LAWRENCE Shankland salvaged a point for Hearts against Dundee United at Tannadice this afternoon when he converted a penalty in the fifth minute of added-on time at the end of an incident-packed cinch Premiership encounter.
But Tynecastle manager Robbie Neilson was left counting the cost of the hard-fought draw at the end of the 90 minutes – he lost centre backs Craig Halkett and Stephen Kingsley and goalkeeper Craig Gordon to injuries.
United, who were hoping to move off bottom spot with a win, took the lead in the first-half when a Steven Fletcher shot deflected off Kye Rowles and beyond Gordon.
The visitors levelled just before half-time when Michael Smith netted a rare goal - but Dylan Levitt put Liam Fox’s side in front again early in the second-half.
Hearts captain Gordon had to be stretchered off with his leg in a brace after injuring himself in a collision with Fletcher in the 69th minute.
He was replaced by former St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark – who made his debut for the club he joined in the summer.
Shankland netted his 15th goal of the 2022/23 campaign from 12 yards out in injury-time after being pulled down in the United area by substitute Ross Graham.
It was an eventful afternoon for referee Colin Steven – he awarded Hearts a penalty in the first-half and United a spot kick in the second only to reverse both decisions after VAR checks.
United, whose match against Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Stadium last weekend was postponed, had taken to the field in a competitive fixture for the first time since losing 1-0 to Aberdeen at Pittodrie on November 12.
It was the first game that their Australian left back Aziz Behich had played since being involved in the last 16 encounter with eventual champions Argentina at the World Cup in Qatar three weeks ago.
His Socceroos team mate Rowles missed Hearts’ win over Kilmarnock at Tynecastle last weekend due to a suspension and he returned to the bench.
The defender was called in to action far earlier than he had anticipated – he took to the field in the sixth minute after Halkett had limped off.
Halkett had come back from a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury in Hearts’ final game before the World Cup shutdown last month.
United took the lead in the 20th minute when Fletcher latched onto a Behich long ball upfield and fired a half-volley, which took a slight deflection off Rowles, beyond Gordon.
Hearts lost Kingsley after the Scotland internationalist suffered a head knock in a collision with Arnaud Djoum at a Robert Snodgrass corner. Toby Sibbick came on for him.
The visitors levelled four minutes before half-time when Cammy Devlin fed Smith in the United area and the wing back, who had last scored on Boxing Day last year, slotted into the bottom left corner.
Neilson’s charges were awarded a penalty by referee Steven in the six minute of added-on time at the end of the first-half when Djoum handled a Devlin pass.
But the match official was urged to look at a replay of the incident by his VAR colleague Alan Muir in Clydesdale House and after doing so he reversed his call.
Andy Halliday was incensed and was booked for dissent by Steven – who clearly decided the ball had hit Djoum’s supporting arm as the went to ground.
Levitt piled on the misery for Hearts in the second minute of the second-half when he curled a shot beyond Gordon after Glenn Middleton had squared to him on the edge of the penalty box.
The Scotland goalkeeper kept the capital club in touch in the 58th minute when he tipped a Fletcher header over his crossbar.
But a minute later the 39-year-old injured himself challenging Fletcher for a 50-50 ball. He was carried off with his leg in a brace.
Zander Clark, who joined Hearts from St Johnstone in the summer, came on to make his debut and celebrated when Shankland restored parity at the death.
