Pierre Landry Kabore scored a double as William Hill Premiership leaders Hearts cranked up the strain on title rivals Rangers and Celtic by easing to a 3-0 away win over nine-man Dundee United.
The Jambos struck early by Kabore after which doubled their lead with an Alexandros Kyziridis penalty shortly after house winger Amar Fatah was despatched off.
Kabore then sealed a snug victory after United substitute Pan Camara was dismissed as Derek McInnes’ rampant league leaders soared seven factors away from Rangers and 9 forward of Celtic. Each Glasgow sides play on Sunday.
United handed a debut to former Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer, who was pitched straight in for his first look since August.
Hearts made three modifications to the facet which began final Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Celtic, with goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow restored alongside Jordi Altena and Oisin McEntee.
With rain having lashed the Tannadice pitch for a lot of the previous fortnight, either side struggled to get any rhythm within the opening moments.
However Hearts got here to life within the eleventh minute and took the lead with a well-worked transfer. Harry Milne performed a one-two with Claudio Braga on the left and burst to the byline earlier than sending a low supply throughout the face of purpose for Kabore to faucet house from shut vary.
United’s hopes of a restoration had been dealt an enormous blow within the twenty fourth minute when Fatah was despatched off. The Swedish winger caught Marc Leonard on the ankle and was initially booked earlier than being red-carded following a VAR intervention.
The state of affairs received even worse for the hosts within the twenty ninth minute as Hearts doubled their lead. The Jambos had been awarded a free-kick on the left fringe of the field after Braga was fouled whereas attempting to step away from Ryan Pressure.
VAR once more got here into play, ruling that the offence had occurred within the penalty space and Kyziridis stepped as much as ship Maynard-Brewer the unsuitable manner from the spot for his first purpose since late October.
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Residence supervisor Jim Goodwin responded by changing Krisztian Keresztes with former Barnsley defender Neil Farrugia, who was despatched on for his debut.
With Hearts in full command, Kabore noticed a header from a nook blocked by Maynard-Brewer, who then needed to push an angled strike from Milne over the bar.
The guests remained within the ascendancy after the break and Tomas Magnusson headed over from McEntee’s cross early within the second half.
After United substitute Zac Sapsford threatened on a few events, the house facet’s hopes of getting again into the sport had been killed off within the seventy fifth minute when Camara was despatched off for headbutting Leonard because the hosts waited to take a free-kick. United coach Dave Bowman was additionally despatched to the stands for his protests.
Kabore, who had been denied by a double save from Maynard-Brewer shortly earlier than, then notched his second of the night time within the 81st minute when his shot from 10 yards squirmed past the house ‘keeper after he was teed up by Magnusson.
