Substitute Ellis Simms nets late winner as Hearts get better of Dundee United

Substitute Ellis Simms stepped off the bench to score a late winner as in-form Hearts beat Dundee United 3-2 at Tannadice to make it nine games in a row undefeated.

The Tynecastle side fell behind early on to a Dylan Levitt goal but the visitors hit back to lead through Liam Boyce and Josh Ginnelly. Ryan Edwards levelled things up again for the hosts but Simms’ strike gave the visitors a deserved three points from an entertaining cinch Premiership match.

There were two changes to the United side that drew 2-2 with Dundee a fortnight previously as Scott McMann and Chris Mochrie replaced Kevin McDonald and Marc McNulty.

Hearts – already assured of third place – made four alterations to the side that started last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Hibernian as Craig Halkett, Andy Halliday and Stephen Kingsley missed out through injury and Simms dropped to the bench.

Taylor Moore, Aaron McEneff, Gary Mackay-Steven and Ginnelly were all added to the starting line-up.

United made a strong start and centre-backs Ryan Edwards and Ross Graham both threatened with headers from a Levitt corner inside the opening minute.

Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon then had to make an instinctive block to deny Nicky Clark from a Tony Watt cutback in the fourth minute. Immediately afterwards, Levitt seized possession and nutmegged Peter Haring before skipping past Alex Cochrane and slotting past the exposed Gordon to give the hosts the lead.

The Tynecastle side threatened an equaliser in the seventh minute when McEneff shot over from the edge of the box.

It was the Irish midfielder’s last notable involvement in the match as he limped off in the 15th minute to be replaced by Ben Woodburn.

The change seemed to help the visitors gain the