Dundee United vs Hearts. Scottish Premiership.
Tannadice ParkAttendance7,172.
Match report as Dundee United and Hearts drew 2-2 at Tannadice in the Scottish Premiership; Liam Boyce gave Hearts an early lead, before Liam Smith and Nicky Clark hit back for the hosts; the visitors salvaged a draw late on thanks to a Craig Halkett header
Saturday 5 March 2022 20:37, UK
Dundee United and Hearts fought out a pulsating 2-2 Scottish Premiership draw at Tannadice.
The visitors stormed into the lead with less than a minute on the clock with Liam Boyce putting the finishing touch to a well-worked counter-attack.
Just seconds after the half-time break, the home side equalised with a stunning strike by Liam Smith with Nicky Clark then giving United the lead from the penalty spot before the hour mark.
However, Hearts salvaged a dramatic draw late on thanks to a Craig Halkett header, nine minutes from time.
The result leaves Hearts third, while United have slipped out of the top six down to seventh on goal difference.
There was a quickfire beginning to the game with United on the attack with Smith bursting down the right before cutting the ball back to Clark, whose shot was blocked and then gathered by Craig Gordon.
The goalkeeper immediately launched a counter-attack, throwing the ball out to Barrie McKay who passed to Gary Mackay-Steven, with the winger then finding Boyce who produced a great finish off the inside of the post with barely 52 seconds on the clock.
However, Mackay-Steven’s day ended just seven minutes later when he had to go off injured to be replaced by Alex Cochrane.
There was a let-off for United after 26 minutes when goalkeeper Benji Siegrist had to make an instinctive stop to prevent an own goal by Ilmari Niskanen, then immediately after, Hearts’ Ellis Simms had a chance but blasted over.
The Jam Tarts had to make another substitution with Cammy Devlin limping off to be replaced by Peter Haring.
The Tangerines then produced an opening of their own but John Souttar made a superb block as Ian Harkes tried to pull the trigger.
Incredibly, Hearts had to make their third replacement of the half with substitute Cochrane having to be led off looking groggy to be replaced by Andy Halliday.
United were forced to make an early change of their own just before the break with injured skipper Ryan Edwards going off and youngster Lewis Neilson coming on.
Just seconds after the second half began, United scored a superb equaliser with Smith unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard shot past Gordon and into the top corner of the net.
United then took the lead in the 57th minute when Souttar tripped Clark on the edge of the Hearts box and referee Willie Collum pointed to the penalty spot.
Clark dusted himself down and kept his composure to fire the ball past Gordon.
However, there was to be another twist in the 81st minute when McKay swung a corner in from the right with Halkett rising highest to head past Siegrist and ensure the contest ended all square.
Dundee Utd assistant boss Liam Fox:
"We are disappointed. You have to give Hearts respect because they are the third best team in the country and have some great players.
"But when you are ahead in a game and don't see it out, especially from a set-piece, you have to feel disappointment.
"It's shoot-out football between now and the end of the season, it's so tight.
"If we can get the same attitude and application we have had in the past, we'll give ourselves a good chance.
"But there are plenty of other teams in the same position who will be thinking the same."
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson:
"I've never been involved in something like this in my 25 years in football. It was unbelievable. We started the game really well and then we got injury after injury after injury.
"For us to fight back and get a point, I'm delighted. The whole continuity of the team altered.
"Andy Halliday came on, started at right-back then right wing-back, left-back, left wing-back, central midfield. Boycie was the same, moving everywhere. Peter Haring dropped to centre-half.
"Every sub was an injury. Gary came off then we had to put a defender on.
"It made it difficult but we know how we have to play. We did all right, but not enough to win the game.
"There were that many changes but we dug out a point. We've got seven points from a tough week."
Dundee United host Celtic on Monday March 14, while Hearts entertain St Mirren on Saturday, March 12, with both Scottish Cup quarter-finals kicking off at 7.45pm.
