Dundee United were cut four points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership after new boss Mixu Paatelainen’s first weekend in charge.
Hopes had been high at Tannadice that a change of manager would mean a change in fortune, with the big Finn having taken over from Jackie McNamara.
However, Paatelainen’s first fixture in the United dugout saw his players lose to an untroubled Hearts side at home.
The Tangerines fell behind on 16 minutes when they conceded a daft penalty.
Sam Nicholson ghosted past John Souttar out on the left and made his way into the box, where he was bundled over by Blair Spittal.
There was little doubt it was a spotkick and up stepped Juanma to blast the ball into the net.
There was no further scoring and United were reduced to 10 men in stoppage-time when the hapless Spittal was sent off, after earning two bookings within minutes of each other.
So the Paatelainen era begins with United trailing second-bottom Partick Thistle by four points – their five to the Jags’ nine – and United travel to Celtic Park next Sunday.
The Tangerines made only three changes to the team that lost so badly to Thistle before the international break.
Out went Ryan Dow, Euan Spark and the injured Callum Morris to be replaced by fit-again Billy Mckay, Aaron Kuhl and Mark Durnan.
With Morris missing from central defence, Paatelainen rejigged by putting skipper Sean Dillon at left-back and Souttar in at right-back, with Durnan and Ryan McGowan in the centre.
Ahead of them were Kuhl and John Rankin, with Darko Bodul, Scott Fraser and Spittal all supporting Mckay.
Paatelainen emerged from the tunnel to warm applause, which he acknowledged then reciprocated.
A group of fans in the George Fox Stand unveiled a banner which read “Our season starts now”. Only time would tell as the teams kicked off for their Sunday lunchtime get-together.
Hearts had more of the early ball than the hosts did, with Osman Sow firing over from 15 yards under pressure from McGowan.
United hit back, though, and a dangerous cross from Spittal into Hearts’ six-yard box had to be booted away for a corner.
United were denied what looked a decent shout for a penalty of their own on 29 minutes when McGowan appeared to be fouled by Juanma inside the Hearts box but referee Kevin Clancy played on.
The home team kept plugging away but they were up against a composed defence and it was the visitors who had the next decent chance on the half-hour, with Zwick producing a fine save to hold a rocket shot from former Tannadice man Danny Swanson at the second attempt.
Zwick was the hero again for United two minutes later when he tipped a Swanson freekick over the bar.
The Tannadice men had another shout for a penalty on 39 minutes when the ball bounced up off Jordan McGhee’s foot and struck his elbow. It would have been harsh on the Hearts man had it been given.
A superb crossfield pass from Dillon on 43 minutes reached Souttar out of the right and his ball over was spilled by keeper Neil Alexander and reached Rankin, whose shot was blocked.
Paatelainen made a change at the break, bringing on Adam Taggart for Bodul.
There was a real escape for the Tangerines on 53 minutes when dithering from Durnan let Sow run in from the right. The ball made it to Juanma, whose strike was saved by Zwick then Nicholson couldn’t convert the rebound.
There was a frustrating spell for the home fans when Hearts players began dropping like flies. After what seemed like an age, both Miguel Pallardo and Juwon Oshaniwa finally left the field injured.
United had to get the ball to Mckay’s feet more often and they did just that on 72 minutes but the striker’s shot was well saved by Alexander.
The hosts made a substitution on 77 minutes, bringing on Aidan Connolly for Fraser.
Sub Taggart almost nipped in for United but just couldn’t get clear of Liam Smith then the homes fans took heart from the six minutes of stoppage time that was added on.
However, that left enough time for Spittal to be sent off. He had been booked minutes earlier for a challenge on Gomis then tripped Nicholson two minutes into added time as the Hearts man raced upfield. That earned the youngster a second yellow then a red card.
The Tangerines had a chance with a freekick at the edge of the box but Connolly could only find Alexander’s hands with his shot.
Then they won another setpiece at the edge of the area with seconds remaining, this time a weak effort from Kuhl flew over the Hearts bar.
Attendance: 7,461.
Dundee United: Zwick, Dillon, J. Souttar, Mckay, Rankin, McGowan, Durnan, Spittal, Fraser (Connolly 77), Kuhl, Bodul (Taggart 46). Subs not used: Szromnik, Murray, Telfer, Donaldson, H. Souttar.
Hearts: Alexander, Augustyn, Buaben, Sow, Nicholson, Pallardo (Gomis 71), Oshaniwa (Smith 71), Rossie Branco, Juanma, McGhee, Swanson (Walker 54). Subs not used: Hamilton, King, Djoum, Zanatta.
Referee: Kevin Clancy.