Confident Jambos ‘don’t fear anyone’

Dundee United 0 Hearts 3

Strikes from captain Steven Pressley, Roman Bednar and Rudi Skacel gave George Burley’s dynamic new team a well-deserved win.

United were steamrollered in the first half but rallied after the break and had a few chances of their own, but the Jambos’ classy performance left the destination of the points in little doubt.

Afterwards midfielder Paul Hartley said he no longer fears the Old Firm and believes the Jambos will deserve respect when they meet Rangers at Tynecastle next month.

Hartley admits seeing the Jambos’ name at the top of the SPL feels unusual, but hopes they can stay there for as long as possible and definitely wants to be in the mix when Rangers visit on September 25.

“We were told at half-time that Rangers had lost, so we knew that if we held on we would be back at the top of the league.

“The Old Firm are both there for the taking these days, we don’t fear anyone. Clubs have regularly taken points off them over the last year or so, especially at home, so when that one comes round we’ll go into it with confidence.

"We’ve had three good results and it’s up to us to keep it going, but hearing Hearts’ name at the top of the league is nice.

“You can feel a buzz around the club and we’ve had a tremendous backing from the fans this season,” Hartley said.

DUNDEE UTD: Stillie, McCracken, Wilson, Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Miller, Crawford (Fernandez 60), McIntyre.

HEARTS: Gordon, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, Fyssas, Mikoliunas (McAllister 45), Brellier (Wallace 61), Hartley, Skacel, Jankauskas (Pospisil 73), Bednar.

Referee: C Richmond (Scotland).