Hearts vs Dundee United. Scottish Premiership.
TynecastleAttendance18,856.
Match report as Hearts thrash Dundee United 4-1 at Tynecastle; Lawrence Shankland, Barrie McKay, Jorge Grant and substitute Josh Ginnelly were all on target for the hosts; the visitors grabbed a consolation thanks to Steven Fletcher's penalty
Monday 15 August 2022 10:07, UK
Former Dundee United striker Lawrence Shankland heaped more misery on his old club as he set Hearts on their way to a 4-1 cinch Premiership victory at Tynecastle on Sunday.
The Tannadice outfit were looking to bounce back from their 7-0 Europa Conference League thrashing away to AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, but they got off to the worst possible start when they fell behind in the first minute.
Further goals from Barrie McKay, Jorge Grant and substitute Josh Ginnelly ensured a dismal end to a grim week for United and allowed Hearts to head off to Switzerland in high spirits for their Europa League play-off first leg against FC Zurich.
Tynecastle boss Robbie Neilson made one alteration to the side that started the 1-1 draw with city rivals Hibernian last weekend as Cammy Devlin replaced Peter Haring in midfield.
United manager Jack Ross made three changes from Thursday night as Craig Sibbald, Dylan Levitt and Steven Fletcher were replaced by Ross Graham, Glenn Middleton and Mathew Anim Cudjoe.
Hearts got off to the perfect start when they played their way into the danger area straight from kick-off and Shankland fired home a clinical close-range finish from Devlin's cross.
The hosts were well on top in the opening exchanges and they threatened again in the fifth minute when Alan Forrest seized possession in his own half, drove forward into the United box and saw a shot deflected behind off Aziz Behich.
Four minutes later, United veteran Charlie Mulgrew - who had been moved forward from centre-back into a midfield role - was loose with a pass in the Hearts half, allowing McKay to surge forward before seeing a low angled shot pushed wide by keeper Mark Birighitti. The resulting corner caused panic in the United box but Hearts were unable to force the ball in.
Grant then tried his luck with a shot from a free-kick wide on the left which was punched out by Birighitti.
After weathering the early Hearts storm, United started to feel their way into the game and Ryan Edwards saw a firm low strike from 30 yards out well saved by Craig Gordon on the half-hour.
Hearts went straight up the park and almost doubled their lead but Birighitti raced from his line to save at the feet of Devlin after McKay had slipped the Australian through on goal.
The Jambos doubled their lead just three minutes into the second half when McKay curled home a lovely finish from 25 yards out.
The hosts notched again in the 62nd minute when Grant followed up to tap home his first goal for the club after Birighitti could only parry a Michael Smith shot into his path.
United got themselves a lifeline in the 71st minute when substitute Fletcher converted a penalty after Behich was deemed to have been fouled by Gary Mackay-Steven, but Hearts were comfortable thereafter and Ginnelly ran clear to fire home a lovely finish with the last kick of the game.
Neilson demands more despite 4-1 win for Hearts
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson:
"We started the game really well but I thought the first half we never played anywhere near the levels we normally play at.
"We were trying to force the play, giving it away and not doing the things we'd spoken about previously.
"We changed it at half-time and managed to get settled in the game and do what we're good at."
Asked if Hearts are now up to speed ahead of their trip to Switzerland, Neilson said: "We're getting there.
"But I thought the first half we were pretty poor, similar to Ross County (on the opening day), and if we do that on Thursday night we will be two or three goals down. We need to start the game better."
Ross: We were desperately poor
Dundee Utd boss Jack Ross:
"I own the responsibility. We need to look at what we're doing and how we're preparing.
"We've had a different couple of weeks for the players because of European games, that's not an excuse. We've got a clear week now and it's a week we need to use to the maximum to make sure when we come into our next league game we provide as level of performance that there should be at Dundee United.
"When one game begins, the other game is forgotten about. You have to give yourself a platform to win football matches and we didn't do that by not doing the fundamentals of the game in terms of matching runs, being physical and putting contact on people in the first 45 seconds, which is not great.
"I've done this long enough now to learn not to be knee-jerk.
"We've had a chastening four days in particular. Prior to that, we'd had a relatively positive start. We were good down at Kilmarnock and good against AZ at home.
"We were desperately poor and when you're desperately poor that's the type of result you'll be on the end of. No excuses from us, just a really poor performance from minute one to 95.
"Right now, it's not about looking at needing players in, it's more about looking at how I get more out of the players we have."
Dundee United host St Mirren in their next Scottish Premiership match on 20 August.
Europa League play-off qualifier against FC Zurich on Thurdsay, Hearts visit Celtic on Sunday at 3pm.
