A traumatic week for Dundee United ended with some pride restored after a late Paul Paton pile-driver gave them victory over 10-man Hearts at Tannadice.
Skipper-for-the-day Paton struck from 22-yards with two minutes left, just as it looked as if the Tangerines were going to be frustrated by the Tynecastle men.
After Tuesday’s defeat against Motherwell left them 13 points adrift at the foot of the table, manager Mixu Paatelain made four changes, Mark Durnan, Scott Fraser, Edward Ofere and Florent Sinama-Pongolle coming in for Sean Dillon, Paul Dixon, Simon Murray and Billy Mckay.
United started brightly and almost went ahead in the 17th minute when a Scott Fraser corner was met by the head of Edward Ofere, but goalkeeper Neil Alexander denied him with a wonderful one-handed save.
As the home team continued to press for the opener the Hearts ‘keeper was the hero again on the half hour mark when he beat away a Guy Demel header from a Blair Spittal cross.
United’s cause was boosted when Jordan McGhee got a straight red card for a tackle on Edward Ofere just over five minutes from the break. And three minutes later they were deservedly ahead when Demel headed home another whipped in corner from Fraser.
The good work of the first period was undone within three minutes of the restart as Jamie Walker finished with a fine angled drive to get the ten-man visitors back on level terms.
After that United huffed and puffed, but with time running out Paton stepped up to grab a glorious winner, though the home team were also reduced to ten man before the final whistle when sub Henri Ainer was red carded for a second bookable offence.
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