
Match Report: Dundee 0-6 Hearts
01 February 2025Hearts served up a stunning performance on Tayside this afternoon, thrashing Dundee 6-0 at Dens Park.
An Elton Kabangu brace was supplemented by strikes from Lawrence Shankland, Blair Spittal, Kenneth Vargas, and Musa Drammeh, as the men in maroon demolished the Dark Blues without reply.
Neil Critchley made three tweaks to the side that defeated Kilmarnock 3-2 at Tynecastle last weekend. Lawrence Shankland returned to the attack in place of James Wilson whilst Lewis Neilson replaced the injured Craig Halkett, with Musa Drammeh drafted in ahead of Jorge Grant.
The Jambos registered their first chance after three minutes; Lawrence Shankland stooping to meet Penrice's low cross, with the forward's header crashing into the gloves of Trevor Carson.
Dundee were up for it too; with Simon Murray going for goal after 13 minutes with a curling effort from the edge of the box that was straight down the throat of Craig Gordon.
A manic few minutes was to follow. The game sparked into life after 15 minutes as Hearts opened the scoring through Lawrence Shankland; who hoovered up a delightful through-ball from Blair Spittal, spun on his heels, and arrowed into the bottom corner.
Provider turned scorer just moments after as Musa's cross was cleared as far as Spittal inside the Dundee area. Taking on a half-volley, he rocketed a screamer into the top corner beyond the reach of Carson.
The men in maroon went close to adding a third after 22 minutes as Neilson's looping header forced a stop from Carson; the flag for offside raised shortly after.
Critchley's side maintained the assault; a great tackle from Beni Baningime stole the ball from the feet of Mo Sylla allowing Hearts up the park. Shankland threaded in Elton Kabangu, who let loose a powerful strike that was beaten away by Carson.
Dundee threatened once more before the break as Murray met a cross from the right, his header forcing a stop from Gordon.
HT: Dundee 0-2 Heart of Midlothian
The hosts shuffled the pack with two subs after the break in at attempt to freshen things up, but Hearts emerged from the traps hungry for more in the second half.
51 minutes saw a smart ball played in from the right by Shankland, with his strike colleague Kabangu showing explosive pace to latch on, beat his markers, and cooly slotted low and home beyond Carson.
Substitute Finlay Robertson smashed a chance towards Hearts' goal in an attempt to mount a response, with Gordon getting down low on his side to smother the ball to safety.
But the goals just kept tumbling from the Dundee sky for the Jambos.
After 67 minutes, Spittal's high free-kick was fumbled by Carson in the Dundee goal - giving Musa Drammeh the simple task of tapping home to make it four in front of a delirious away end.
Hearts were rampant, and the fifth arrived after 77 minutes.
Penrice's corner was flicked on by Shankland into the path of a waiting Kabangu. Taking a delightful touch, he lashed it into the net to make it five for the Jambos as the Dens demolition continued.
There could easily have been another earlier as the game entered the closing stages; Alan Forrest launched a mazy run down the left before smashing a side footed effort towards goal which required a big save from Carson.
From the resulting corner, the ball was cleared as far as Cammy Devlin who watched as his deflected strike crashed off the crossbar.
The Gorgie boys maintained their dogged pursuit of more, and substitute Kenneth Vargas rounded off the scoring in injury time with a sweet drive into the bottom corner.
Dundee: Carson, C. Robertson, Astley, Mulligan, Cameron, Adewumi (Larkeche 69'), Samuels (F. Robertson 45'), Garza (Palmer-Houlden 45'), Murray (Tiffoney 83'), Sylla, Donnelly
Subs: McCracken, Ingram, McGhee, Tiffoney, F. Robertson, Larkeche, Palmer-Houlden, Lopez, Portales
Hearts: Gordon, Baningime, Shankland (Wilson 79'), Devlin, Spittal (Forrest 69'), Kabangu (Dhanda 79'), Neilson (Steinwender 81'), Penrice, McCart, Forrester, Musa (Vargas 69')
Subs: Clark, Nieuwenhof, Steinwender, Forrest, Boateng, Dhanda, Wilson, Vargas, Taylor
Attendance: 7,458