TYNECASTLE has witnessed some stunning goals over the years.
Stephen Humphrys’ wonder strike must be up there with the best of the lot.
Andrew BarrHumphrys lined up in the final minute[/caption]
Andrew BarrHis halfway line strike sailed over Mark Birighitti[/caption]
Andrew BarrThe goalie couldn’t reach it in time[/caption]
Andrew BarrThen Tynecastle swept into a frenzy at the audacious lob.[/caption]
The Hearts forward netted from well inside his own half with almost the last kick of the ball to send this place wild.
Humphrys, who ran from his own 18-yard box and shrugged off two challenges before letting fly, will surely claim the Goal of the Season award.
It was an amazing strike and capped a crazy game – with both sides finishing with ten men.
Ryan Edwards’ red card saw United play an hour with a man down, while Josh Ginnelly was sent off for dissent at the death.
Steven Fletcher had fired United ahead but the first sending off completely changed the game.
Lawrence Shankland and Alex Cochrane netted for Hearts – before Humphrys took centre stage.
United’s defeat at Killie put them bottom of the table coming into the weekend and boss Liam Fox suffered a blow when Jamie McGrath was crocked in the warm up.
Peter Pawlett was called in at the last minute as their plans were wrecked before kick off.
But you would never have known it with the way United started at Tynecastle.
Fox’s men knocked the ball about with confidence and took a deserved lead through Fletcher in nine minutes.
Craig Sibbald picked out Ilmari Niskanen on the left and his low cross was perfect for the striker.
Fletcher nipped in ahead of Kye Rowles and then reversed his finish under Zander Clark.
Hearts had a half-chance through Ginnelly but United were playing the better stuff.
Glenn Middleton was causing problems and fired over a cross Liam Smith almost connected with.
The loose ball fell to Fletcher but he couldn’t divert his shot on target and Hearts escaped.
Middleton was causing real problems for Hearts and his bouncing shot had to be watched closely by Clark.
Player ratings
How they rated..
HEARTS: Zander Clark 7, James Hill 6, Toby Sibbick 7, Kye Rowles 6, Alan Forrest 4, Andy Halliday 6, Robert Snodgrass 7, Stephen Kingsley 6, Barrie McKay 7, Josh Ginnelly 6, Lawrence Shankland 7.
Subs: Stephen Humphrys (Forrest 46) 9, Jorge Grant (Halliday 61) 4, Garang Kuol (Hill 69) 3, Alex Cochrane (Rowles 69) 5
DUNDEE UTD: Mark Birighitti 7, Ryan Edwards 3, Charlie Mulgrew 7, Scott McMann 6, Liam Smith 6, Dylan Levitt 7, Craig Sibbald 7, Ilmari Niskanen 7, Peter Pawlett 6, Glenn Middleton 7, Steven Fletcher 7.
Subs: Arnaud Djoum (Pawlett 52), Kieran Freeman (Sibbald 74) 3, Rory MacLeod (Niskanen 85) 1, Lewis Neilson (Kingsley 88) 1.
The Tynecastle natives were growing restless but were cheering as Edwards was sent off on the half-hour mark.
The United skipper took the ball and man as he left Andy Halliday in a heap with a crunching tackle.
The Hearts man was left in a heap and was pointing to his ankle as ref Walsh was told to have a look.
Edwards probably knew what was coming as the official returned to the pitch with a red card.
Excessive force appeared to be the reason and the United skipper handed the armband to Fletcher.
Fox had to rethink his system and deal with some immediate Hearts pressure – but his side soon started creating chances again.
Fletcher was sent free after a clever flick but tried to find the top corner and let Hearts off the hook.
Pawlett then had a decent penalty claim turned away on the stroke of half-time.
Andrew BarrSteven Fletcher gave United the lead by beating Zander Clark.[/caption]
Andrew BarrLawrence Shankland hit the equaliser against his old club.[/caption]
As Hearts scrambled to clear the ball, Middleton pounced and crashed a shot off the post.
Neilson threw on Humphrys for Alan Forrest at the break and the big striker was out to make an impact.
His first involvement was a low shot that was well saved by Mark Birighitti – and he was then booked for a late tackle on Charlie Mulgrew.
Hearts were piling pressure on but still struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Robert Snodgrass flashed a shot wide from 20 yards but Birighitti wasn’t being worked enough.
Lawrence Shankland had been quiet but was picked out at the back post – only to make a mess of the volley.
Hearts pinned United back for almost all the second half but with Mulgrew calling the shots, they defended well.
Yet Hearts kept going and eventually overpowered their tiring opponents in a big finish.
The Verdict
MAN OF THE MATCH
STEPHEN HUMPHRYS made a big impact before his wonder goal – but that capped a stunning second-half display from the striker. He was summoned from the bench to help his side and did just that, Barrie McKay also stepped up when Hearts needed him as he helped break down a stubborn United defence. The Jambos star helped create their first two goals as the pressure paid off.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
NICK WALSH used the VAR at his disposal after missing Ryan Edwards’ red-card tackle on Andy Halliday. The United man was accused of overstepping the mark as he left Andy Halliday in a heap as he cleared the ball. After a check, Welsh flashed the red. Josh Ginnelly was also sent packing at the end – with a spot of time-wasting quickly followed by dissent.
MEN IN THE DUGOUT
ROBBIE NEILSON took stick for his tactics in midweek against Rangers but ensured his team returned to winning ways here. The Hearts gaffer threw everything at in the second half as Jambos turned it around. United boss Liam Fox has the task of fixing their awful away form and will be thinking what might have been had Ryan Edwards stayed on. United were excellent but Hearts ultimately had too much.
Shankland grabbed the equaliser in 71 minutes as the pressure finally told.
Barrie McKay fired in a cross and the Hearts striker found space to send a shot into the bottom corner.
It did take a deflection but Shankland didn’t care as he celebrated his 21st of the campaign.
Hearts were now flying and Cochrane grabbed the second in 77 minutes.
McKay again claimed the assist with a clever pass and his team-mate did the rest – firing his shot across Birighitti.
United were now well beaten and Humphrys almost made it 3-1 when his low shot hit the base of the post.
But he had a lot more luck from five yards in his own half – with his weaker left foot.
Humphrys showed strength and pace to shrug off challenges and then sent a shot soaring over the helpless Birighitti.
Andrew BarrHumphrys scored from his own half after a 40-yard dash.[/caption]
ROBBIE NEILSON declared the Goal of the Season contest to be OVER after Stephen Humphrys’ wonder strike.
The Hearts forward raced 40 yards before scoring from his own half to seal a 3-1 win over Dundee United.
Jambos hoss Neilson admits it might be the BEST goal he has ever seen as he hailed Humphrys’ magic moment.
He said: “Goal of the season is now done in Scottish football.
“I’ve been here for a long time and seen a lot of games over the years.
“But I can’t think of a better goal to be honest with you. It was an unbelievable finish.
“As soon as it left his boot we all thought it had a chance.
“It’s over the keeper, is it dipping and time kind of slowed down a bit.
“It was outstanding and I’m delighted for him.
“Firstly he is a brilliant boy, he has been brilliant for the dressing room and the group.
“He has been a wee bit in and out but you saw when he comes on what he can give you.
It shows you both sides of him, pace, power, strength but also the finesse to have that final finish.
“It will be all over social media. It’s one of those moments we will remember.
“Stephen is a cult hero here and in the dressing room, he is a really good character.
“The boys love him and so does the fans because he is different to what we’ve got there.
“I’m over the moon for him. I would love to keep him longer term.
“But he is a Wigan player and has a contract down there so it will ultimately come down to them.”
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