Czierniak unsighted.

And, two minutes later, Hearts doubled their advantage when Novikovas was allowed to run at the home defence and fire in a swerving effort from 30 yards.

The hosts upped the tempo as the half drew to a close and Hearts custodian Jamie MacDonald made two terrific saves from Stuart Armstrong and Craig McLean to keep the Hearts lead intact.

United looked sharper after the break and Gunning watched as his header rebounded off the crossbar before Michael Gardyne knocked the rebound wide.

Home manager Peter Houston shuffled the pack in an effort to gain a foothold in the match, bringing on club captain Jon Daly and teenage winger Ryan Gauld with a little more than half an hour to play.

The effect was minimal and the Tynecastle side secured victory on the hour mark when Paterson notched his second and Hearts' third.

Sean Dillon was slack with a back-pass, allowing Ryan Stevenson to intercept and, although his shot was saved, Paterson knocked home the rebound.

The result moves Hearts into fifth place in the league, above United who are now seventh.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Dundee United

  • 01 Cierzniak
  • 02 Dillon
  • 04 McLean
  • 05 Gunning
  • 12 Watson
  • 06 Flood
  • 08 Rankin
  • 16 Armstrong
  • 07 Russell
  • 15 Gardyne (Daly - 58' )
  • 18 Dow (Gauld - 58' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Banks
  • 19 Vignal
  • 10 Ryan
  • 14 Millar
  • 38 Gauld
  • 09 Daly
  • 23 Hilson

Heart of Midlothian

  • 01 MacDonald
  • 03 Grainger
  • 04 McGowan
  • 05 Barr
  • 26 Zaliukas
  • 07 Stevenson
  • 08 Robinson Booked
  • 10 Taouil Booked (McGowan - 84' )
  • 18 Novikovas
  • 37 Carrick (Driver - 74' )
  • 33 Paterson (Sutton - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Enckelman
  • 29 McHattie
  • 11 Driver
  • 19 McGowan
  • 27 Tapping
  • 09 Sutton
  • 12 Smith
Ref: Muir
Att: 6,597

Match Stats

Shots

9 8

On target

3 5

Corners

6 5

Fouls

7 19

Live Text Commentary

92:09 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +0:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Sutton on Gavin Gunning. Gavin Gunning restarts play with the free kick.

88:43

Scott Robinson takes the outswinging corner, Close range effort by Ryan McGowan misses to the right of the goal.

88:36

Andrew Driver crosses the ball, Gavin Gunning manages to make a clearance.

87:11

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Robinson from the right by-line, save by Radoslaw Cierzniak.

86:25

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Scott Robinson, Marius Zaliukas takes a shot. Radoslaw Cierzniak makes a save.

85:59

Willo Flood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Arvydas Novikovas. Free kick taken by Ryan Stevenson.

83:03 Substitution

Substitution Dylan McGowan joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mehdi Taouil.

80:57

John Sutton produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

78:49 Substitution

Substitution Callum Paterson goes off and John Sutton comes on.

77:52

The offside flag is raised against Ryan Gauld. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.

77:03

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ryan Stevenson on Ryan Gauld. Willo Flood crosses the ball in from the free kick, Callum Paterson manages to make a clearance.

74:38

Mehdi Taouil gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Rankin. Willo Flood delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.

73:37

Free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

73:37 Substitution

Substitution Dale Carrick goes off and Andrew Driver comes on.

73:37

Stuart Armstrong is ruled offside.

71:38

Callum Paterson concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean Dillon. Direct free kick taken by Radoslaw Cierzniak.

70:01

Callum Paterson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brian McLean. Gavin Gunning takes the free kick.

64:06

Willo Flood restarts play with the free kick.

64:06 Booking

Booking Scott Robinson shown a yellow card.

63:59

Willo Flood fouled by Scott Robinson, the ref awards a free kick.

63:17 Booking

Booking Mehdi Taouil goes into the book.

60:10 Goal scored

Goal - Callum Paterson - Dundee U 0 - 3 Hearts Callum Paterson fires in a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 0-3 Hearts.

57:03

Free kick crossed by Willo Flood, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marius Zaliukas by Gavin Gunning. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.

57:03 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Gauld replaces Ryan Dow.

57:03 Substitution

Substitution Michael Gardyne leaves the field to be replaced by Jon Daly.

57:03

Unfair challenge on Willo Flood by Daniel Grainger results in a free kick.

55:39

The ball is swung over by Brian McLean, save by Jamie MacDonald.

53:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mehdi Taouil on Willo Flood. The ball is sent over by John Rankin, Headed effort from inside the box by Keith Watson misses to the right of the target.

51:54

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Callum Paterson by Willo Flood. Direct free kick taken by Ryan McGowan.

51:08

Free kick awarded for a foul by Stuart Armstrong on Daniel Grainger. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.

50:44

Foul by Mehdi Taouil on Johnny Russell, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by John Rankin.

47:30

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Dow, Brian McLean takes a shot.

47:13

Callum Paterson concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean Dillon. Gavin Gunning restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:22 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

44:51

Stuart Armstrong takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save.

44:42

Keith Watson sends in a cross.

43:54

Stuart Armstrong has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

42:59

Outswinging corner taken by Willo Flood, Stuart Armstrong takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.

42:29

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Willo Flood from the right by-line, clearance by Darren Barr.

41:57

Ryan Dow fouled by Ryan McGowan, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Willo Flood, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.

41:31

Unfair challenge on Keith Watson by Arvydas Novikovas results in a free kick. Radoslaw Cierzniak restarts play with the free kick.

39:23

Johnny Russell is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie MacDonald.

38:18

The official flags Ryan Dow offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the indirect free kick.

37:11

Unfair challenge on Gavin Gunning by Callum Paterson results in a free kick. Radoslaw Cierzniak takes the free kick.

36:41

Shot from deep inside the area by Brian McLean clears the bar.

35:42

Willo Flood takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Darren Barr makes a clearance.

34:39

Ryan Stevenson fouled by Willo Flood, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Grainger delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Johnny Russell makes a clearance.

32:27

Foul by John Rankin on Arvydas Novikovas, free kick awarded. Daniel Grainger crosses the ball in from the free kick.

31:30

The offside flag is raised against Michael Gardyne. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.

29:59 Goal scored

Goal - Arvydas Novikovas - Dundee U 0 - 2 Hearts Arvydas Novikovas grabs a goal from outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 0-2 Hearts.

27:36

The assist for the goal came from Daniel Grainger.

27:36 Goal scored

Goal - Callum Paterson - Dundee U 0 - 1 Hearts Callum Paterson fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 0-1 Hearts.

25:02

Free kick awarded for a foul by Daniel Grainger on John Rankin. Free kick taken by Keith Watson.

24:03

Darren Barr gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Radoslaw Cierzniak. Radoslaw Cierzniak restarts play with the free kick.

23:30

Outswinging corner taken by Scott Robinson, Radoslaw Cierzniak makes a save.

23:09

Scott Robinson takes a shot. Radoslaw Cierzniak makes a save.

21:14

Daniel Grainger concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Gardyne. Willo Flood produces a cross, Header from close in by Gavin Gunning misses to the left of the target.

20:51

Corner taken right-footed by Scott Robinson to the near post, Brian McLean manages to make a clearance.

20:29

Dale Carrick takes a shot. Blocked by Gavin Gunning.

18:58

Arvydas Novikovas fouled by Keith Watson, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Grainger restarts play with the free kick.

17:15

Ryan McGowan challenges Ryan Dow unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Willo Flood, clearance by Ryan McGowan.

16:38

Corner taken right-footed by Willo Flood from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Daniel Grainger.

16:25

A cross is delivered by Stuart Armstrong, clearance by Ryan McGowan.

15:13

Short corner taken by Willo Flood from the right by-line.

14:50

The ball is crossed by Willo Flood, Johnny Russell takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald.

13:00

The offside flag is raised against Ryan Dow. Jamie MacDonald takes the indirect free kick.

9:33

Keith Watson delivers the ball, clearance made by Darren Barr.

3:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Willo Flood by Darren Barr. Willo Flood has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.

1:54

Mehdi Taouil gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stuart Armstrong. Direct free kick taken by Sean Dillon.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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