Yutaro Oda scored a late winner as spirited Hearts produced a rousing fightback from two objectives all the way down to beat Dundee 3-2 and transfer eight factors clear in third place within the Scottish Premiership.
The Jambos appeared in hassle after they trailed on the break by way of objectives from Jordan McGhee and Lyall Cameron.
However they turned issues round with second-half objectives from Calem Niewenhof, latest recruit Dexter Lembikisa and substitute Oda.
Captain Lawrence Shankland would have been significantly relieved with the end result as he noticed a penalty saved by Trevor Carson at 2-1 down.
Shankland was again to steer the group after he missed Saturday’s Scottish Cup win at Spartans by way of sickness, whereas goalkeeper Zander Clark was restored to the beginning XI after being rested on the weekend to permit the fit-again Craig Gordon to get a primary outing in 13 months underneath his belt after damage.
Dundee goalkeeper Carson returned after lacking the Scottish Cup defeat at Kilmarnock, whereas on-loan Burnley left-back Owen Dodgson made his first begin after a debut look off the bench at Rugby Park.
After a cagey opening 10 minutes by which each side tried to adapt to the swirling wind round Tynecastle, Hearts pair Kenneth Vargas and Nieuwenhof threatened in fast succession with pictures from the sting of the field.
Stephen Kingsley then glanced a free header broad from Alex Cochrane’s nook within the fifteenth minute.
Dundee went forward within the nineteenth minute, simply seconds after Clark had pulled off a superb save to maintain out Zach Robinson’s header from an Amadou Bakayoko cross.
Former Hearts participant McGhee pinged a beautiful end past the Jambos keeper from simply contained in the field after Bakayoko cushioned Dodgson’s cross again into his path. The purpose was initially dominated out for offside however allowed to face after a VAR verify.
Shankland and Vargas each spurned good possibilities to convey the hosts stage earlier than Dundee doubled their lead within the thirty eighth minute.
Dara Costelloe seized on some free play from Hearts and nicked the ball off Lembikisa simply exterior the field earlier than slipping a move by way of to Cameron who slotted low previous the uncovered Clark.
Hearts – booed off on the break – started the second half with renewed depth and function, nevertheless, and received themselves again within the recreation within the 57th minute by way of a low 25-yard drive from Nieuwenhof.
The Jambos got the possibility to equalise within the sixty fifth minute after they have been awarded a penalty after Dodgson was deemed to have shoved Shankland as he tried to get on the top of a Kingsley cross, however Shankland missed his third spot-kick in succession as Carson received all the way down to his proper to make the save.
Hearts have been to not be denied, although. They finally received themselves stage within the 74th minute when Lembikisa – making his first begin since becoming a member of on mortgage from Rotherham – headed house Alan Forrest’s cross from the left.
The winner got here within the 86th minute when substitute Oda turned and fired excessive previous Carson, with the help of a deflection off Joe Shaughnessy, after being fed by Forrest simply contained in the field.
What the managers stated
Hearts supervisor Steven Naismith:
“Our second-half performance was really good. We got chances early and scored a good goal, and we used that momentum and pressure.
“For a lot of the second half it was assault v defence and we made the best selections once we received good alternatives
“The first-half performance was terrible. We were laboured, slow and played into Dundee’s hands. At half-time this place was toxic.
“The gamers knew it wasn’t ok, we knew it wasn’t ok and the followers tell us it wasn’t ok, so you might be in a extremely powerful spot.
“For us to come back to win is a really good strength to have, that’s twice we’ve been 2-0 down here and we’ve taken points from both games. That probably wouldn’t have happened in previous seasons.”
Dundee supervisor Tony Docherty:
“It feels like I witnessed two teams out there. I couldn’t be more happy with the first half, they executed the game plan to the letter.
“I assumed we began the second half properly however we received caught up. They’ll be taught the laborious manner from this. It is essential to make key selections however that value us tonight.
“We were the architects of our own downfall but we have to focus on the positives and learn to manage games better.”
What’s subsequent?
Hearts’ subsequent Scottish Premiership match is at house to Aberdeen on Saturday, whereas Dundee are away to Livingston.
Each video games kick off at 3pm.