Hearts 1-1 Dundee: hosts take the lead despite a draw

Jason Cummings (far right) sealed a point for Dundee

Hearts’ rise to the top of the Scottish Premiership “shows how far the club has come,” says Robbie Neilson.

The Tynecastle side overtook Rangers in terms of goal difference after being held in a draw by newly promoted Dundee on Saturday.

John Souttar’s impressive opening goal for the hosts was undone by a late Jason Cummings header.

“The last time the club were in the Premier League we won four games all season,” said coach Neilson.

“To be at the top of the league after 10 games is great. It shows how far the club has come. We want to go further, we want to continue. We started the season well, but we lost points that we should have picked up. “

Neilson’s team remains undefeated in the division while James McPake’s Dundee is still second to last but is now four points ahead of Ross County and within two points of St. Johnstone. Steven Gerrard’s Rangers face St. Mirren on Sunday.

Ben Woodburn played a prominent role for Hearts in the first half, shot wide and then was again blocked off target.

And Liam Boyce headed off the crossbar after a corner, with Craig Halkett’s rebound from Leigh Griffiths clearly nodding.

But Dundee arguably had a stellar opening chance with a signature free kick from Charlie Adam, but his delivery was overtaken by Lee Ashcroft with the goal of his grace.

The hosts regrouped and took the lead by loading the Dundee half. Michael Smith, then Woodburn, squeezed on the right, and the latter tipped the ball to sweep defender Souttar past Adam Legzdins.

Hearts wanted the game to bed early in the second period, Barrie McKay’s energetic run resulted in a shot from Boyce, but Ashcroft made an excellent block.

And Gary Mackay-Steven, who came on for Woodburn during the break, missed a gold chance after Smith’s shot was blocked and the winger hit the post.

Griffith’s replacement, Cillian Sheridan, warned Dundee with a shot that forced Craig Gordon to make a beautiful parade, not to be finished yet.

And Cummings, who was substituted on for Paul McMullan, stayed free in the penalty area to take Cammy Kerr’s long throw-in and header past Gordon for parity.

Josh Ginnelly had taken over McKay and could have hit a Hearts winner with a shot on the right, but couldn’t test Legzdins.

Man of the Game – Barrie McKay

The Hearts winger has been a lingering threat and has been the centerpiece of the hosts’ best moves

What we learned

There were no surprises in Hearts’  -proach as the 3-4-3 formation that served them so well continued to bear fruit in terms of odds.

But after profiting from the Rangers’ waste in last week’s draw, it was their turn to regret missed opportunities.

McPake’s men, who took their first league win against Aberdeen last week, were rewarded for sending attackers Sheridan and Cummings, and two positive results in a row give them some pep.

What they said

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: “I feel like in the game with possession and quality we did enough to win, but we just didn’t make the final step to the second goal.

“Gary Mackay-Steven should probably have met. A long throw comes, it can go anywhere. You want to have the first contact on it.

Dundee manager James McPake: “To come here you have to show a lot of character. We’re h -py, but we’re also dis -pointed. You always think what if. We have to be satisfied with one point.”

“We’ve ridden our luck a bit. You have to do that in places like this. You know Jason Cummings is always a goal threat. I’m h -py for him because he deserves it for his hard work.”

What’s next

Both teams are in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday, with Hearts playing in St. Johnstone and Dundee’s home in Ross County away, with both games starting at 7:45 p.m. BST.

Player of the game

CummingsJason Cummings

Heart of Midlothian

1. Cadre number6thPlayernameBaningime

2. Cadre number19thPlayernameHalkett

3. Cadre number3PlayernameKingsley

4. Cadre number9PlayernameWood fire

5. Cadre number18thPlayernameMcKay

6. Cadre number17thPlayernameCochrane

7. Cadre number14thPlayernameDevlin

8. Cadre number2PlayernameBlacksmith

9. Cadre number4thPlayernameSouttar

10. Cadre number10PlayernameBoyce

11. Cadre number1PlayernameGordon

12. Cadre number11PlayernameMackay-Steven

13. Cadre number30thPlayernameginnelly

14. Cadre number21PlayernameGnanduillet

Dundee

1. Cadre number35PlayernameCummings

2. Cadre number23PlayernameSheridan

3. Cadre number9PlayernameMullen

4. Cadre number26thPlayernameAdam

5. Cadre number5PlayernameSweeney

6. Cadre number14thPlayernameAshcroft

7. Cadre number2PlayernameKerr

8. Cadre number24PlayernameAnderson

9. Cadre number18thPlayernameMcMullan

10. Cadre number3PlayernameMarshall

11. Cadre number1PlayernameLegzdins

12. Cadre number17thPlayernameMcCowan

13. Cadre number6thPlayernameMcGhee

14. Cadre number29PlayernameGriffiths

Constellations

Hearts

formation 3-4-3

1Gordon

4thSouttar19thHalkett3Kingsley

2Blacksmith14thDevlin6thBaningime17thCochrane

18thMcKay10Boyce9Wood fire

• 1Gordon
• 4thSouttar
• 19thHalkettBooked at 30 minutes
• 3Kingsley
• 2Blacksmith
• 14thDevlin
• 6thBaningime
• 17thCochrane
• 18thMcKayReplaced byginnellyat 77 ‘protocol
• 10BoyceReplaced byGnanduilletat 60 ‘protocol
• 9Wood fireBooked at 34 minutesReplaced byMackay-Stevenat 45 ‘protocol

substitute

• 5Haring
• 11Mackay-Steven
• 13thStewart
• fifteenMoors
• 16Halliday
• 21Gnanduillet
• 30thginnelly

Dundee

formation 4-3-3

1Legzdins

2Kerr14thAshcroft5Sweeney3Marshall

6thMcGhee26thAdam24Anderson

18thMcMullan29Griffiths17thMcCowan

• 1LegzdinsBooked at 38 minutes
• 2Kerr
• 14thAshcroft
• 5SweeneyBooked at 53 minutes
• 3Marshall
• 6thMcGheeBooked at 59 minutes
• 26thAdamBooked at 69 minutes
• 24Anderson
• 18thMcMullanReplaced byCummingsat 62 ‘protocol
• 29GriffithsReplaced bySheridanat 69 ‘protocol
• 17thMcCowanReplaced byMullenat 56 ‘protocolBooked at 90 minutes

substitute

• 4thFontaine
• 9Mullen
• 10McGowan
• 16Elliott
• 21Lawlor
• 23Sheridan
• 35Cummings

Referee: Gavin Duncan

Participation: 17,557

Live text

1. Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Dundee 1.

2. The second half ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Dundee 1.

3. Aside, heart of Midlothian. Alex Cochrane tries a through ball, but Armand Gnanduillet is caught offside.

4. Daniel Mullen (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

5. Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

6. Foul by Daniel Mullen (Dundee).

7. Attempt failed. Armand Gnanduillet (Heart of Midlothian) header from the center of the box but misses to the left. Assisted by Stephen Kingsley with a cross.

8. Offside, Dundee. Jordan McGhee tries a through ball, but Daniel Mullen is caught offside.

9. Foul by Armand Gnanduillet (Heart of Midlothian).

10. Lee Ashcroft (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

11. Foul by Armand Gnanduillet (Heart of Midlothian).

12. Ryan Sweeney (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

13. Corner, heart of Midlothian. Granted by Ryan Sweeney.

14. Attempt failed. Josh Ginnelly (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Supported by Armand Gnanduillet.

15. Beni Baningime (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

16. Foul by Cillian Sheridan (Dundee).

17. Target! Heart of Midlothian 1, Dundee 1. Jason Cummings (Dundee) header on the right in the six yard box, bottom left. Supported by Cammy Kerr.

18. Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

19. Foul by Cillian Sheridan (Dundee).

20. Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Heart of Midlothian).