Dundee United vs Hearts. Scottish Premiership.
Tannadice ParkAttendance7,461.
Sunday 18 October 2015 18:00, UK
Mixu Paatelainen suffered a losing start to his time in charge of Dundee United as his new side lost 1-0 to Hearts at Tannadice.
Juanma Delgado's first-half penalty was enough to swing the game Robbie Neilson's side's way as they moved up to third in the table.
Paatelainen will be in no doubt of the task he faces on Tayside, with his side now four points adrift at the foot of the table after Kilmarnock and Partick both won on Saturday.
Left disillusioned after just five wins in former boss Jackie McNamara's last 29 games, there was a moderate home turnout and a low-key atmosphere for the Finn to start in.
That played into Hearts' hands and they had all the chances in the first half, albeit the hosts had more possession.
It took a bit of time for both teams to get going but the first incident of note gave the away side a chance to go in front.
Sam Nicholson jinked away from John Souttar in the left but after bursting into the box he was brought to the ground as Blair Spittal wiped him out with a clumsy tackle.
That gave Delgado an opportunity from the penalty spot and he send a composed finish beyond Luis Zwick from 12 yards, finding the keeper's right corner with his right foot.
United's reply was positive as they poured forward and camped themselves largely in the Hearts half.
Yet they couldn't catch sight of Neil Alexander's goal and it was the Edinburgh team who continued to make openings.
Osman Sow was stopped in his tracks but Danny Swanson followed up with a fierce effort which Zwick held at the second attempt.
Swanson had a free kick from a central area tipped over then fired wildly over the crossbar as he emerged as Hearts' best outlet.
There was more of the same in the second period and Delgado's shot was blocked by Souttar, with Zwick pouncing to push the rebound away before Nicholson could pounce.
Any momentum either side was building was nipped midway through the half as Hearts began encountering injury problems.
Both Miguel Pallardo and Juwon Oshaniwa had to be substituted because of problems and once play resumed, Billy McKay had United's first chance but his shot was smothered.
John Rankin - who was lucky not to be sent off after a wild lunge - then sent an equally erratic shot high into the stand behind the goal.
United applied good pressure in the closing stages without coming close to levelling and giving Paatelainen a point.
And their chances of a comeback ended almost three minutes into injury time when Spittal was sent off for a second booking after fouling Nicholson.
