Sunday 22 November 2015 12:09, UK
Hearts missed the chance to close the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic, after being held at home by Dundee, who came from behind to draw 1-1 at Tynecastle.
Rory Loy's second-half equaliser ended the home team's run of five straight league victories and denied them three more points which would have moved them within four of Celtic, who drew a blank against visiting Kilmarnock.
Hearts deservedly took the lead on 24 when Calum Paterson's cross was headed home by Arnaud Djoum.
The Edinburgh side remained the dominant team for the remainder of the first half, with Osman Sow a constant threat.
Visiting 'keeper Scott Bain came to his team's rescue on a number of occasions before Dundee levelled matters through Loy on 67, as Hearts conceded for the first time in more than six hours of Premiership play.
And what a fine individual goal it was, with Loy racing into the box before sweeping the ball past 'keeper Neil Alexander.
Both teams had chances to snatch a late winner but it was a point celebrated more by the Dark Blues than the Jambos.
There was an exciting encounter at Tannadice where bottom-of-the-table Dundee United suffered another defeat, losing 2-1 to in-form St Johnstone.
All the goals came during the first half, while Saints missed a penalty after the break.
Struggling United had the first real effort on goal, as Ryan McGowan went close from outside the box in the fourth minute and United duly went ahead on 32 through Billy McKay as he headed home McGowan's low cross.
The visitors came close to drawing level two minutes later when a free-kick by Dave MacKay struck a post.
The hosts almost added a second, only to be denied by Saints 'keeper Alan Mannus who parried Charlie Telfer's firm strike.
However, the game turned in St Johnstone's favour during the final five minutes of the first half. First, Chris Kane headed the visitors level on 42 before Murray Davidson netted from close range to give St Johnstone the lead.
They should have added a third on 64 via the penalty spot after John Rankin had fouled Kane, but Steven MacLean fired over and United were still in the game.
Blair Spittal almost grabbed an equaliser in injury-time when his long-range effort was saved by Mannus in the top right hand corner, and Saints held on to claim a sixth successive away win in all competitions.
United are now six points adrift after Partick Thistle came from behind to beat Inverness 2-1.
Ryan Stevenson snatched a last-gasp winner from a free-kick after Inverness had taken an early lead.
With just six minutes on the clock at Firhill, Miles Storey lashed home from 12 yards after collecting Danny Williams' pass.
And that was the way it remained until three minutes before the break as Kris Doolan deservedly drew Partick level from close range, after good work by Steven Lawless.
Owain Fon Williams made a great double save to first block Lawless and then Robbie Muirhead on the rebound in the 67th minute.
But, with 90 minutes on the clock, up stepped Stevenson whose kick evaded Williams - along with everyone else - as the ball crept in at the far post.
There was also three goals at Dingwall where Ross County eased past Motherwell 3-0.
Craig Curran fired County ahead in the 22nd minute, brilliantly curling home from inside the box thanks to an assist from Martin Woods.
Motherwell missed a great chance level a few minutes later when Louis Moult's header was saved by Gary Woods and the hosts extended their lead in the 69th minute as Woods found Tony Dingwall who made it 2-0 from 12 yards.
The third arrived via the penalty spot in the final minute from Liam Boyce after he had been brought down by Kieran Kennedy.
The win moved County fifth in the table, while Motherwell slipped second from bottom.
