Hearts 1-2 Dundee reaction: No case for defence, Barrie McKay's issue, new signings making big difference

Three takeaways from Dundee’s 2-1 victory over Hearts ...

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson was, quite justifiably, frustrated with the way his team defended in the second half against a Dundee side desperate to take something from the game.

Danny Mullen and Zak Rudden were a busy presence but, looking back at the way the two goals came about, the Hearts rearguard will know they should have done better to snuff out the danger before it really materialised. Instead they were slow to react to the danger, and looked reactive and ragged rather than proactive and disciplined.

Having conceded five at Ibrox, giving cause for alarm at how easily they capitulated for the four in the second half, the two post-interval goals they lost to the relegation battlers last night only heightened concerns, especially with a team like Livingston heading to Gorgie on cup duty this weekend.

There is no doubt that the absence of Craig Halkett and Michael Smith has hit them hard, with the former a dominating presence in the middle of John Souttar and Stephen Kingsley, prior to his injury. It has forced Neilson to throw Toby Sibbick into the fray earlier and more regularly than he was planning when he signed him from Barnsley in January.

In the first half, there was a degree of composure aided by the return of John Souttar but pressed by a hungry Dundee in the second 45, far too many of Hearts defensive players switched off.

Since arriving at Hearts the playmaker has done everything but score and after suffering the nearest of near misses against Dundee he must be wondering if he is destined never to open his account.

In the first half, in particular, he proved his worth yet again, committing opponents with his creativity and positivity and was