Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Dundee 2.
Dundee moved off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership after Andrew Nelson's first goal for the club earned them a surprise win at Hearts.
Nelson, who was released by Sunderland earlier in January, finished ruthlessly just after the hour to take Dundee above St Mirren.
The striker had already been involved in the opener, playing a one-two with Genseric Kusunga, who finished sharply.
Hearts had levelled after Olly Lee's free-kick deflected into the net.
However, Craig Levein's side fell to a first defeat in four to slip to sixth place in the division.
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Dundee good value for win
Jim McIntyre had his Dundee players well organised, with Martin Woods and Paul McGowan marshalling the midfield and Kusunga and Ryan Inniss looking solid at the back.
McIntyre's counterpart Levein must have been wondering what was going on with his team as they looked disjointed and could barely string two passes together in the opening period.
Czech striker David Vanecek was also given an indication of what will be required if he is to be a success at the club. The new Tynecastle number 32 was booked early on and lost the ball that led to the Dundee opener, much to the dismay of Levein who replaced him with Steven MacLean before half time.
Although the opener came from a Hearts mistake, credit must go to Dens defender Kusunga for showing terrific initiative. The Angola international played a wonderful one-two with Nelson and showed great composure with a fine finish beyond Colin Doyle.
But, within 15 minutes, Lady Luck shone on Hearts as Lee's free-kick found the net via the unfortunate Jesse Curran.
Hearts defender Jon Souttar had been missing since October but Levein introduced him just before the hour, with Callumn Morrison making way in a tactical switch. However, the Scotland defender must have been wishing he was back on the bench when Dundee regained the lead after 62 minutes.
Conor Shaughnessy looked to have a long ball well under control but slipped on the greasy surface, allowing Craig Curran space and time to pick out Nelson, who slid the ball into the corner with Doyle helpless in the home goal.
Aidan Keena volleyed wide and substitute Jake Mulraney shot straight at Semy Dieng as Hearts toiled.
Hearts miss Naismith - analysis
With a record of just two wins in their previous 22 matches, few would have given Dundee hope of leaving the capital with anything other than pride. However, the 247 fans who made the trip from Tayside can have much more than hope that their team can retain their Premiership status.
Kusunga and Ryan Inniss looked as if they would be a match for many top-flight strikers and the work-rate of Paul McGowan in midfield was immense with both Craig Curran and Nelson leading the line brilliantly.
And the result is evidence again of how important Steven Naismith is to Hearts, the striker missing out through suspension after being on the winning side in 15 of his 20 club appearances this season.
'Dundee stood up to Hearts' - reaction
Hearts manager Craig Levein: "We didn't play anywhere near well enough, particularly in the first half. I ended up taking David Vanecek off because I felt he just looked as if he wasn't at the races.
"Conor Shaughnessy slips and gifts them a goal so that just pretty much sums up the day. We didn't show enough composure in the last third of the field. We had a enough opportunities to win the game."
Dundee manager Jim McIntyre: "I thought we deserved it. I thought we played ever so well. We scored a couple of great goals.
"The players deserve a lot of credit because it's been a hard season and it's still going to be a hard season. To a man, they stood up to Hearts."
Line-ups
Hearts
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Doyle
- 2Smith
- 3Shaughnessy
- 6Berra
- 11MitchellSubstituted forMulraneyat 72'minutes
- 38MorrisonSubstituted forSouttarat 57'minutes
- 8Lee
- 10Sutchuin-Djoum
- 9Clare
- 35Keena
- 32VanecekBooked at 27minsSubstituted forMacLeanat 34'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Zlamal
- 4Souttar
- 7Bozanic
- 18MacLean
- 20Cochrane
- 23Mulraney
- 26Godinho
Dundee
Formation 4-4-2
- 31Dieng
- 2KerrBooked at 40mins
- 5Kusunga
- 15Inniss
- 3Ralph
- 27Curran
- 4Woods
- 18McGowan
- 17DalesSubstituted forMillerat 78'minutes
- 23CurranBooked at 57minsSubstituted forKallmanat 84'minutes
- 21NelsonBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMooreat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Deacon
- 12Parish
- 19Kallman
- 20Miller
- 25Jefferies
- 45Moore
- 47Lambert
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 15,518
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, Dundee 2.
Post update
Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Benjamin Kallman (Dundee).
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Attempt missed. Aidan Keena (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Djoum (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Benjamin Kallman (Dundee).
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Attempt saved. Kenny Miller (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee. Benjamin Kallman replaces Craig Curran.
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Aidan Keena (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Ryan Inniss (Dundee).
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Seny Timothy Dieng.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Jesse Curran.
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Attempt saved. Jake Mulraney (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee. Kenny Miller replaces Andy Dales.
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Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Craig Curran (Dundee).
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Attempt missed. Djoum (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Cammy Kerr.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Jake Mulraney replaces Demetri Mitchell.