HEARTS BEAT UNITED
ALAN MARSHALL AT TYNECASTLE
DUNDEE UNITED paid the penalty yet again after 90 minutes could not separate them from Hearts.
The Scottish domestic season kicked off with a familiar sight from last term as Lawrence Shankland netted with a debut goal for United in the ninth minute.
But Hearts kid Andy Irving fired in his first goal for the club with a superb equaliser in the 44th minute.
The 19-year-old then went from hero to zero as he saw red with six minutes left.
The midfielder appeared to handle on the edge of the box as he slid in to prevent Nicky Clark from bursting in on goal on a rare United attack.
And with open play failing to find a winner, it was Hearts who scooped the Betfred Cup bonus point after Zdenek Zlamal saved Clark’s opening spot-kick and Hearts enjoyed a 100 per cent success rate.
After a dismal shoot-out prevented them from winning promotion to the top-flight in their play-off against St Mirren last term, the Tangerines failed again from 12 yards.
Hearts handed a debut to summer signing Conor Washington, with the Northern Ireland striker partnering Uche Ikpeazu in attack.
There was also a second Jambos bow for Jamie Walker.
Teenager Aaron Hickey slotted in at left-back but Craig Halkett had to make do with a place on the bench as boss Craig Levein stuck with John Souttar and skipper Christophe Berra at the heart of his defence.
Argentine Adrian Sporle and ex-Jambo Liam Smith were plunged straight into United’s starting line-up by boss Robbie Neilson, with Adam King on the bench.
The rainy conditions meant the ball zipped across the turf early on. And it wasn’t long before Walker was sent sprawling onto the sodden surface as he was crudely stopped by Rachid Bouhenna.
There were only eight minutes on the clock when United took the lead. They broke at pace and it was that man Shankland on the end of it.
Sporle’s cross was too short for the striker but Sam Stanton picked up the loose ball and brilliantly wormed his way into the home box.
The former Hibs midfielder then superbly picked out the run of Shankland and the marksman was deadly with his header.
The goal rocked the home side back on their heels but they had three chances in the next five minutes to haul themselves level.
A brilliant flick from Walker bought Washington some space but the new boy dragged his shot wide of the far post. Then Sean Clare was too straight with a shot.
But it was Walker who passed up the Jambos’ best opportunity in the 14th minute. Ikpeazu showed a deft touch to match his brute strength when he played a magnificent pass inside left-back Sporle.
But Walker showed his rustiness when he blasted his effort straight at Benjamin Siegrist, who stayed big to repel his close-range drive.
The home side passed up another gilt-edged chance to equalise in the 30th minute.
Jake Mulraney, full of energy on the left wing, engineered himself some space and slung over a stunning cross. But Washington couldn’t keep his header down and it soared over the bar.
Just a minute from the interval Hearts finally found a route to the back of the net.
A disputed free-kick on the right side of the box was cleared only as far as Irving and the midfielder drilled his left-foot volley low past Siegrist.
Understandably the pace dropped after the restart as the effects of the players’ pre-season preparations told on the legs.
Yet again it was Hearts who dominated possession and chances. But Ikpeazu was inches away from a Washington cross before seeing Siegrist save his low drive.
Walker was then wayward with his shot after the big striker played him in on goal.
On a rare foray forward for United Zlamal got the vital touch as Clark looked set to chip in from close range and at the other end sub Dario Zanatta almost diverted Berra’s header inside the post.
Irving’s red card made it an interesting final few minutes but it was the penalties that proved Hearts could find a finishing touch.
HEARTS – Zlamal, Smith, Souttar, Berra, Hickey; Walker (McDonald 80), Clare, Irving, Mulraney (Zanatta 76); Washington, Ikpeazu (Bozanic 85). Not used: Doyle, Edwards, Halkett, Burns. DUNDEE UTD – Siegrist, Smith, Connolly, Reynolds, Sporle (Butcher 46), McMullan, Bouhenna, Stanton (Banks 74), Robson; Clark, Shankland (Appere 63). Not used: Mehmet, Smith, Harkes, King. Referee – Kevin Clancy.