Dundee brush Hearts aside in power show
DUNDEE grabbed a lifeline in the Championship title race as they stunned league leaders Hearts at Dens Park.
The fired-up Dark Blues gained revenge for their opening day 6-2 thrashing at Tynecastle, but more importantly cut the gap on the leaders to five points.
Dundee took an early lead through Jordan McGhee and then made it two before half-time thanks to Danny Mullen.
Hearts pulled one back after the break courtesy of sub Andy Irving but the home side wrapped up all three points thanks to a late penalty from replacement Jonathan Afolabi.
The Dark Blues set the tone early on with midfielder Shaun Byrne flying into a 50/50 challenge on Hearts skipper Steven Naismith with less than a minute on the clock.
The visiting players were incensed with referee Don Robertson flashing only a yellow card at Byrne.
Dundee had the first opportunity of the match in the seventh minute following a foul on Osman Sow, with Charlie Adam stepping up to hit a 30-yard free-kick which Scotland international goalkeeper Craig Gordon kept out, diving to his left.
Seconds later, the keeper made an even more impressive save as Mullen was played straight through on goal by McGhee with Gordon making a superb one-handed stop from the striker’s shot.
However, the Hearts No 1 was helpless to prevent Dundee taking the lead in the 13th minute as Adam delivered a pinpoint cross from the left with McGhee ghosting in to bullet a header past Gordon from eight yards.
Hearts finally had a chance of their own in the 22nd minute when Andy Halliday found space in midfield before hitting a low 20-yard shot that flew just wide of Dundee keeper Jack Hamilton’s left-hand post.
The Dark Blues responded strongly, with Christie Elliott breaking down the right before sending in a cross which Sow side-footed just wide.
Byrne was walking a tightrope after his early booking and his heart must have been in his mouth as he clipped Jamie Walker but referee Robertson kept his cards in his pocket and awarded a Hearts free-kick.
The home side then doubled their advantage in the 36th minute with Adam producing a piece of magic down the left, nutmegging Hearts midfielder Peter Haring, before delivering a cross and this time Mullen made no mistake, heading home in ruthless fashion from six yards.
Hearts had a quick chance to pull one back but Haring’s back-post header was blocked and Dundee trotted down the tunnel at the break with their lead intact.
The stunned visitors were back out early, no doubt with a few choice words from boss Robbie Neilson ringing in their ears at the interval.
Naismith manufactured an early opportunity but Craig Wighton could not react quickly enough and the chance was lost.
However, Hearts came storming back into the game in the 55th minute when sub Andy Irving whipped in a free-kick from the right touchline which eluded attackers and defenders alike to fly into the back of the net past Hamilton’s despairing dive.
Dundee were then howling for a penalty when Gordon crashed into the back of Sow but the officials saw no offence.
Sow was in the thick of the action again as he played Mullen in on goal again but defender Jamie Brandon raced back to snuff out the danger.
Dundee continued to press for a third, with Paul McGowan teeing up Sow just inside the Hearts penalty area but the striker ballooned his shot over the bar.
Hamilton then came to Dundee’s rescue as he blocked a point-blank effort from Naismith with full-back Stephen Kingsley, who scored in the 5-3 Boxing Day victory over Ayr United at Tynecastle, then spurning an even better chance. Kingsley somehow headed over with the goal at his mercy at close range.
And Dundee took full advantage of that let-off as they sealed the win from the penalty spot in the 84th minute.
Christophe Berra was adjudged to have brought down Lee Ashcroft with on-loan Celtic striker Afolabi calmly stepping up to fire high past Gordon.
Dundee midfielder Adam claimed Dundee were revitalised and was delighted with his side’s improved performance.
‘We are a completely different team than we were when we lost to Hearts at the start of the season,’ he insisted. ‘We’ve shown a hunger and desire to succeed.
‘I thought we were dominant in the first half and made it hard for ourselves in the second.’
However, Hearts manager Neilson felt his team were unlucky to lose out.
He added: ‘On the balance of chances created we should have at least had a point, if not won the game. The game has turned again on a very poor refereeing decision.
‘That’s us lost two games this season and two games refereed by Don Robertson.
‘Big call for me in the first minute — I thought a red card but he didn’t give it.
‘And then the penalty — I can’t see it as a penalty.’ DUNDEE (4-3-2-1): Hamilton; Elliott, Fontaine, Ashcroft, Marshall; McGhee, Byrne, Adam (Robertson 77); McGowan, Sow (Kerr 82); Mullen (Afolabi 69). Subs (not used): Ferrie, Forster, McDaid, Anderson. Booked: Byrne, Adam.
HEARTS (4-4-2): Gordon; Brandon, Halkett, Berra, Kingsley; Lee, Haring (Irving 56), Walker, Halliday; Naismith, Wighton (Henderson 54).
Subs (not used): Moore, Popescu, Roberts, Stewart. Booked: Irving.
Referee: Don Robertson.