Scottish Premiership: Dundee United beat Hearts with late goal

Ladbrokes Premiership bottom side Dundee United gave their faint survival prospects a boost with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Hearts on Saturday.

Paul Paton scored a fantastic goal with just two minutes remaining at Tannadice Park to secure the three points on a day when both sides finished the match with 10 men.

There was also late drama at St Johnstone, where the hosts beat Motherwell 2-1 thanks to a Tam Scobbie goal in the first minute of stoppage time.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Ross County were reduced to 10 men but still managed to defeat Hamilton 2-1, while Kilmarnock, with Lee Clark in charge for the first time, were held to a 0-0 draw by Dundee.

There was a good start for hosts Dundee United at Tannadice and Hearts goalkeeper Neil Alexander did brilliantly to keep out a downward header from Edward Ofere.

The visitors then found themselves reduced to 10 men five minutes before the break when Jordan McGhee, who a few minutes earlier had been booked for a foul on Florent Sinama Pongolle, felled Ofere with a reckless challenge and received a second yellow card.

And it only took the hosts three minutes to capitalise, Guy Demel heading a Blair Spittal corner home at the near post after John Rankin had hit the woodwork.

However, three minutes after half-time Hearts levelled thanks to an excellent goal from Jamie Walker, who calmly brought down a high John Souttar pass on the left hand side of the box and then unleashed a superb shot which flew into the roof of the net.

It looked like the Arabs may have squandered their chance, especially when sub Ryan Dow lobbed Alexander, only for the ball to bounce agonisingly over the bar.

But Paton then provided a major highlight in what has been a tough season for Dundee United, steadying himself as the ball was laid back before crashing a brilliant 30-yard volley into the net to send Tannadice wild.

And there was still time for the hosts to be reduced to 10 men as well, Henri Anier, who only came off the bench with 17 minutes left, receiving a second yellow in the 90th minute.

Dundee United are now 11 points behind second-bottom Kilmarnock, having played a game less, after Killie were held 0-0 by Dundee in Clark's first game at the helm.

The hosts were full of endeavour at Rugby Park, led by Josh Magennis, who shot just wide early on before bringing a decent save from Scott Bain, who also did superbly to keep out a deflected Craig Slater free-kick.

Paul McGinn then cleared off the line as Magennis threatened yet again but Dundee then came right into the match after the interval.

And Clark was eventually grateful to his outstanding goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, who did well to block a low shot from Paul McGowan and then produced an even better save to somehow deny Kane Hemmings.

Dundee's centre-backs then almost combined to score the vital goal in the 90th minute as Darren O'Dea found space at the far post and nodded the ball across for Thomas Konrad, whose header drifted inches wide of the target.

Over at McDiarmid Park, a slow-burner between St Johnstone and Motherwell kicked into gear when the visitors took a 33rd-minute lead, James McFadden sending over a corner and Louis Moult getting up well to head it into the back of the net from close range.

St Johnstone responded well to the setback, Chris Millar and Liam Craig both going close before David Wotherspoon (43) scored a fine leveller from a tricky angle, his powerful shot flying in at the near post after he had cut in from the left.

Both sides had chances after the break, Moult heading wide at one end and Cummins doing likewise at the other.

And St Johnstone's Liam Craig then squandered a great opportunity when he side-footed wide from close range.

However, the hosts claimed the spoils in the end, Simon Lappin sending over a free-kick from the left and Scobbie heading it into the net from six yards out to snatch a 2-1 victory.

Ross County remain a point ahead of St Johnstone after a brilliant Ian McShane free-kick earned them an entertaining 2-1 win over Hamilton at the Global Energy Stadium.

The hosts went into the lead in stoppage-time at the end of the first-half when a Richard Foster free-kick was flicked on by Andrew Davies and Alex Schalk was on hand to head home from close range.

However, Ross County were reduced to 10 men in the first minute of the second half, Jamie Reckord dismissed for impeding Dougie Imrie as he tried to run through on goal.

Accies sensed their chance but were hindered by County goalkeeper Scott Fox, who made a fine save to deny Ali Crawford and produced another impressive stop to foil Imrie.

But the extra man paid off for Hamilton in the 66th-minute, Antons Kurakins sending over a deep cross which Imrie nodded into the net.

Ross County had the final say with 12 minutes left though when Crawford brought down Davies and McShane curled a lovely shot into the top corner.