Match ends, Dundee 1, Heart of Midlothian 2.
DundeeDundee1HeartsHeart of Midlothian2
Juanma scored twice as Hearts came from behind at Dundee to move top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Spanish striker converted a penalty early in the second half and found the net with a low shot following an excellent run soon after.
The visitors had been second best before the interval and fell behind to an early Kane Hemmings header.
But Dundee could not add to their lead and struggled to create openings once Hearts moved ahead.
Paul Hartley's men, who won just five home league matches last season, were full of verve and invention in a first half packed full of chances as they looked to build on their opening 4-0 victory at Kilmarnock.
However, promoted Hearts, who were 4-3 winners against St Johnstone last weekend, improved defensively after the break and saw the game out comfortably after Juanma's brace of goals.
The hosts were ahead after five minutes when Hemmings was left unattended to nod in from a corner, which came after his stinging shot was touched behind by Neil Alexander.
Hearts lacked the hosts' early fluency but should have levelled after a neat move ended with Juanma setting up Jamie Walker, who could not beat Scott Bain with a weak shot then headed the rebound over with an empty net gaping.
Mere moments later, Dundee midfielder Paul McGowan slid in to meet a lovely pass from Hemmings but could only shoot straight at Alexander.
Hartley's side continued to find holes in the visiting rearguard, with Gary Harkins shooting into the side-netting before Hearts passed up another golden opportunity.
This time it was Juanma throwing himself into a close-range header and somehow missing the target.
Left-back Kevin Holt was always eager to get forward and came close to extending Dundee's lead in the final attack of the first half but Alexander produced a great save, low at the back post, to keep out a strong, downward header.
Following a quiet 45 minutes at left-back, new Hearts signing Juwon Oshaniwa was pushed into a more advanced role and last weekend's match-winner Sam Nicholson was introduced early in the second half.
The substitute made an immediate impact when his cross was handled by James McPake and Juanma calmly tucked away the resultant penalty.
The Spaniard then knocked in his third goal in two games, slaloming past a couple of sliding challenges and slotting a composed shot into the net.
With the momentum shifted in the visitors' favour, Dundee could not find any kind of response and Hearts were rarely troubled thereafter.
A break involving Gavin Reilly presented Walker with the chance to stretch the Edinburgh side's advantage but his scuffed strike from 18 yards was easily gathered by Bain.
Line-ups
Dundee
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1Bain
- 19McGinnBooked at 81mins
- 5McPake
- 16EtxabegurenBooked at 89mins
- 3Holt
- 17Ross
- 10ThomsonBooked at 67mins
- 18McGowan
- 29HarkinsBooked at 54mins
- 15HemmingsBooked at 77mins
- 7Stewart
Substitutes
- 2Irvine
- 4Konrad
- 6Meggatt
- 11Ferry
- 12Mitchell
- 14Roberts
- 30Kerr
Hearts
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Alexander
- 2PatersonBooked at 42mins
- 4AugustynBooked at 77mins
- 18Rossi
- 17OshaniwaSubstituted forKingat 76'minutes
- 5OzturkBooked at 45mins
- 8BuabenBooked at 11mins
- 6Gomis
- 7Walker
- 19Delgado LloriaSubstituted forReillyat 80'minutes
- 10SowSubstituted forNicholsonat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 3McHattie
- 11Nicholson
- 12King
- 13Hamilton
- 20Reilly
- 22McGhee
- 35McKirdy
- Referee:
- Craig Thomson
- Attendance:
- 8,222
Match Stats
Home TeamDundeeAway TeamHearts
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dundee 1, Heart of Midlothian 2.
Post update
Kane Hemmings (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian).
Booking
Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Julen Etxabeguren Leanizbarrutia (Dundee).
Post update
Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Nick Ross (Dundee) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Billy King (Heart of Midlothian).
Post update
Foul by Greg Stewart (Dundee).
Post update
Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Greg Stewart (Dundee).
Post update
Sam Nicholson (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Paul McGinn (Dundee) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Paul McGinn (Dundee).
Post update
Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Gavin Reilly replaces Juanma.
Booking
Kane Hemmings (Dundee) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Blazej Augustyn (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
