Dees on knees as Jambos go six clear at top
DUNDEE ........ 0 HEARTS ........ 3
THEY’VE a combined age of 68 and Hearts’ two Stevens weren’t about to give Jim McIntyre the kid gloves treatment.
It may have been his debut in the home dugout but the Dundee boss was left facing the age-old problem of how to stop Naismith and MacLean.
Both got on the scoresheet as Craig Levein’s table-toppers left Tayside looking down on the Premiership pack from six points clear.
And the Dark Blues looking up from the foot of it as McIntyre’s reign started with back-to-back defeats with seven goals shipped and none in return.
Oliver Bozanic well and truly ended the welcome party with a stylish second-minute free-kick that Naismith soon followed up.
And with Calvin Miller failing to tuck away from the penalty spot with Hearts two up, Dee were left to digest a sixth straight Premiership defeat on home soil for the first time.
From the moment MacLean’s closerange finish found the net a minute into the second half it resembled a training session for the classy Jambos.
One that will leave them feeling fighting fit heading to Murrayfield in four days’ time for a Betfred Cup semi-final with holders Celtic.
Much of the pre-match talk had still been about Billy Dodds not returning to Dens as McIntyre’s No.2 amid fans’ hostility stemming from their second time in administration.
It was a sideshow the toiling Taysiders could have done without as they approached such a crunch fixture even this early in the season.
Ex-Celtic and Republic of Ireland defender Darren O’Dea was the most notable of four new faces in Dundee’s starting 11 having barely featured under former boss Neil McCann.
It was a clear attempt by McIntyre to introduce some streetwise tactics after a 4-0 capitulation at Livingston on his introduction to the club.
Despite that setback there was still a decent atmosphere inside Dens, helped by the large travelling support camped behind home keeper Jack Hamilton’s goal that was clearly buoyed by riding so high.
And it only took two minutes for them to end up in raptures.
Bozanic had nothing else on his mind other than to strike a free-kick that presented itself after Lewis Spence went steaming into Jambos teenager Harry Cochrane.
The Aussie is renowned for his setpiece prowess and left Hamilton with not a hope of stopping his 20-yarder as it nestled in the bottom corner.
It was the nightmare start Dee must have been dreading against the Premiership pacesetters. Hearts were in their stride although on-loan Celtic full-back Calvin Miller did almost pull the home side level seven minutes in when his left-foot shot whistled past Zdenek Zlamal’s post.
Levein’s side always looked in command and it was no surprise when they stretched their lead in the simplest of fashions in 14 minutes. This time the defence backed off big time as Michael Smith fed the ball into the path of Naismith. The 32-year-old striker didn’t need to be asked twice as he strode into the box and flicked beyond the reach of Hamilton for his 12th Jambos goal this season.
There seemed no way back only for the league’s bottom club to be handed what looked like a lifeline.
Defender Jimmy Dunne clumsily hauled down Dee captain Kenny Miller right in front of Craig Thomson 22 minutes in, with the referee pointing straight to the spot.
Calvin Miller put his hand up to claim the penalty only to hack it low to Zlamal’s left, much to the frustration of everyone in Dark Blue.
Hearts quickly regained control and looked like adding to their tally any time they ventured forward.
MacLean almost did just that six minutes before the interval when, after neat build-up play, the ball fell at his feet just inside the box.
It appeared as though he would knock a cross to the far post only for the 36-year-old to disguise his intentions with the cutest of chips
that beat Hamilton but didn’t dip under the bar. It would have been no more than the Jambos deserved for such a sterling first-half performance.
Dee were lucky to get in at the interval trailing by just two, especially after Naismith’s backheel sent MacLean clear on Hamilton who pulled off a fine one-handed save.
McIntyre introduced Kharl Madianga at the break in the hope he could spark a comeback.
But their high-flying opponents went for the jugular once more and within a minute had drawn further blood.
Again, Arnaud Djoum’s quick feet saw him surge into the box. His cross was overhit but team-mate Callumn Morrison still managed to get away a shot parried by Hamilton.
MacLean was quickest to react though and showed his true striker instincts to slide the loose ball home.
Djoum was running the show and the Cameroon international found space in 60 minutes before seeing his curler deflected wide.
Hearts had their hosts where they wanted them. Even if Dee did manage to push up the pitch, Levein’s side were forever ready to break with their full-backs bombing forward. Djoum almost got the reward of a goal for his gutsy show when he fed off Naismith’s lay-off and smashed an effort towards goal that O’Dea bravely blocked. And with it becoming a procession Levein took the chance to bring on subs with one eye on Sunday and the silverware their start to the season could deliver.