Match report as Hearts beat Dundee 1-0 in the Scottish Premiership; substitute Jamie Walker scored the only goal; Hearts maintained hold on third spot in the table; a heavily depleted Dundee slipped to a fourth defeat in a row
Saturday 18 December 2021 20:37, UK
Hearts returned to winning ways in the cinch Premiership with a 1-0 victory over Dundee at Dens Park.
Substitute Jamie Walker scored the only goal of what was a tight affair in the second half.
The result consolidated the Edinburgh side’s hold on third spot in the table but for a heavily-depleted Dundee squad, it was their fourth defeat in a row.
The home side were down to the bare bones with a whole host of players out through injury and suspension while Jason Cummings was also absent from the squad for disciplinary reasons with manager James McPake only able to name five subs on the bench.
Hearts were missing talismanic striker Liam Boyce.
The opening exchanges were fairly even with both sides showing plenty of attacking intent without creating clear-cut openings.
Hearts manufactured a chance in the 18th minute when they worked the ball towards Ben Woodburn but the on-loan Liverpool winger’s lofted effort sailed over Dundee goalkeeper Adam Legzdins’ crossbar.
Shortly after, Hearts had another opportunity when Barrie McKay swung a corner in from the right with the unmarked Taylor Moore sending a powerful header just wide.
The Dundee fans were then demanding a penalty as Leigh Griffiths tumbled to the turf inside the Hearts penalty box under a challenge by John Souttar but referee Willie Collum ruled there had been no offence.
As the game passed the half-hour mark, it had become a scrappy affair with a succession of niggly fouls disrupting any chance of flowing play.
However, Dundee did finally produce a piece of quality in the 41st minute when Paul McGowan played in Luke McCowan with Hearts keeper Craig Gordon diving to his right to keep out the winger’s low shot.
Thick fog descended on Dens at half-time with both teams struggling to get going after the break.
Hearts had a half-chance on the hour mark when McKay set up Walker on the edge of the Dundee box but his shot was a wild one and flew well wide.
Cammy Devlin then had an opening but his fiercely struck shot was headed over by Dundee defender Liam Fontaine.
However, the visitors finally scored what proved to be the winner in the 75th minute.
McKay teed up sub Aaron McEneff on the edge of the Dundee box and although his deflected shot cannoned off Legzdins’ post and back across goal, Walker was first to react to shoot high into the net.
Dundee had a late chance but Paul McMullan’s shot flew wide.
Dundee boss James McPake: "He [Jason Cummings] will be away from the club until Monday and then we'll deal with it internally. He was unfit to train.
"People will make up their own minds as to why he's not involved today, but it's not down to injury or Covid. Do I have to hold my hands up, possibly, I signed Jason.
"On the whole for what he's done - he helped us get promoted and did an OK job - but what he did on Thursday is completely unacceptable.
"We will deal with it on Monday. He was unfit to train on Friday so do I regret my decision? No.
"He never asked me to go to the event and would I have allowed him to go? I didn't get the chance to answer that.
"I probably wouldn't have because of where we are, but I didn't get the courtesy of that - so there's the first breach.
"Then he wasn't anywhere near enough fit to train on Friday morning. I was made aware of it at 7am on Friday morning, I didn't see it on social media."
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson: "I was delighted to get three points as it is always tough coming up here.
"They had a number of injuries but they still had an experienced team.
"We controlled a lot of the game and although we didn't have many clear-cut chances, the one we did get we took.
"Jamie has found it hard to get in because the players that have been in those positions have been playing really, really well.
"He's just had to bide his time. I thought him and Aaron McEneff did well when they came on.
"We brought Jamie on because he's got that quality in the final moment and, especially in the second half, we pinned them in a bit in really good areas.
"We need somebody with that wee bit of magic. Thankfully he produced it."
Dundee travel to Aberdeen, while Hearts host Ross County, with both Scottish Premiership games kicking off at 3pm on Boxing Day.
