Goncalves was a surprise inclusion by visiting manager Jim Jefferies, who pledged never to select him again unless he signed a contract extension. However, the complete absence of central defenders forced his recall. Jefferies had hoped to reinstate Ismael Bouzid but the Algerian international has now injured the other hamstring from that damaged in last month’s Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final. Dawid Kucharski failed to train on Thursday and Friday and was thus ruled out, likewise Marius Zaliukas, while Eggert Jonsson served a one-match suspension.

Hearts arrived at Tannadice on the back of three consecutive victories and enjoyed a notable period of pressure early in the match. Once United settled into their rhythm they became difficult to dislodge and it was they who emerged strongest after the interval before breaking the deadlock through Gomis. Craig Conway’s right-sided free-kick fell to Garry Kenneth, and his measured pass allowed Gomis to convert past Janos Balogh via a defender.

Goncalves performed admirably throughout considering he answered an SOS to play with his own thigh problem less than fully cured. He partnered Lee Wallace in the centre of a makeshift Hearts defence with Jason Thomson at right-back and David Obua left-back. There was another last-minute change after Michael Stewart sustained an injury during the warm-up and was replaced in the starting XI by Paul Mulrooney.

When proceedings began it was Hearts who initially assumed command. Suso’s ninth-minute effort from 20 yards produced an impressive save from Dusan Pernis, the United goalkeeper. Seconds later, Jamie Mole sent Thomson’s cross looping only narrowly wide as the visitors caused untold problems amongst the home rearguard. That said, they were slightly fortunate not be penalised for handball in their own penalty box as Obua fell on the ball whilst challenging David Goodwillie.

The entertainment continued throughout an extremely open first period. Balogh knew little about his first save of the afternoon when Kenneth struck Conway’s corner off the Hearts goalkeeper. Then, as the match ebbed and flowed, Hearts poured forward once again for Mulrooney to intercept a clearance before dispatching a powerful left-footed shot which was only stopped by the fingertips of Pernis.

Goodwillie passed up the clearest opening thus far on the half-hour, with United looking considerably more assertive going forward. Supplied with the ball unmarked in the inside right channel, the young striker contrived to steer his shot wide of the Hearts goal when an attempt on target was the bare minumum expected. By the time the interval arrived, a total of 15 attempts at goal had been recorded, exemplifying the context of the fare on offer.

The second half began with Christian Nade’s reappearance following an altercation with team-mate Ian Black at Celtic Park last month. He replaced Jamie Mole in attack but could not stem United’s probing. From Goodwillie’s 64th-minute cross, midfielder Prince Buaben powered a downward header wide of goal despite being unmarked. The same player then found himself with another priceless opening when Conway crossed into his path ten yards from goal, but the first-time shot careered off Obua and bounced wide.

On 78 minutes Hearts’ resistence was breached. Conway’s free-kick landed at the feet of Kenneth, who teed up Gomis to plant the ball beyond Balogh with the help of a rather cruel deflection. The celebrations amongst the United support emphasised the importance of the goal with little time for Hearts to fashion a response.

The midfielder saw red following a dangerous tackle on Fraser Fyvie early in the second half.

But the Dons were unable to take advantage of their superior manpower and fell behind when Eggert Jonsson’s overhead kick flew into the net.

Aberdeen rarely threatened and their delivery into the box posed few problems to the Hearts rearguard.

The victory for Hearts, their third on the trot, takes them eight points clear of seventh-placed Aberdeen, who have a game in hand.

An early slip by Hearts full-back Dawid Kucharski almost allowed Aberdeen in on goal but Lee Wallace mopped up the danger.

Jonsson blazed over the Aberdeen crossbar as both sides struggled to carve out decent scoring chances.

Aberdeen’s Ricky Foster fired into the side-netting after being presented with possession on the edge of the Hearts box before, at the other end, there were faint appeals for a penalty following Gary McDonald’s challenge on Ryan Stevenson.

Kucharski limped off injured and and was soon replaced by Kingston.

Stevenson’s shot was claimed by goalkeeper Jamie Langfield seconds before the referee’s whistle ended the opening period.

Hearts’ injury woes continued after the interval as Marius Zaliukas left the field for treatment on what appeared to be a hamstring injury and, while the defender was off the park, the visitors’ numbers were further reduced by Kingston’s dismissal.

The Ghana midfielder caught Fyvie with a high challenge and was promptly ordered off by referee Willie Collum.

Paul Mulrooney was sent on in place of Zaliukas before Darren Mackie’s flicked header was collected by Hearts keeper Janos Balogh.

Charlie Mulgrew tried to take Balogh by surprise by shooting from a free-kick wide on the left but the keeper positioned himself well to hold the attempt.

Hearts took a surprise lead in the 64th minute when Calum Elliot’s shot cannoned high into the air off Mulgrew and no-one challenged Jonsson as he acrobatically volleyed past Langfield.

Elliot cut in from the left and fired a shot at Langfield as Hearts looked to close the game out.

A mis-hit shot by Mulgrew and effort wide by substitute Michael Paton typified Aberdeen’s frustration in front of goal.

Wallace was the next Hearts player to receive treatment after a clash of heads with team-mate David Obua produced a gash on the side of the full-back’s forehead but he soon returned to play sporting a bandage to help his side see out the final few minutes.

Marius Zaliukas headed over the visitors’ crossbar during a first half of few chances.

Flavio Paixao was denied the opener by Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello after the interval.

David Obua headed the home side in front 19 minutes into the second half and David Templeton doubled the lead with his first Hearts goal late on.

The result takes Hearts to within four points of fifth-placed Motherwell while Hamilton remain one point above Scottish Premier League bottom club Falkirk.

A dangerous Suso Santana corner was diverted away from the Hamilton goal by keeper Tomas Cerny in an early Hearts attack.

After Jason Thomson had fired over the Hamilton goal, referee Steve Conroy waved away the home side’s claims for a penalty following Simon Mensing’s challenge on Calum Elliot.

Another Santana corner caused panic in the Hamilton defence as Elliot tried to pounce but the ball was eventually cleared.

The visitors moved to the other end and Flavio Paixao’s dipping volley from a tight angle cleared the far post.

Zaliukas failed to hit the target with a header after connecting with Suso’s corner on the half-hour mark.

Accies then almost caught Hearts out with a swift counter-attack, which ended with Flavio Paixao putting a teasing ball into the box that neither James McArthur nor Marco Paixao could convert.

Hearts made a positive start to the second half and Eggert Jonsson’s cross was flicked on to Lee Wallace, who could not keep his shot down.

The home side continued to press and Thomson headed wide from Arvydas Novikovas’ corner.

Moments later, the Paixao brothers combined to good effect with Marco playing Flavio through for a shot that was blocked by Kello.

Novikovas set up Wallace for another strike at goal and the full-back’s effort just cleared the crossbar.

But Hearts finally made the breakthrough when Ryan Stevenson’s inventive set-up work was rewarded by Obua’s headed finish.

The goal roused Hamilton into action and Alex Neil’s shot was saved by Kello.

An error by Brian Easton led to Hearts’ second as the on-loan Burnley full-back knocked a bouncing ball over his own keeper, allowing Suso’s replacement Templeton to run the ball into the empty net with 10 minutes remaining.

Easton tried to atone for his mistake with a stinging volley that produced another impressive save by Kello.

Laryea Kingston had earlier come on for Novikovas and the Ghanaian came close to getting a third for Hearts with a controlled volley that Cerny palmed away.

With the match in injury time, referee Conroy turned down more penalty appeals after Hearts players claimed David Elebert had handled in the box and Kingston fired another effort over before the end.

Callum Elliot’s cross evaded goalkeeper Robert Olejnik and ended in the net to put Hearts ahead, but David Kucharski’s own goal levelled matters.

Suso Santana regained the lead for Hearts and Ian Black fired a long-range third for the home side.

Pedro Moutinho reduced Falkirk’s deficit but Hearts held on for victory.

The Tynecastle side were eager to end a run of four straight defeats.

And they found themselves in front in the fifth minute as Elliot’s diagonal delivery caught out Olejnik.

Falkirk looked to get an equaliser and striker Carl Finnigan was denied by Marian Kello after the goalkeeper had raced from his line.

Suso had a shot blocked by the Falkirk defence before Ryan Stevenson’s half-volley was claimed at the second attempt by Olejnik.

Arvydas Novikovas put Falkirk under more pressure with a dangerous cross and Tam Scobbie made an important clearance on the goal-line.

The Bairns levelled when Finnigan played Marc Twaddle in for a shot and Kucharski could not get out the way as he diverted the ball past Kello.

Falkirk started the second half brightly and could have gone in front when substitute Enoch Showunmi crossed for Ryan Flynn only for the midfielder to scoop his effort over the crossbar.

Stevenson fired wide before, at the other end, Burton O’Brien’s free-kick drifted just wide of the Hearts goal.

Olejnik was again culpable for Hearts’ second with the keeper failing to deal with Novikovas’ cross before Suso collected the ball and fired home.

And Black made sure of the win on 67 minutes with a powerful long-range drive that clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way in.

Gary Glen fired over the Falkirk bar as Hearts continued to open their opponents up.

Moutinho had earlier replaced Colin Healy and brought Falkirk back into the match with seven minutes remaining.

The forward combined well with Flynn before rifling a shot past Kello.

Falkirk pressed for a late equaliser but could not find a way through the Hearts defence.

The visitors were spirited in the first half, which ended goalless.

But they were stunned when Glenn Loovens slammed home Celtic’s opener with his left foot in the 49th minute from Diomansy Kamara’s corner.

Marc-Antoine Fortune slotted home a second almost instantly after picking up Aiden McGeady’s superb pass.

Robbie Keane was making his first start at Celtic Park, but skewed the ball wide after breaking the offside trap on seven minutes following Josh Thompson’s long ball.

The striker looked sharp and he kept the Hearts defence on their toes as a couple more offside decisions went against him.

However, Hearts were looking quite comfortable with Lee Wallace keeping McGeady’s attacking runs in check.

Thompson blocked a shot from debutant Ryan Stevenson on the edge of the box in a rare flurry from the Edinburgh side before McGeady’s ball found Keane offside again.

Jefferies’ men were on the back foot again on 25 minutes as Celtic began to make headway.

McGeady skipped down the wing and played it inside for Kamara who teed up Scott Brown. His shot was blocked by Marian Kello before Fortune’s rebound was deflected off the goalkeeper for a corner.

Moments later, the Slovakian made yet another good save when he blocked Keane’s effort after the Irishman was sent clean through on goal by McGeady.

As half-time approached, Michael Stewart’s mis-hit shot from 30 yards was re-directed towards the Celtic goal by the unmarked Paul Mulrooney – who may have thought he was offside – and the ball flashed just wide of the target.

Hearts were matching Celtic well in midfield but unable to fashion any clear-cut chances as the score remained deadlocked at 0-0.

However, there was an explosive start to the second half as Celtic charged ahead with two goals inside a minute.

Kamara’s corner from the right corner found Loovens in the heart of the penalty box and the Dutchman mis-controlled it, but still managed to switch the ball from right foot to left and clinically finish.

Hearts were dazed and McGeady left a clutch of players in his slipstream as he powered forward and slid the ball through to Fortune, who slotted home Celtic’s second to keep up his red-hot recent form.

McGeady hit wide himself and Keane then shot across face of goal as Tony Mowbray’s side looked to take advantage of their increasing dominance.

Goal hero Loovens looked to have picked up an injury and Celtic were forced to pitch in Norwegian teenager Thomas Rogne for his debut in defence, but the rhythm of the match didn’t change.

Keane again had a chance one-on-one with the keeper after a well-weighted pass from Kamara but Kello again denied him his first home goal for the club.

Yet another chance came for the Republic of Ireland international when a cushioned pass from substitute Ki Sung Yong put him through. He checked onto his right foot and curled the ball onto the top of the net.

In the end, though, it mattered little as Hearts’ challenge fizzled out and Celtic edged close to Rangers in the championship race as Walter Smith’s men drew 1-1 at Motherwell.

Driver, who has been capped for England Under-21s, qualifies for Scotland under recently-agreed residency criteria.

He also played for Scotland schoolboys, once scoring against England.

Levein has also confirmed that Rangers pair Kris Boyd and Allan McGregor will be included in the squad for March’s friendly with the Czech Republic.

Boyd declared himself unavailable for Scotland under former manager George Burley while McGregor was banned for a breach of discipline.

Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson, now at Birmingham, was also banned and doubts remain as to whether he will return to the Scotland fold.

Levein has spoken to Ferguson and said the discussions were positive but the matter is not yet resolved.

The four British home nations recently agreed to change the eligibility rules to include those with five years’ schooling in a country.

That gave Driver, who had represented Scotland at schoolboy level, the opportunity to switch should he decide to do so.

“Andy Driver gave me the nod yesterday that he is dead keen,” explained Levein.

“I said ‘Do you want to go away and think about it?’ He said ‘No, my mind is made up, I want to play for Scotland’.

“We need to find out he meets the criteria exactly, that it’s five years schooling and not four years, 11 months and 26 days.”

Driver turned out for England at the U21 European Championship last summer but injury has restricted him to just 11 appearances for Hearts this season.

Speaking after making his latest comeback in the weekend defeat to St Johnstone last Saturday, Driver said: “I hold Craig Levein in high regard.

“He was the first manager I ever had in my Hearts career.

The Buddies created the better of the first-half chances, but Mehmet and Michael Higdon were denied by Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello.

Mehmet found the net after 51 minutes to give St Mirren a deserved lead.

Hearts were unable to respond and had Kello to thank for preventing Andy Dorman from increasing the lead.

St Mirren now await the winners of Wednesday’s semi-final between St Johnstone and Rangers, who knocked the Paisley side out at the same stage of the Scottish Cup last season, after securing their first appearance in the League Cup final since 1955.

It was the second time Hearts manager Jim Jefferies had suffered defeat to the Buddies in this season’s competition, his Kilmarnock side taking an exit before last week’s switch to Tynecastle.
Jefferies, who steered Hearts to Scottish Cup glory in 1998, had rung the changes in an attempt to avoid a second League Cup semi-final defeat in three years.

Andrew Driver had returned to the starting line-up along with Gordon Smith, while Lee Wallace and Ian Black had recovered from injury.

Dawid Kucharski, David Obua and Gary Glen dropped out, while Rocky Visconte is now at Ayr on loan.

Chris Innes and Dorman were back for St Mirren, with Steven Robb and Garry Brady dropping to the bench, as the Buddies lined up with five at the back and looked to play the ball long on a heavy pitch unsuited to passing football – and unworthy of a national cup semi-final.

And the tactic brought them the best chances of the first half, with Mehmet forcing a save from a header after a Jack Ross cross.

A Lee Mair header drifted wide from a corner by Dorman, who then set up Higdon.

However, the striker got the ball caught underneath his feet and his weak effort was saved by Kello.

The pitch was cutting up so badly that St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson came on to the field of play to replace some divots during a stoppage.

Ross showed strength to hold off his marker before curling a shot a few feet wide from the edge of the box then a Mehmet shot found the side netting from 20 yards.

Hearts’ under-pressure defence suffered another blow after 25 minutes when Ismael Bouzid pulled up with an injury to be replaced with Kucharski.

Even so, the Edinburgh side settled and created their only half chance of the half when Smith found goalkeeper Paul Gallacher blocking from close range as he tried to fire home Christian Nade’s knockdown on the turn.

A poor clearance from keeper Kello put Michael Higdon clear, but Zaliukas got back to intercept.

However, the opening goal was not long in coming when Ross found Mehmet in the clear with a neat crossfield pass and the striker curled the ball home with great precision from 22 yards.

Mehmet gave Dorman the chance to just about put the tie beyond Hearts minutes later by forcing a pass behind the maroon defence.

However, Kello blocked with his chest the normally clinical midfielder’s drive from just inside of the box.

A low cross-cum-shot from Driver was cleared in front of goal by John Potter as a desperate Hearts threw everything forward.

However, Hearts failed to test goalkeeper Gallacher as St Mirren ensured a visit to Hampden.

The big striker rose at the back post to nod home a cross from Filipe Morais early in the second half.

Saints made most of the running, with Steven Milne twice going close and Cillian Sheridan hitting a post.

Hearts offered little in attack but Gordon Smith was denied a late leveller by a Gary Irvine block.

The manager may have changed at the Edinburgh side but the visitors’ approach was as stuffy as ever, with just one shot on target in the whole game.

Jefferies, who led Hearts to Scottish Cup glory in 1998, had less than 24 hours to prepare his side.

He was joined in the dugout by long-time lieutenant Billy Brown and Gary Locke, although neither are yet officially employed by the club.

Hearts enjoyed more possession early on but Saints posed the greater threat, with the ball over the top catching Hearts out on a number of occasions.

Chris Millar saw his shot saved by Marian Kello, while Milne skied his finish under pressure.

With Morais looking lively and Millar industrious, the home side continued to press and an off-balance Milne headed a good opportunity over.

The fit-again Driver his first appearance for almost three months for Hearts when he replaced defender Marius Zaliukas during the interval.

t took less than a minute of the second half for Hearts to conjure up their first shot, Gary Glen volleying over when well placed after Dave Mackay missed his clearing header.

Deuchar then failed to connect properly with Millar’s cross and Milne drilled wide from a tight angle.

The decisive goal arrived on 51 minutes when Danny Grainger’s low left-wing cross was turned in by Deuchar, the striker’s first SPL goal for almost two years.

Hearts responded when substitute Marius Cinikas crossed for Christian Nade, who should have hit the target with a free header.

Saints were not sitting on their lead and Sheridan side-footed tamely at Kello and Millar saw a shot blocked before Sheridan again finished weakly, this time from outside the penalty box.

With Hearts finally showing some menace, Grainger came to the hosts’ rescue when he headed Driver’s wicked cross behind.

But Sheridan should have made the game safe when he blasted Milne’s cross-cum-shot against the post.

A Driver free-kick was deflected though to Smith, who volleyed over and the teenage substitute later saw what looked a certain equaliser blocked by Irvine in a dramatic close to the match.

The 59-year-old, a former captain of the Edinburgh side, was at the Tynecastle helm between 1995 and 2000.

Earlier this month, Jefferies and his assistant Billy Brown ended their near-eight year stay with Kilmarnock.

Laszlo was dismissed after 18 months in charge, having been at odds with club owner Vladimir Romanov over a lack of funds for new players.

The 45-year-old Romanian-born Hungarian citizen was the longest serving boss of the Romanov era, which began in 2005.

Jefferies, who played for Hearts between 1967-1981, is believed to have agreed a three-year contract and is thrilled to be back.
“It did not take me too long to have a chat with them as everyone knows I have supported, played and managed the club,” he told the club website.

“I think over the years a lot of people have linked me with the job a couple of times and there was a groundswell of hope.

“I know how things work in the club and now we’ve got to a stage where it is just a fantastic feeling to be back involved at the club again.”

Despite the the lack of funds for his predecessor and the club running up a debt of around £30m, Jefferies believes he is taking over at “a great time”.

“We’re in the top half and we’re in a cup semi-final. It is very positive,” he said.

“It is not often a manager can come back and it has been nine years.

“Hopefully we can use the experience gained in that time. Although I am a bit older, the passion is still there for this club.”

Laszlo steered Hearts to a third place finish in the Scottish Premier League last season but the Edinburgh side have struggled for form this term.

A good run of seven league games without defeat saw Hearts climb up the table to fifth spot but Wednesday saw them slump to a 3-0 home defeat to Aberdeen, who also knocked the Tynecastle side out of the Scottish Cup this month.

With just nine goals in 11 home league games this season, Laszlo had repeatedly spoken of his desire to add strikers to his squad in the January transfer window.

But, on the morning of his departure, he revealed that he would have no money to spend even if prize-asset Lee Wallace was sold.

“At the end of November or beginning of December, I gave to the board a complete plan for the short-term and also the long-term,” he revealed.

“Now the January transfer window is finished. This plan you can put it in the dustbin.”

Laszlo also blamed the club’s reliance on young players on the worst injury crisis of his career, which included a spell in charge of Uganda.

He said that being forced to persistently field youngsters resulted in them picking up injuries more physically developed players would have avoided.

“The body reaction showed I had it right,” said former Ferencváros and Borussia Mönchengladbach boss Laszlo.

“This is not an accident that Craig Thomson, Johnny Stewart, (David) Templeton, Scott Robinson are injured.”

That quartet is just the tip of the iceberg, with Andrew Driver, Lee Wallace, Ruben Palazuelos, Ian Black, Laryea Kingston, Arvydas Novikovas, Jamie Mole, Calum Elliot, Jamie MacDonald and Jamie Mole all nursing problems.

Hearts turned to Laszlo after then Motherwell boss Mark McGhee, now in charge at Aberdeen, rejected advances from Tynecastle.

Having trailed in eighth in the previous season, Laszlo immediately transformed an ailing side and clinched third spot by a margin of six points.

Romanov assumed control of the Edinburgh club in early 2005, with John Robertson, George Burley, Valdas Ivanauskas, Graham Rix and Stephen Frail the managers to serve him before Laszlo.

With Hearts looking for offside, the young midfielder latched on to a Mark Kerr through ball and tucked the ball under Marian Kello.

Mike Tumilty rejected Hearts’ penalty claim when Michael Stewart was felled.

Darren Mackie nicked the ball past Kello in 50 minutes and Derek Young added a third from a free-kick.

Hearts went in to this mid-table match looking to extend their unbeaten SPL run to eight matches, their best sequence since George Burley led them to the top of the table more than four years ago.

Almost inevitably, the last time they enjoyed such a run Aberdeen were the side who beat them.

Teenagers Scott Robinson and Gordon Smith, the latter in for Christian Nade, were given the striking roles by Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo and their ability and enthusiasm was enough to keep the Dons defence on their toes.

However, it was another teenager who broke the deadlock in 12 minutes, shortly after Hearts’ Marius Zaliukas had a weak effort at Jamie Langfield’s goal.

Fyvie scored his first goal for Aberdeen when he picked up the pass from his captain Kerr and, as the visitors waited for the offside flag to be raised, ran in on goal and his low shot beat Kello.

These two sides have the worst disciplinary records in the SPL and the physical nature of the match was exemplified when Ismael Bouzid suffered a facial injury in a challenge with Mackie.

Hearts responded by winning more of the challenges in midfield but their opponents continued to threaten on the break.

The home fans were furious with referee Tumilty when their skipper Stewart went down in the box under a challenge by Jerel Ifil but was denied a penalty. Instead, Tumilty brought the play back to an earlier infringement by Ricky Foster on Robinson.

Laszlo’s side had the best defence in the SPL at kick-off but that was made more fragile by the departure through injury of Lee Wallace.

The Dons went two ahead thanks to striker Mackie, who nicked the ball past Kello in the 50th minute.

And Mackie should have made it three when he connected with a Foster cross from a crisp counter-attack but saw his shot saved by Kello.

A crucial challenge from Ifil prevented Zaliukas getting his shot away in the 55th minute before an Aberdeen breakaway almost killed the contest, Kerr’s shot going just wide.

Hearts threw on David Witteveen for Smith, and Rocky Visconte for Ruben Palazuelos.

With 20 minutes left, Charlie Mulgrew was needlessly booked for chopping down Robinson on the touchline.

Mulgrew was quickly withdrawn for Zander Diamond, the injury-plagued defender’s first appearance since the opening day of the season.

To manager Mark McGhee’s delight, Young fired in a hopeful long-range free-kick, which every player left to his team-mate, and the ball rolled beyond Kello to end the game as a contest.

BBC