Daly boost for Tangerines

Dundee United survived the imminent departure of David Goodwillie as Jon Daly grabbed the only goal in a 1-0 victory at Hearts. Striker Daly rose to head the winner from Willo Flood's corner seven minutes before the break.

Marius Zaliukas saw an early attempt deflected behind for the hosts before Daly set up John Rankin to shoot narrowly wide at the opposite end.

The Tangerines then had calls for a penalty after Flood was dragged down on the edge of the area before Rankin crashed the subsequent free-kick against the crossbar.

Back came Hearts with Stephen Elliott firing straight at Dusan Pernis and John Sutton also poking wide.

Home keeper Marian Kello then made a brilliant save to keep out a volley from Daly, who nonetheless nodded home Flood's corner to give his side the lead.

Hearts striker Elliott soon screwed wide in reply before Garry Kenneth headed straight at Kello, who in turn diverted around his post from impressive debutant Scott Allan.

Terrors substitute Johnny Russell then turned and drove wide before his keeper Pernis made fine saves to deny David Templeton and Ryan Stevenson late on.

Hearts: Kello, Grainger, Obua, McGowan, Zaliukas, Jonsson, Black, Templeton, Mrowiec (Skacel 70), Elliott (Novikovas 70), Sutton (Stevenson 77)

subs (unused): MacDonald, Barr, Smith, Robinson

Dundee United: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Kenneth, Watson, Severin (Robertson 76), Flood, Rankin, Allan (Douglas 83), Daly, Russell

subs (unused): Banks, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Dow, Hilson

Ref: Winter

Att: 13,821

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