Lawrence Shankland returned to Tannadice to earn Hearts a point with a controversial stoppage time penalty in a 2-2 draw against Dundee United.
The Jambos top scorer netted with a spot kick - which looked pretty soft - to take his tally for the season to 15. Referee Colin Steven had awarded two penalties and then changed his mind after going to VAR. His final one was given although maybe VAR didn't want to embarrass him again as there looked to be very little contact between Ross Graham and Shankland.
United had gone ahead through Steven Fletcher before Michael Smith levelled and then Dylan Levitt had given the home side the lead again. It was a result which came at a cost for Hearts as Craig Gordon was stretchered off with a serious injury which could finish his season. It was a point for both although it wasn’t enough to take Hearts into third or United off the bottom.
A simple long punt up the park had looked like it would cause very little danger but led to United netting the opener. Aziz Behich’s ball was taken down well by Fletcher, he turned and then smashed the ball low past Craig Gordon with the aid of a deflection from 20 yards.
Hearts’ injuries woes continued when they lost Stephen Kingsley with a head knock after a collision with Djoum. The visitors levelled four minutes before the interval. Cammy Devlin put Smith through and he got caught by Ryan Edwards as he fired it low past Birighitti.
Hearts then thought they had a penalty when Cammy Devlin’s shot came off the arm of Arnaud Djoum, who had gone to ground and it hit him as he fell. Referee Steven immediately pointed to the spot but was invited to the VAR monitored, where he decided to overturn his initial call.
United came out in the second half and scored within minutes of the restart. Glenn Middleton found Levitt and he ran on to it and curled it low into the bottom left hand corner of Gordon’s net from about 20 yards.
Steven pointed to the spot again although Gordon looked to have got to the ball before Fletcher. The referee, after the help of VAR, decided he had made a mistake again. Gordon was then stretchered off, while Fletcher was also replaced.
Hearts then got their penalty in the 94th minute, although Graham didn’t look to have done too much. Shankland stepped up to claim a share of the spoils.
Luckless Halkett
The Hearts defender had missed a large chunk of the season with a hamstring injury. He made his first start against Kilmarnock but had to come off minutes into this game. Halkett shielded the ball from Glenn Middleton. The United player tried to put him under pressure but Halkett saw it out and then hit the deck and immediately signalled for treatment. It looked to be his knee as he was helped off the side of the pitch. The injury, however, gave Kye Rowles the chance to come back in after suspension. You just hope Halkett’s injury isn’t as serious as it looked.
VAR debacle
The main talking point of the first half was the Hearts’ spot kick Colin Steven gave in stoppage time. Devlin fired in a shot and Djoum flew into block but the ball hit his hand, which was behind the body of the United player.
VAR controller Alan Muir got involved, Steven reviewed the footage and then angered the visitors by decided to void his initial decision. It was a handball but it probably wasn’t a penalty. Steven pointed to the spot for United in the second period.
He thought Gordon had fouled Fletcher but the keeper got to the ball first. Both players needed extensive treatment and that was when the official was called to the VAR screen to review his decision. Not surprisingly, he also decided this penalty call was also wrong.
How will Hearts cope without Gordon?
The Scotland number one was carried off after a hefty challenge with Steven Fletcher. He looks to have taken a sore one. Zander Clark came on to make his debut and he could well be the main man between now and the end of the season. It looks to be worrying times for Robbie Neilson and Steve Clarke.
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