Dundee’s heartache continued in Edinburgh as they hit the woodwork four times only to see the match end in defeat.
In many ways, the Dark Blues should have come away with at least a point from Tynecastle given their spirited second-half performance but when Lady Luck isn’t on your side, the ball just won’t fall for you.
The first half saw Hearts dominate for large spells and Dundee had Scott Bain to thank with three fantastic saves to keep them in the game.
As the first half grew, so did Dundee’s confidence and they became more of an attacking threat with Kostadin Gadzhalov, who came in for the injured Darren O’Dea, having a long-range effort cleared by Souttar.
The second half had just started when Tom Hateley — who had started instead of Cammy Kerr — hit the post from the corner of the 18-yard box.
It was the second time in the game he had hit the woodwork after clipping the bar with a first-half free-kick.
The bar was rattled again three minutes later when Gadzhalov got on the end of a corner.
Then, amazingly, the Dark Blues contrived to hit the woodwork for a fourth time as Yordi Teijsse struck the post from the edge of the box.
It wasn’t to be and, from a wide free-kick, Callum Paterson rose above Kevin Gomis to put Hearts 1-0 up.
Bjorn Johnsen added a second late on to end the game 2-0 to Hearts.
This was certainly a game Dundee deserved to take something from.
The current run of one win in eight is concerning from a punter’s point of view but they must have been heartened by a second-half performance full of desire, work-rate and attacking threat.
Games are won by fine margins and I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a game where the post and crossbar were hit as many times.
Hearts had spells in the first half where they could have scored but that is why you pay your goalkeeper and Dundee are fortunate to have such a good one in Bain.
Although Dundee had a few attacks in the first half, the final ball wasn’t good enough or decision making was wrong, giving Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton very little to do.
The disappointment in the game was that Hearts’ first goal came from a set-piece.
The Dundee players had defended well in numbers and only the odd mistake had allowed Hearts efforts at goal.
So to lose a goal from a free-kick will frustrate the manager.
Throughout the team the work ethic is second to none, the side pressed the Jambos in the midfield with success and frustrated them to the point they looked as if they had run out of ideas.
The fine lines which win you games are in both 18-yard boxes and where Dundee weren’t clinical with their chances, the men in maroon were with theirs.
There is no shortage of effort in this Dundee team and plenty to work with.
They gave their all on Saturday in a difficult venue in front of a full house, something which has to be admired.
Luck wasn’t on their side but you earn that bit of good fortune by working hard and, on the evidence at the weekend, the tide has to turn soon.
No better place to start than at McDiarmid next weekend in the Tayside derby against St Johnstone.
Another difficult place to go but one where the players should still have the confidence to express themselves.
