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Dalby cleverly heads in Middleton cross for only goal Hearts teenager Wilson sent off for lunge on Stephenson United back within three points of third place; Hearts still sweating over top-six place George O'Neill FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United A massive result for Jim Goodwin's Dundee United, who extend their lead over Hearts to eight points with six matches of the season remaining. Hearts will be left to rue first-half wastefulness and James Wilson's red card, as they failed to secure a top-six spot. They now go to Motherwell next weekend needing to win in order to avoid the possibility of dropping into the bottom half. FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Allan Preston Former Hearts and Dundee United defender on BBC Radio Scotland He's got to remain positive because it's still in their hands. They were the better team before the red card. It is a red card having seen it back. You don't get away with that nowadays. They have to dust themselves down and go again against Motherwell. FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Hearts head coach Neil Critchley tells Premier Sports: "That's the positive [top six is still in our hands]. "It’s a difficult one to take, but I thought we were the better team with 11 and arguably 10 players. "I thought we created more opportunities and should have been leading the game. We gave Dalby one opportunity, and he scored from it "The players showed great spirit. "We were by far the better team until the [red card], but we weren’t good enough in front of goal, and when you have to defend with one less player, it becomes even more difficult. "In the second half I don’t think you could tell they had 11 and we had 10. I thought it was an even game. Until they scored, I don’t think we were in any danger. " On James Wilson's red card, he adds: "[He] mistimes it, but of a naive challenge. James is slightly late and a bit high, so he’ll learn from that. " FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells Premier Sports: "I thought the game was very much in the balance as it had been in the previous two fixtures. "I knew it was going to be a game decided on who defended the best and thankfully we did with another clean sheet. That’s back-to-back clean sheets for us. "Disappointed with how we managed the game, especially in the second half. "I don’t think we managed it well enough, but at the same time, I can’t be too critical of the players. At this stage of the season, it’s about getting results. "It’s such a tough place to come with everything Hearts are still playing for. I’ve managed to do my old club St Mirren a slight turn as well today. " FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Dundee United midfielder Ross Docherty has also been talking to Premier Sports: "To come away from home and get points at any stage is great in this league. "[Sam Dalby has] been brilliant for us. Some of his finishes and headers are different class. "They probably had the better of us until they went down to 10 men. It was about managing the game and we can be proud of the team as a whole. " FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Dundee United match-winner and player of the match Sam Dalby tells Premier Sports: "It's a matter of coming here and playing to our best and thankfully we got the win today. "Seeing Trapanovski and Glenn [Middleton] coming on, you know there are going to be balls into the box and it's only a matter of time until I get on the end of one. "[Luca Stephenson] came in with blood all over his socks so it must have been a bad one. " FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Allan Preston Former Hearts and Dundee United defender on BBC Radio Scotland I think Jim Goodwin played it perfectly, I really do. He changed the shape, Ross Graham dropped out in the warm-up, and he had to play a young boy. In the second half, he got some wingers on, and you could see them grow in stature. Dalby's header was brilliant, and Craig Gordon was rooted to the spot. FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Dundee United have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their 32 games, only Rangers (13) and Celtic (20) have done this more often in the Premiership this season. Their defensive solidity has been a key part of their success on their return to the top flight. FT: Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Allan Preston Former Hearts and Dundee United defender on BBC Radio Scotland Again, this just adds to the theory that Neil Critchley is still yet to win a big game. This is a big game today to try and cement a top-six spot, and again they're not going to do it. Wilson has been sent off, but that's part of football. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Sam Dalby's magnificent header earns Dundee United all three points at Tynecastle. Hearts played 52 minutes with 10 men after James Wilson was sent off for a late tackle on Luca Stephenson. Boos from the home end are drowned out by the joyous celebrations of those in tangerine. Hearts' hopes of a top-six spot are still very much up in the air. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Hearts defender James Penrice is booked for a rather frustrated challenge on Ryan Strain. United are almost there. .. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Allan Preston Former Hearts and Dundee United defender on BBC Radio Scotland Listen, if Hearts don't make the top six, it's an absolute disgrace with the money and everything that they've got, and the players they've got too. It's simply not good enough for Hearts and there are simply no guarantees they will make it. It sets it up brilliantly for the fans next weekend. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United There will be four minutes of stoppage time at Tynecastle. United's goalscorer Sam Dalby is replaced by Jort van der Sande for the closing stages. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Ross Docherty is booked by referee Nick Walsh for a tackle on Hearts sub Musa Drammeh. Docherty got a lot of the ball. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Allan Preston Former Hearts and Dundee United defender on BBC Radio Scotland It was decent play from Shankland but good defending from Dundee United. That's one thing about United today, they've defended well. They have a very able goalkeeper too that can come and collect crosses. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Lawrence Shankland drives at the Dundee United defence, but Declan Gallagher sniffs out the danger and puts the ball behind for a corner. Jack Walton then gathers the dead-ball delivery - he's been excellent today, the United keeper. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Will there be a late twist at Tynecastle? Hearts are struggling to get any joy out of this structured United defence. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United A chorus of boos from the home fans. They want a red card for a challenge by Craig Sibbald in midfield. Nick Walsh didn't even give a free-kick. Hearts 0-1 Dundee United Dundee United took a significant step towards a top-five Scottish Premiership finish and reignited their hopes of finishing third with victory over 10-man Hearts. Sam Dalby's cute second-half header was enough to move Jim Goodwin's side back within three points of Hibernian and two behind Aberdeen. It also opened an eight-point advantage for the promoted side over their hosts, who now face a nervy trip to Motherwell with the final place in the top six at stake. Neil Critchley's side are just one point ahead of the Fir Park men and St Mirren with one game to go before the league cleaves in two. Victory here would have sealed their place in the upper half - and set up further fixtures against Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Aberdeen and United - but James Wilson's first-half red cost them. The 18-year-old Scotland striker lunged into a challenge with Luca Stephenson and Nick Walsh brandished a red card. The VAR officials, as ever, checked it but did not see enough to overturn the decision. All you need to know about Hearts Latest Dundee United news & views Had Walsh shown yellow, there is every chance it would not have been upgraded but Hearts had more to rue than just misfortune. They missed a series of decent chances in the first half especially, and failed to truly test United goalkeeper Jack Walton. The visitors - robbed of Ross Graham in the warm up and forced to give a debut to 19-year-old defender Sam Cleall-Harding - defended admirably, even if they did not carry a huge threat on the break. What they did have, though, was the ruthless Dalby. The English striker's adriot header from a teasing Glenn Middleton cross brought a rare moment of sparkle to a drab contest and moves him within one of the division's top scorers Daizen Maeda and Simon Murray. It also strengthens United's position in the top-five, with fifth place potentially enough for a Conference League place depending on who wins the Scottish Cup. This season just gets better and better for United. Not many gave the newly-promoted side a real chance of achieving a top-six place but they have done so with plenty to spare. And now the race to catch Aberdeen, Hibernian - or both - and claim an even more unlikely European place is very much on. Goodwin has built a squad whose originally remit was to survive, but now the goal is much greater than even the most ardent United fan might have thought possible last summer. Wilson has made a huge impression this season for Hearts and duly received praise from many. But his sending off will be a lesson he will have to learn from. This defeat also means next week's match at Motherwell becomes decisive as the battle for the final top-six place goes to the final game. The scenario for Hearts is simple. Win at Fir Park, and its in the bag. Draw, and they have to rely on St Mirren dropping points at home to Ross County. A nervous Saturday afternoon awaits fans of all three clubs. Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "Disappointed with the outcome, not with the way we played the game. "I thought we were by far the better team with 11 men, arguably the better with 10 men. We created more chances and our quality let us down. "My initial reaction is it wasn't a red card. You could say it's a bit high and mistimed, so I can understand the decision. James has to take his medicine and learn from it. " Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "I knew it was going to be a game decided on who defended the best, and thankfully, we did with another clean sheet. "I'm disappointed with how we managed the game, but I can't be too critical of the players. At this stage of the season, it's about getting results. "It's such a tough place to come with everything Hearts are still playing for. " Last Updated 6th April 2025 at 16: 25 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Neil Critchley Formation: 4 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 Manager: Jim Goodwin Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 Manager: Neil Critchley Formation: 4 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 Manager: Jim Goodwin Formation: 3 - 5 - 2 We're still improving Match stats. Let us know what you think. Scottish Premiership All competitions All competitions All competitions Heart of Midlothian have lost just one of their last nine Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United (W6 D2), although that was their last at home in September this season (0-1). After their 1-0 win in September, Dundee United could win back-to-back top-flight away games at Hearts for the first time since February 2012 under Peter Houston. Heart of Midlothian have won six of their last eight home league games (L2), including both of their last two. Hearts last won three successive home matches in the Scottish Premiership in February 2024. Dundee United are the only side in the Scottish Premiership this season to pick up at least half of their points away from home (52% - 23/44), winning their last game 1-0 away to Ross County. Hearts have won four of their last five games against newly promoted opposition in the Scottish Premiership (L1), as many as their previous 20 beforehand (W4 D8 L8). Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.