Hearts, still searching for their first victory of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, are set to welcome Dundee United to Tynecastle Park on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts are 10th in the league with one point from three games, while the visitors remain unbeaten with one win and two draws, placing them in fifth.
Match preview
© Reuters
Since returning to the Scottish top flight as champions of the Scottish Championship in 2020-21, winning the league title with 57 points from 27 matches, Hearts have enjoyed three fantastic years in the Premiership.
They have placed third in the pre-split table in each of the three years before going on to place third in 2021-22, fourth in 2022-23 and third again in 2023-24 after the post-split fixtures.
Despite achieving three successful campaigns, Hearts have often faced difficulties at the end of the season, winning just one of their last 12 in 2022-23 and one of their last six in 2023-24.
That poor form was extended throughout their pre-season as Steven Naismith's side lost all three of their friendly fixtures, and that dismal streak has continued into the beginning of this term.
After six games across all competitions, Naismith's men remain without a victory, suffering five losses and managing just one 0-0 draw on the opening day against Rangers.
Naismith will be desperate to put that run to an end in this game against Dundee United, who Hearts have gone unbeaten against in their last eight meetings, winning six of those.
Dundee Utd, however, will be full of confidence coming into this one thanks to their brilliant start to the season, losing just one of their opening eight matches to 2024-25.
That defeat came as a surprising 2-0 loss to Falkirk FC in the opening game of the campaign in the Scottish League Cup group stage, but Jim Goodwin's men have since gone on to win five and draw two of their following seven outings.
Goodwin will be thrilled with his team's strong start to the new season, especially considering they are one of the newly-promoted sides in the Scottish Premiership, having secured the Scottish Championship title last year with a comfortable six-point lead over the second-place team.
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Team News
![Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/jim-goodwin.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Hearts are likely to be without Beni Baningime and Calem Nieuwenhof with the pair continuing their respective recoveries from injury issues, and both are anticipated to return in September.
Lawrence Shankland has netted an impressive 28 and 31 goals across all competitions in the last two seasons, but he is still searching for his first goal of the current term. The striker will be eager to find the back of the net in this one as he is expected to return to the starting lineup after being sidelined for the Europa League loss to Viktoria Plzen.
Ryan Strain and Ross Docherty are likely to be the only absentees for the visitors, meaning Goodwin could field the same side that won Dundee Utd's first league game last time out.
Luca Stephenson opened the scoring in that game, which was his first start in the league, and the 20-year-old midfielder is likely to be in the starting team here.
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Kingsley, Kent, Rowles; Taylor, Grant, Boateng, Devlin, Penrice; Shankland, Vargas
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Walton; Adegboyega, Gallagher, Graham; Stephenson, Holt, Sibbald, Ferry; Babunski, Van der Sande, Trapanovski
We say: Hearts 1-2 Dundee United
Hearts will be low on confidence heading into this game after a disastrous start to the campaign, while Dundee Utd will be in good spirits after their positive opening, suggesting a victory for the visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
