Hearts moved to within seven points of Aberdeen and Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership by beating crisis-ridden Dundee United at Tynecastle.
United opened the scoring with a Billy Mckay penalty inside the first minute, but Hearts' response was rapid.
Gavin Reilly and Prince Buaben put them ahead inside the half hour, then Osman Sow scored with another penalty.
Scott Fraser's speculative free-kick found Hearts' net, but United's hopes ended when Mark Durnan was sent-off.
All those goals - and the red card - had come in a frenetic first half.
Hearts had multiple chances to score more goals after the break but failed to execute.
United remain mired in calamity. They are still 10 points adrift at the bottom despite having the start of their dreams. Fraser was needlessly shoved over in the box by Juwon Oshaniwa and Mckay scored from the penalty spot.
The lead did not last long. Just 16 minutes later, Billy King's corner was flicked on by Alim Ozturk, the ball carrying to the back post, where Gavin Reilly put it away with ease.
Buaben made it two when his strike from distance found the net via the weak hands of United's anxiety-ridden goalkeeper, Michal Szromnik.
Former Dundee United player Prince Buaben (right) put Hearts into a 2-1 lead
The Pole went on to make some good saves, but he carries little authority.
His nerves were shredded again when he had to face a penalty after Callum Morris bundled Reilly over. Sow made it 3-1 with aplomb.
Hearts had been no great shakes in establishing their lead, but they were way too good for a hapless United, who continue to carry a death-wish in defence.
From out of the blue, though, they made it 3-2. It was a bizarre thing, a Fraser free-kick from wide on the right that carried all the way past goalkeeper Neil Alexander.
United had a lifeline and then immediately pulled the plug out on their chances when Durnan hauled down Reilly as he bore down on goal. Off he went.
To add to United's mountain of pain, Morris was stretchered off in the next act.
Hearts took ownership of the game from that point on. They created chance after chance but lacked the composure to execute any of them.
Buaben had a shot saved by Sromnik, Reilly missed a sitter, Gavin Gunning hoofed one off the line soon after and then Sean Dillon did the same.
Hearts can be a whole lot more clinical than this, but the bottom line was sweet enough for them. A win at last at the sixth attempt.
For United, it was drearily familiar stuff. A lot of effort but zero points.
They are now past the halfway stage of the season and their nightmare doesn't look like ending any time soon.
Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)
Heart of Midlothian
- 01 Alexander
- 22 McGhee
- 05 Ozturk
- 18 Rossi
- 17 Oshaniwa
- 11 Nicholson (Zanatta - 83' )
- 08 Buaben Abankwah
- 06 Gomis Booked (Sutchuin-Djoum - 45' )
- 12 King
- 10 Sow (Swanson - 81' )
- 20 Reilly
Substitutes
- 04 Augustyn
- 13 Hamilton
- 14 Pallardo Gonzalez
- 16 Sutchuin-Djoum
- 23 Swanson
- 27 Buchanan
- 44 Zanatta
Dundee United
- 21 Szromnik
- 17 Durnan Dismissed
- 05 Morris (Dillon - 48' )
- 19 Gunning
- 12 McGowan
- 55 Demel (Souttar - 79' )
- 08 Rankin
- 03 Dixon
- 11 Erskine
- 22 Fraser
- 07 Mckay (Spittal - 45' )
Substitutes
- 02 Dillon
- 04 Souttar
- 15 Murray
- 20 Spittal
- 24 Spark
- 30 Bodul
- 51 Zwick
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 3, Dundee United 2.
90:00 +3:51 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 3, Dundee United 2.
90:00 +3:16Danny Swanson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90:00 +3:16Foul by John Souttar (Dundee United).
90:00 +1:25Foul by Dario Zanatta (Heart of Midlothian).
90:00 +1:25Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88:18Foul by Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian).
88:18Chris Erskine (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87:50Attempt missed. Dario Zanatta (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left.
82:37 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Dario Zanatta replaces Sam Nicholson.
80:49 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Danny Swanson replaces Osman Sow.
80:10Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
80:10Foul by Paul Dixon (Dundee United).
78:58 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Dundee United. John Souttar replaces Guy Demel.
78:09Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Sean Dillon.
74:54Attempt saved. John Rankin (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
74:17Attempt missed. Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
73:05Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
71:50Attempt saved. Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
70:52Foul by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
Chris Erskine (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
68:09Foul by Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian).
68:09John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
67:43Attempt missed. Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
66:37Attempt missed. Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
66:15Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
66:15Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
64:48Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
64:48Foul by Paul Dixon (Dundee United).
64:31Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
63:11Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Igor Rossi.
61:47Attempt missed. Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from very close range is close, but misses to the left.
58:21Attempt missed. Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left.
57:48Attempt saved. Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
56:52Foul by Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian).
56:52Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54:33Foul by Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian).
54:33Attempt saved. Arnaud Djoum (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
54:33Gavin Gunning (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54:18Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
54:18Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
50:06Attempt missed. Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
49:37Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Arnaud Djoum.
49:00Chris Erskine (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
48:59Foul by Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian).
47:48Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Blair Spittal.
47:36Attempt blocked. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
47:01Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Ryan McGowan.
46:46Attempt saved. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
45:31Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Billy King.
45:00Second Half begins Heart of Midlothian 3, Dundee United 2.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Arnaud Djoum replaces Morgaro Gomis.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Dundee United. Blair Spittal replaces Billy McKay.
45:00 +3:16 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 3, Dundee United 2.
45:00 +2:56 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Dundee United. Sean Dillon replaces Callum Morris because of an injury.
45:00 +0:15Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
45:00 +0:15 DismissalDismissal Mark Durnan (Dundee United) is shown the red card.
45:00 +0:15Foul by Mark Durnan (Dundee United).
44:29 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Heart of Midlothian 3, Dundee United 2. Scott Fraser (Dundee United) from a free kick with a left footed shot to the top left corner.
44:00Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
43:52Foul by Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian).
41:04Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Igor Rossi.
40:22Attempt blocked. Guy Demel (Dundee United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
39:58Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Juwon Oshaniwa.
39:26Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
39:26Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).
39:00John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
38:59Foul by Jordan McGhee (Heart of Midlothian).
34:19Attempt missed. Paul Dixon (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
33:52Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Igor Rossi.
33:25 BookingBooking Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
33:15Foul by Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian).
33:15John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
29:50 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Heart of Midlothian 3, Dundee United 1. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
29:09Penalty Heart of Midlothian. Billy King draws a foul in the penalty area.
29:09Penalty conceded by Callum Morris (Dundee United) after a foul in the penalty area.
28:27Foul by Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian).
28:27John Rankin (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
27:26Attempt saved. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
25:28 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Heart of Midlothian 2, Dundee United 1. Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sam Nicholson.
24:47Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
24:47Foul by Chris Erskine (Dundee United).
24:34Juwon Oshaniwa (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
24:34Foul by Guy Demel (Dundee United).
24:04Attempt saved. Chris Erskine (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
22:26Attempt missed. Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
19:26Foul by Juwon Oshaniwa (Heart of Midlothian).
19:26Scott Fraser (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
18:50Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
18:50Foul by Billy McKay (Dundee United).
16:57 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Heart of Midlothian 1, Dundee United 1. Gavin Reilly (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner.
16:47Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Michal Szromnik.
15:40Foul by Juwon Oshaniwa (Heart of Midlothian).
15:40Guy Demel (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
14:12Attempt missed. Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left.
11:25Foul by Igor Rossi (Heart of Midlothian).
11:25Chris Erskine (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
9:54Attempt missed. Chris Erskine (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left.
9:39Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Jordan McGhee.
7:42Hand ball by John Rankin (Dundee United).
7:00Juwon Oshaniwa (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
6:57Foul by Billy McKay (Dundee United).
6:31Attempt missed. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
5:08Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Callum Morris.
1:45 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Heart of Midlothian 0, Dundee United 1. Billy McKay (Dundee United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
0:48Penalty conceded by Juwon Oshaniwa (Heart of Midlothian) after a foul in the penalty area.
0:48Penalty Dundee United. Scott Fraser draws a foul in the penalty area.
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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