McEntee’s header is the difference against Dundee for leaders
Hearts are happily taking over Arsenal’s mantle as 1-0 specialists. Another narrow win kept Derek McInnes’ side on track and proved there’s nothing wrong with their mettle as it reaches crunch time.
The Tynecastle side even secured this latest victory with only ten men after defender Frankie Kent received a second yellow card for a trip on Charlie Reilly in stoppage time. Hearts survived Dundee pushing nearly everyone into the box, including goalkeeper Jon McCracken, in an ultimately fruitless attempt for an equaliser. Visions of Dundee's late rally against Dundee United six days earlier were no doubt flashing through the home fans' minds.
Let no one say the opposition are making it easy for Hearts. Every point is a prisoner near the bottom of the league as well as at the top. Perhaps the greatest surprise was that the all-important goal was not scored by Lawrence Shankland, who made his return from injury eight minutes after half time with the game still goalless. It seemed all set up for the striker, who has been a thorn in Dundee’s side on so many occasions, to earn the headlines. The biggest cheers of the day prior to him stripping off his tracksuit to replace the toiling Landry Kabore were those times when he emerged to warm-up. These reactions showed that Hearts were not getting everything their own way.
Oisin McEntee leapt highest to give Hearts a 1-0 win over Dundee at Tynecastle.placeholder image
Oisin McEntee leapt highest to give Hearts a 1-0 win over Dundee at Tynecastle. | SNS Group
Shankland made some intelligent contributions and saw one shot on the turn saved by McCracken. But the perhaps unlikely figure of Oisin McEntee emerged as the match-winner with a header in the 77th minute after Reilly gave away a needless free-kick.
Marc Leonard clipped in a cross that McEntee attacked as advised in coaching handbooks. McCracken got his hands to the ball but could not prevent it going where Hearts desperately needed it to go.
What it all means will become clear later but for the time being Hearts are displaying an unerring ability to stick around at the top. April might be the cruellest month but Hearts will at least begin it as the league leaders.
Their last four wins have been by the same 1-0 scoreline. Going back even further, it’s now seven 1-0 wins in their last 12 league matches. Even the defeat they needed to make amends for, against Kilmarnock seven days earlier, was a 1-0. It just underlines the tension involved. These are fine, fine margins. Can Hearts keep living so dangerously? They are suggesting very strongly that they can.
A shaky start against Dundee
Things had started slightly ominously for the hosts. On a day when they welcomed back two hugely significant players, Shankland and Cammy Devlin, the Hearts injury curse struck elsewhere. Craig Halkett might be the player after Shankland and Devlin they can least do without. The stand-in skipper succumbed to a back niggle before kick-off. Michael Steinwender stepped from the bench to take his place and Alan Forrest took the defender’s place among the substitutes. The winger even got on towards the end having not been included in the initial squad.
“We need everything from everyone!” urged the Tannoy Man as the teams prepared to start the second half. Our friend with the microphone might have been moved to issue this reminder after Dundee almost grabbed the opener with the last kick of the first half. A well-worked free-kick routine after Tony Yogane was fouled saw Joe Wesley get a shot on target but ‘keeper Alexander Schwolow made a good save.
It seemed reasonable to expect Shankland would enter directly after the break. Kabore’s labours up front for Hearts were continuing. He was miles off with a lob in what was Hearts’ best opportunity of the opening half. He saw another header flash wide.
Foundation of Hearts Day was in danger of becoming Floundering Day. The fixture was earmarked as an opportunity to celebrate the continued efforts of the supporters to invest and help run the club. Scottish Cup-winning manager Paulo Sergio was interviewed before kick-off. He might be associated with a certain 5-1 victory, but things are unlikely to be as comprehensive in these title dog days.
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A single goal is often enough. It came with 13 minutes left after Reilly, who replaced the well-policed Dundee danger man Tony Yogane, left something on Leonard in the middle of the park. The Hearts midfielder floated in a cross begging to be headed in. McEntee got above the otherwise excellent Dundee midfielder Ethan Hamilton.
McInnes revealed it was something they had worked on in training. Home supporters especially savoured it because Dundee substitute Simon Murray had just clipped a shot onto the top of the net from Fin Robertson’s cross. They’d seen that movie before. The repeat they wanted – 1-0 to the Jam Tarts – is what they got. They will take seven more such scorelines.