Dundee United 0 - Hearts 3

Tannadice

Sat 22nd Sep 3pm

Attendance: 6,597

Dundee United crashed to their first home league defeat of the season as Hearts emerged comfortable 3-0 winners at Tannadice.

Callum Paterson scored twice with his first league goals for the Edinburgh club either side of Arvydus Novikova.

The Tangerines had the better of the early stages whilst looking for their first goal in three games after recent scoreless draws with Ross County and St Johnstone.

But it was their opponents taking the lead just before the half-hour as Paterson seized possession on the edge of the area and drilled low past Radoslaw Czierniak.

Two minutes later it grew even worse for the hosts when Novikovas surged forward and struck in from around 30-yards out.

That at least prompted a positive response with Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald producing a couple of fine stops to deny home pair Gavin Gunning and Stuart Armstrong.

Defender Gunning went even closer after the break when heading Ryan Dow's corner onto the crossbar before Michael Gardyne was wide on the follow-up.

Even the introduction of returning skipper Jon Daly from the bench couldn't inspire a recovery, and Ryan Stevenson soon took advantage of a loose Sean Dillon backpass for Paterson to knock in his second after Cierzniak had initially blocked.

Substitute John Sutton later shot wide for the visitors with only the keeper to beat and Marius Zaliukas' volley was then superbly halted by Cierzniak before Ryan McGowan also drove narrowly wide.

Dundee United: Cierzniak, Dillon, McLean, Gunning, Watson, Flood, Rankin, Armstrong, Russell, Gardyne (Daly 58), Dow (Gauld 58)

susbs (unused): Banks, Vignal, Ryan, Millar, Hilson

Hearts: MacDonald, Grainger, R. McGowan, Barr, Zaliukas, Stevenson, Robinson, Taouil (D. McGowan 84), Novikovas, Carrick (Driver 74), Paterson (Sutton 79)

subs (unused): Enckelman, McHattie, Tapping, Smith

Goals: Paterson (28, 61), Novikovas (30)

Ref: Muir

Att: 6,597