THE ENMITY on the pitch was matched by the discord in the dugouts as Hearts held firm to defeat Dundee 2-1.
Robbie Neilson and James McPake had a visible disagreement in the immediate aftermath of a breathless encounter which supplied a red card, a penalty and three incidences of the woodwork being rattled.
Ultimately goals from Andy Halliday and Armand Gnanduillet was enough to secure a victory which sends the hosts a yawning 15 points clear at the summit of the Championship.
Jason Cummings did ensure a nervous finale for the homes side with a second-half penalty, but the hosts held firm. The full-time whistle then saw the respective bosses engage in an extended feud on the Tynecastle turf. Former Hearts and Hibs captains; former Dundee United and Dundee managers. No love lost.
“It’s just two managers desperate to win and two teams going for the league,” said Neilson. “At Tynecastle, where you’re a yard and a half away from each other and everyone wants every decision, there’s always a wee bit of edge. But once the final whistle goes, that’s it done.”
Asked whether the argument stemmed from Haring’s
sending off, McPake said: “No, there are other reasons.” He chose not to elaborate.
He could not, however, resist a slight nibble, adding: “Robbie was already out shouting ‘it’ll be rescinded’ so obviously he can see into the future.”
Prior to the nippy finale, both sides served up a fine spectacle – two big clubs with talent in abundance properly going at it.
Hearts were the width of the woodwork away from opening the scoring courtesy of Halliday, albeit he was attempting a deep cross which caught the wind and kissed the post. But, the ex-Rangers man was not to be denied on 35 minutes. He timed his run into the box to perfection and headed home his fifth goal of the campaign from a Gnanduillet delivery.
Dundee almost restored immediate parity, with Paul McGowan rattling the cross-bar with a sumptuous volley before Paul McMullan headed the admittedly awkward rebound over the bar.
Mackay-Steven produced a contender for miss of the season after the break when – tasked with tapping a Gnanduillet pass into an empty net following a swift break – he scuffed a woeful ‘shot’ into the arms of Hamilton. Moments later, Boyce rattled the woodwork from 12 yards.
But Hearts did double their advantage when Gnanduillet fired beyond Jack Hamilton at the second time of asking following a Mackay-Steven cross.
But rather than collapse – as they did, like a house of cards, in their 6-2 defeat in Gorgie on the opening day of the Championship season – Dundee climbed from the canvass and swiftly halved arrears.
Former Hibs star Cummings was the scorer, coolly slotting home from the penalty spot after Max Anderson was felled by Mihai Popescu. And not for the first time this campaign, Hearts were indebted to their goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, for brilliantly denying Osman Sow and Jonathan Afolabi late on, ensuring the Jambos held firm to go 15 points clear at the summit.
There was, however, late drama as substitute Peter Haring was dismissed for a studs-up challenge on McDaid.
Neilson added: “I thought it was a yellow at the time. I will have a look at it and make a decision [regarding an appeal].”
McPake added: “The first time we were here this season [6-2 defeat] I saw a set of players who didn’t turn up. On Saturday, I saw set of players who put everything into a game.”
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