Lawrence Shankland took just 41 seconds to torment his former club as Dundee United followed up their chastening defeat against AZ Alkmaar with a 4-1 reverse against Hearts.
Ex-Tannadice marksman Shankland bagged his second Hearts goal with less than a minute on the clock, turning home a Cammy Devlin delivery.
It was the worst possible start for the bruised Tangerines, fresh from a 7-0 hammering in Holland.
Jack Ross’ charges fell further behind after the break as Barrie McKay and Jorge Grant struck.
Steven Fletcher’s successful spot-kick with 20 minutes remaining was little more than a consolation; and scant consolation at that, given Josh Ginnelly made it 4-1 in the dying embers.
Courier Sport was in the capital to take in the action.
Dylan Levitt absence
Changes were expected following the midweek rout in the Netherlands.
However, the absence of Dylan Levitt was an unwanted one.
The Wales internationalist missed out due to a knock picked up against AZ, with Charlie Mulgrew stepping into the base of midfield and Ross Graham included at the heart of defence.
It is a role that Mulgrew can do but it is not an optimal situation and, while Craig Sibbald has done very well in that role at times — especially against Kilmarnock — the lack of a natural destroying midfielder for testing away days such as this, is stark.
Should United delve into the transfer market again prior to September, one suspects that could be a priority.
Curse of the ex
The nagging suspicion that Shankland would come back to haunt his former club was impossible to ignore. The Curse of the Ex; Sod’s Law — whatever you want to call it.
We’ve all seen this movie before.
However, even the most pessimistic Arab could not have predicted that he would ripple the net after 41 seconds.
The movement and clinical finish was all-too familiar to the Tangerine faithful, who watched him plunder 40 goals during his time at Tannadice. Those who questioned his ability to thrive in the top-flight are being proved spectacularly wrong already.
📸 @Shankland_25 celebrates after giving Hearts an early lead against Dundee United. pic.twitter.com/Q6cuEkW7Us
— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) August 14, 2022
Nevertheless, Ross will rue the lax tracking and marking which allowed Cammy Devlin to dash into the box and find Shankland free to pounce from six yards.
Lessons were learned from Thursday’s collapse in Alkmaar. United responded well, remained compact and restricted the Jambos to speculative digs from Grant, Liam Boyce and McKay.
Meanwhile, the visitors came close through a Ryan Edwards effort from 35 yards and Tony Watt’s near-post flick.
Another false start
A maddening aspect of the last two fixtures for United fans is the way their side has started halves.
In their last three halves of football, United have conceded a goal within three minutes of kick-off — Dani de Wit to begin the second period in Alkmaar; Shankland within a minute at Tynecastle; McKay after three minutes of the restart in Gorgie.
That McKay’s strike was a fine one, stepping forward and firing a super shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards, will come as scant solace to those of a Tangerine persuasion.
In order to kickstart their Premiership campaign, United simply must stop giving themselves mountains to climb.
The game was made safe — if it wasn’t already — on the hour-mark when Mark Birighitti could only parry a Michael Smith shot into the path of Grant, who calmly slotted home Hearts’ third.
Steven Fletcher opening his account
One down.
Ask any striker and they’ll tell you the importance of getting off the mark, so slamming home his spot-kick against Hearts — even in defeat will be a boost for Fletcher and United.
The sight of Aziz Behich, a player with clear talent even as he adjusts to new surroundings, winning the penalty with a dash into the box was another positive.
He was felled by ex-United winger Gary Mackay-Steven.
However, Hearts would not even allow that to be the final word, with Ginnelly scampering through on goal and firing low past Birighitti with the last kick of the game.
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