Morgaro Gomis scored his third goal in two games as wasteful Dundee United finally pierced injury-ravaged Hearts to regain third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a 1-0 win at Tannadice.
United missed numerous opportunities in a game they dominated before Gomis' shot deflected in off makeshift centre-back Lee Wallace 13 minutes from time.
Hearts' only real chance at came when Dusan Pernis denied Paul Mulrooney with a stunning save and the midfielder was forced off late on as the visitors' crippling injury list grew further.
Jose Goncalves, who Jim Jefferies vowed not to play until he agreed to sign a new contract, featured for the first time under the new Jambos boss amid reports permission had been sought to play him from majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. The visitors were forced into another change when captain Michael Stewart failed to shake off a knock in the warm-up, meaning Mulrooney started in midfield.
David Goodwillie wasted a great chance to put United in front midway through the half, the striker slashing wildly at Garry Kenneth's flick-on from a corner from four yards. At the other end, Mulrooney forced a superb save from Pernis when his driving run ended with a 20-yard rocket that was tipped wide by the Slovakian.
Ryan Stevenson blazed wide under pressure before Goodwillie missed another opportunity when he fired wide of Janos Balogh's near post. Kenneth then nodded a corner over the top and Mulrooney sent a wicked ball across the United six-yard box that somehow evaded everyone.
Prince Buaben should have broken the deadlock for United when he powered a header wide from Goodwillie's cross in the 64th minute. Arguably the best chance of the the game then fell to the same player after brilliant work from Craig Conway, whose low cross was fired straight at Hearts' David Obua.
Francisco Sandaza - who had been out all season after hernia surgery - was then introduced for Goodwillie 13 minutes from time to a rapturous reception, which grew when United immediately took the lead.
Conway's free-kick broke to Gomis in the box and the Senegal midfielder's left-foot finish took a big deflection past the helpless Balogh.
Sandaza went close to capping a dream comeback in the closing stages but the ball evaded him as he looked poised to pounce and Goncalves almost scored a comical own goal in stoppage-time.
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