Hearts 2 Stevenson 15′, 31′ (pen) Dundee Utd 1 Watson 57′

FT 90 +6
HT 2-0

23 December 2012 Last updated at 18:23

By Andy Campbell BBC Sport Scotland

Ryan Stevenson's double helped Hearts overtake opponents Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League.

The midfielder slotted home the opener from eight yards before converting a penalty awarded for a foul by Willo Flood on Dylan McGowan.

United improved after the break and Keith Watson pulled one back with a stylish turn and finish.
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But any chance the visitors had of taking a point ended when Johnny Russell fired over in injury time.

The win moves Hearts up to sixth in the table while United slip to eighth.

Wind and rain prohibited the prospect of free-flowing football in the early stages, but when the chances did come it was Hearts who capitalised.

John Sutton pressurised Brian McLean as the United defender tried to usher the ball back to his goalkeeper and the ball ran loose for Stevenson to tuck home on 15 minutes.
Rudi Skacel

Skacel received a warm welcome at Tynecastle but left empty-handed as United suffered defeat

McLean had an excellent chance to atone for his hesitancy in the run-up to the Hearts opener but somehow contrived to miss.

Barry Douglas' dangerous whipped free-kick was palmed out to McLean almost on the line but his stabbed shot rebounded off the post and flew back across the area.

Hearts re-asserted themselves and Flood's pull on McGowan gave the hosts the chance to double their tally.

Radoslaw Cierzniak guessed the wrong way as Stevenson confidently drilled the spot-kick into the net just after the half-hour mark.

The visitors knew they needed the next goal and bombarded the Hearts defence with crosses from wide areas.

And the pressure eventually told on 57 minutes when Rudi Skacel's deflected shot rolled into the feet of Watson and the defender swivelled before lifting a shot beyond Jamie MacDonald.

Gordon Smith's tame shot from a suspiciously offside position was gathered by Cierzniak shortly after the Watson goal.
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Former Hearts favourite Skacel, making his first United appearance at Tynecastle, blasted an ambitious volley over and claimed unsuccessfully for a penalty following a trip by Marius Zaliukas on the edge of the area.

A free-kick was awarded instead and Barry Douglas' shot, though powerful, did not have the beating of the wall.

Skacel was applauded by both sets of fans as he made way for Milos Lacny and within moments former United player Andy Webster tested Cierzniak with a rising volley.

Substitute Paterson then stung the palms of the Polish keeper with a ferocious shot from long range.

United pressed hard for a late leveller and Lacny and Watson were unable to convert chances before Russell hammered over after deftly controlling a long ball.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)
Heart of Midlothian

01 MacDonald
04 McGowan Booked
05 Barr
06 Webster
26 Zaliukas
29 McHattie
07 Stevenson
11 Driver (Novikovas - 83' )
19 McGowan (Taouil - 73' )
09 Sutton
12 Smith (Paterson - 76' )

Substitutes

21 Enckelman
10 Taouil
15 Holt
08 Robinson
18 Novikovas
33 Paterson
37 Carrick

Dundee United

01 Cierzniak
03 Douglas Booked
04 McLean
05 Gunning
12 Watson
06 Flood
08 Rankin
16 Armstrong (Dow - 86' )
51 Skacel (Lacny - 77' Booked )
07 Russell Booked
09 Daly

Substitutes

13 Banks
10 Ryan
14 Millar
40 Petrie
15 Gardyne
18 Dow
20 Lacny

Ref: Craig Thomson
Att: 13,603

Live Text Commentary
90:00 +5:31 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00 +4:50

John Sutton takes the free kick.
90:00 +4:50 Booking

Booking Booking for Barry Douglas for unsporting behaviour.
90:00 +4:33

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Stevenson by Barry Douglas.
90:00 +3:11

Shot on goal by Johnny Russell from just inside the area clears the crossbar.
90:00 +2:21

Ryan Stevenson challenges Barry Douglas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Barry Douglas takes the free kick.
88:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by Callum Paterson on John Rankin. Direct free kick taken by Barry Douglas.
87:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Arvydas Novikovas by Willo Flood. Arvydas Novikovas restarts play with the free kick, Centre by Radoslaw Cierzniak, save made by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
87:02

Marius Zaliukas takes the free kick.
87:02 Booking

Booking Milos Lacny is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
86:47

Milos Lacny challenges Arvydas Novikovas unfairly and gives away a free kick.
86:16

Corner from left by-line taken by Barry Douglas.
85:10 Substitution

Substitution Stuart Armstrong leaves the field to be replaced by Ryan Dow.
85:10

Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Johnny Russell misses to the right of the target.
81:51 Substitution

Substitution Arvydas Novikovas comes on in place of Andrew Driver.
81:51

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Ryan McGowan misses to the right of the target.
81:31

Shot by Callum Paterson. Save by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
81:14

Shot by John Rankin. Save made by Jamie MacDonald.
80:18

Headed effort from inside the area by Andrew Driver misses to the left of the goal.
78:11

Shot from 18 yards from Andy Webster. Comfortable save by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
77:50

Willo Flood gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mehdi Taouil. Andrew Driver takes the direct free kick.
76:43

Drilled left-footed shot by John Rankin. Blocked by Mehdi Taouil.
76:05 Substitution

Substitution Milos Lacny joins the action as a substitute, replacing Rudi Skacel.
74:58

Willo Flood crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance by Andy Webster.
74:58 Substitution

Substitution Callum Paterson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gordon Smith.
74:58

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marius Zaliukas on Jon Daly.
72:31 Substitution

Substitution (Hearts) makes a substitution, with Mehdi Taouil coming on for Dylan McGowan.
72:31 Substitution

Substitution Dylan McGowan goes off and Mehdi Taouil comes on.
70:59

Marius Zaliukas challenges Rudi Skacel unfairly and gives away a free kick. Barry Douglas fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Marius Zaliukas.
70:37

Gordon Smith takes a shot. Blocked by Keith Watson.
69:54

Darren Barr concedes a free kick for a foul on Johnny Russell. Barry Douglas crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel.
68:35

Rudi Skacel produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that clears the bar.
67:27

Corner taken by Andrew Driver from the left by-line, save by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
66:37

Jon Daly is caught offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
65:40

The offside flag is raised against Johnny Russell. Free kick taken by Marius Zaliukas.
65:40

Johnny Russell is caught offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
63:12

Corner taken left-footed by Barry Douglas, clearance made by Andy Webster.
62:23

Headed effort from the edge of the area by Willo Flood goes wide of the right-hand upright.
61:40

The assistant referee flags for offside against Gordon Smith. Radoslaw Cierzniak takes the free kick.
60:59

Corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver, clearance made by Keith Watson.
60:26

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver from the right by-line, clearance made by Brian McLean.
59:06

Corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver, Keith Watson manages to make a clearance.
56:46

Assist by Rudi Skacel.
56:46 Goal scored

Goal - Keith Watson - Hearts 2 - 1 Dundee U A goal is scored by Keith Watson from deep inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 2-1 Dundee Utd.
56:45

Rudi Skacel takes a shot.
55:58

The free kick is swung in left-footed by Barry Douglas.
55:58 Booking

Booking Ryan McGowan receives a yellow card.
55:48

Ryan McGowan challenges Gavin Gunning unfairly and gives away a free kick.
54:50

Corner taken by Andrew Driver.
54:19

Ryan Stevenson has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
53:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gordon Smith by Willo Flood. Marius Zaliukas takes the direct free kick.
52:19

Keith Watson concedes a free kick for a foul on Andrew Driver. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Andrew Driver from left wing, save made by Radoslaw Cierzniak. Ryan Stevenson has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
51:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan McGowan by Keith Watson. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
51:13

A cross is delivered by Barry Douglas, clearance by Marius Zaliukas.
49:04

Corner taken by Barry Douglas from the left by-line, clearance made by Marius Zaliukas.
47:31

John Sutton challenges Gavin Gunning unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Gavin Gunning.
46:56

Brian McLean produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the crossbar.
46:19

Corner taken by Willo Flood from the right by-line, Marius Zaliukas manages to make a clearance.
45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.
45:00 +0:11 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.
43:36

Andy Webster restarts play with the free kick.
43:36 Booking

Booking Johnny Russell is given a yellow card.
43:32

Foul by Johnny Russell on Andy Webster, free kick awarded.
42:32

Effort from just outside the area by Johnny Russell goes over the target.
41:19

The referee blows for offside against Gordon Smith. Gavin Gunning restarts play with the free kick.
39:42

Foul by Dylan McGowan on Brian McLean, free kick awarded. Radoslaw Cierzniak restarts play with the free kick.
33:24

Jon Daly takes a shot. Save made by Jamie MacDonald.
31:44

Keith Watson challenges Gordon Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin McHattie.
30:40

Dylan McGowan provided the assist for the goal.
30:40 Goal scored

Goal - Ryan Stevenson - Hearts 2 - 0 Dundee U Placed penalty scored by Ryan Stevenson. Hearts 2-0 Dundee Utd.
29:35

Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Dylan McGowan by Barry Douglas.
26:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Barr on Rudi Skacel. Direct free kick taken by John Rankin.
24:10

Shot by Ryan Stevenson from 30 yards. Save by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
23:35

The referee blows for offside against Rudi Skacel. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
21:26

Unfair challenge on Stuart Armstrong by Dylan McGowan results in a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Gavin Gunning.
20:51

Brian McLean concedes a free kick for a foul on John Sutton. Kevin McHattie takes the direct free kick.
20:00

Willo Flood fouled by John Sutton, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
19:29

Unfair challenge on Willo Flood by Gordon Smith results in a free kick. Brian McLean takes the direct free kick.
16:59

Gavin Gunning fouled by Gordon Smith, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is crossed by Barry Douglas, Jon Daly takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save. Brian McLean takes a shot.
15:59

Centre by Barry Douglas, Jamie MacDonald makes a comfortable save.
14:23

Assist on the goal came from John Sutton.
14:23 Goal scored

Goal - Ryan Stevenson - Hearts 1 - 0 Dundee U Goal scored by Ryan Stevenson from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Hearts 1-0 Dundee Utd.
13:28

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrew Driver, Gavin Gunning manages to make a clearance.
11:14

Ryan McGowan challenges Barry Douglas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Radoslaw Cierzniak.
2:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Webster by Jon Daly. Andy Webster takes the direct free kick.
1:29

Effort from outside the area by Jon Daly goes wide right of the goal.
0:50

Foul by Darren Barr on Stuart Armstrong, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Gavin Gunning.
0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

Taken from the BBC