Image source, SNSDundee United have scored in each of their last six games in the Premiership, scoring eight goals in that run.
Hearts attempted 15 shots in this match, higher than their season average of 12.6 in the Premiership.
Dundee United have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their 32 games, only Rangers (13) and Celtic (20) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.
Watch highlights from Dundee United's 1-0 win over Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
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Dundee United took a significant step towards a top-five Scottish Premiership finish and reignited their hopes of finishing third with victory over 10-man Hearts.
Were you at the game or following along from elsewhere?
Image source, SNSDundee United manager Jim Goodwin told Premier Sports: "I thought the game was very much in the balance as it had been in the previous two fixtures.
"I knew it was going to be a game decided on who defended the best, and thankfully, we did with another clean sheet. That's back-to-back clean sheets for us.
"Disappointed with how we managed the game, especially in the second half.
"I don't think we managed it well enough, but at the same time, I can't be too critical of the players. At this stage of the season, it's about getting results.
"It's such a tough place to come with everything Hearts are still playing for. I've managed to do my old club St Mirren a slight turn as well today."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSThis season just gets better and better for United.
Not many gave the newly-promoted side a real chance of achieving a top-six place but they have done so with plenty to spare.
And now the race to catch Aberdeen, Hibernian - or both - and claim an even more unlikely European place is very much on.
Goodwin has built a squad whose originally remit was to survive, but now the goal is much greater than even the most ardent United fan might have thought possible last summer.
Image source, SNSRoss Docherty. What a difference he makes to this United side when he's in it.
An excellent display in the middle of the park at Tynecastle.
Image source, SNSHearts defenders Jamie McCart, Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent are all pushing for a return to contention after injury but Gerald Taylor (knee) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) are still out.
United have Emmanuel Adegboyega back from suspension but will make late decisions on fitness concerns for several unnamed players.
Image source, SNSDundee United are guaranteed to finish in the Scottish Premiership's top six after results went their way on Saturday.
Jim Goodwin's side needed St Mirren and Motherwell to lose - and both did.
It means United travel to face Hearts on Sunday able to look at Hibernian and Aberdeen above them, rather than worrying about getting the point that would have secured a top-half place.
Dundee United wide man Will Ferry, 24, is walking a suspension tightrope as the season-defining run-in approaches. (Courier - subscription required), external
Image source, SNSDundee United "don't want to be relying on anyone", says manager Jim Goodwin, as he urged his side to complete their top-six quest at Tynecastle on Sunday.
United have effectively secured a top-half finish but a point from their remaining two pre-split fixtures would remove any modicum of doubt.
Goodwin believes his former club St Mirren will beat both Dundee and Ross County in the coming weeks and aims to make sure there is no drama when United host St Johnstone on April 12.
"We have put ourselves in a great position and we haven't been out of the top six pretty much all season, which is credit to the group off the back of recently being promoted," said the Irishman.
"We are in a really strong position and it's very much in our hands. We don't want to be relying on anyone.
"St Mirren have had a really good season. They are hitting a bit of form at the right time and I would expect St Mirren to win their next two fixtures and that ultimately means we need to get a result in our next two games."
Hearts are only a point ahead of both St Mirren and Motherwell with a trip to Fir Park on the horizon after Sunday.
Goodwin said: "It's fair to say it's probably more of a must-win fixture for Hearts than ourselves but we're not going with a negative mindset of trying not to lose the game.
"We want to go there and try and win the game. We have to have a good defensive shape with the quality of players they have in the forward areas.
"But I believe St Mirren will win their next two fixtures and I think that's going to mount a lot of pressure on Hearts.
"They have to, I suppose, be a bit more open and expansive than we need to, and if we can exploit those areas on the counter-attack then that's something we will look to do."
Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSJim Goodwin has been speaking to the media before Dundee United's trip to face Hearts on Sunday.
Here are the key lines from his press conference:
United head to the capital in "good spirits after a really good result and performance up in Dingwall" that has all but secured a top-six place.
The 1-0 win against Ross County was "really important" after the derby defeat to Dundee and Goodwin says his side were able to "iron out some of those issues".
On the task at Tynecastle: "It's going to be a very tight one between two good teams, it's probably more of a must-win fixture for Hearts."
Goodwin is hoping for a repeat after United won 1-0 on their previous visit to Hearts this season. He adds: "Tynecastle is one of the best away days in the league, the atmosphere tends to be good, it can be a very hostile venue in terms of the supporters."
Goodwin praises his squad and says they've put themselves "in a really strong position" before the split.
He hails captain Ross Docherty - who is out of contract this summer - for the "influence he has on the team" but says the midfielder's injury history has been a "major disappointment".
Dundee United manager Jim Goowin says "brave" captain Ross Docherty must prove he has put his injury woes behind him in the concluding weeks of the season if the 32-year-old midfielder is to earn a new contract beyond the summer. (The Courier), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSHearts have lost just one of their past nine Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United (W6 D2), although that was their last at home in September this season (1-0).
After that 1-0 win in September, United could win back-to-back top-flight away games at Hearts for the first time since February 2012 under Peter Houston.
Hearts have won six of their past eight home league games (L2), including both of their past two. Hearts last won three successive home matches in the Scottish Premiership in February 2024.
United are the only side in the Premiership this season to pick up at least half of their points away from home (52% - 23/44), winning their last game 1-0 away to Ross County.
Hearts have won four of their past five games against newly-promoted opposition in the Scottish Premiership (L1), as many as their previous 20 beforehand (W4 D8 L8).
Image source, SNSDundee United's "jack of all trades" nature has made for a "really successful recipe" in their return to the Scottish Premiership, says BBC Scotland pundit Rory Loy.
After winning the second-tier title last term, manager Jim Goodwin has almost certainly led United to a top-six finish following Sunday's win at Ross County.
Former Dundee and St Mirren forward Loy hailed Goodwin's summer recruitment, which he feels made the Tannadice side ready-made for the top flight.
With a place in the top half all but secured, Loy feels United should now be targeting a European place.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he said: "Goodwin has managed to make really good signings in Sam Dalby, Luca Stephenson and Will Ferry, as well as having the likes of Ross Graham, Craig Sibbald and Ross Docherty in the team.
"They've built a really good squad. I've always described them this season as a kind of jack of all trades, master of none.
"I look at them and don't go, they're brilliant at that. But I also really struggle to look at them and think, well you're really poor at that.
"And that's made for a really successful recipe. I think Goodwin and the club, given where they were at, deserve enormous credit. There's absolutely no reason why they can't nick a European place."
Image source, SNSDundee United defender Ross Graham had a weekend to remember, and not just for his winning header against Ross County.
Jim Goodwin's side all but secured a top-six berth, a magnificent feat for a newly-promoted side, but the Graham household had another sporting achievement to celebrate as well.
His partner, Anastasia Vaipan-Law, was taking part in the World Figure Skating Championships in Boston and secured a spot on Team GB for next year's Winter Olympics.
"Yeah, it's been a very special week for the two of us, probably more for her, probably a bigger achievement," Graham told BBC Scotland.
"She finished 12th and qualified for a spot for next year's Winter Olympics. So, yeah, it's a very happy household."
United's stellar top-flight form is particularly sweet for 24-year-old Graham, having joined the club's academy over a decade ago and worked his way to the first team as a local lad.
He said: "You can't beat that feeling, being from the area, you know a lot of people in the stands who are out watching and supporting you all the time and you go to shops and you're always speaking to fans and they're always wanting to speak to you.
"So it's a nice feeling after you've scored and you've got a win and you just know how much it means to them."
On a possible push for a European spot, he adds: "We're not looking too far ahead into that just now. We want to get the job done of securing top six first."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Dundee United's top-six status is all but secure. A fine achievement whatever way you look at it.
Remember, United were playing in the second tier last year – so surviving in the top flight was the objective at the start of this campaign.
And how they have exceeded that aim. What makes it all even more impressive is the fact Jim Goodwin completely rebuilt his squad last summer, a revamp that laid the foundations for what they have gone on to achieve.
Yes their form has dipped, but that was always going to happen at some point in the campaign.
This has been a wonderful season for United – and a European place would be the biggest of bonuses.
If f they can get to a situation where the fans are reaching for their passports, then you have to think Goodwin will be putting himself into manager of the year contention.
There is still a lot of water to flow under the Premiership bridge this season, with plenty yet to be decided.
But if I dare look to next term, the big challenge the United boss looks set to face is finding a way to build and improve on a campaign that has gone well beyond their early-season expectations.
Image source, SNSTalks are ongoing with SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster about a potential Scottish Premiership restructure
Is the Scottish Premiership in need of a shake-up? If so, how do you go about it?
News emerged on Tuesday that the SPFL is considering changing Scotland's top flight to a 10, 14 or 16-team division in an attempt to help reduce fixture congestion.
In its current 12-team form, the clubs split into a top and bottom six after 33 rounds of matches, with 38 rounds played altogether.
That format has been in place since 2000-01 and retaining that model is also an option, but reports have also suggested the split could be scrapped.
For any fresh structure to pass, it needs the backing of 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs, and eight out of 10 from the Championship plus 75% of League One and League Two combined.
And judging by the fan reaction to the mere thought of reducing the league to a 10-team division, you would have to assume that idea is already unlikely.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former Premiership players Cammy Bell and Cillian Sheridan provided their views on a potential restructure.
Expansion is the only option for former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Bell, while ex-Celtic striker Sheridan would like to see the split retained.
"I think we need a little bit of freshness about our game," Bell said. "So, if we can expand that league, then absolutely do it. We've got big enough clubs now that can generate good crowds.
"We're at a time just now where we've got the potential of trying to change it and certainly for me it's got to be expansion."
"The split works now," Sheridan added. "When I first came over and saw the whole split thing, I just never really got it. But in the past few years it has been quite interesting.
"If the league is wrapped up, if relegation is wrapped up, it does add a little bit of excitement to things in terms of teams getting into the top six and having to get European football."
Image source, SNSDundee United manager Jim Goodwin reckons his side have given themselves "a great chance of achieving something special" in the Premiership this season.
United, who were promoted last summer, have not dropped out of the top half all season.
They all but secured a top-six finish with two games to spare thanks to victory at Ross County on Sunday and Goodwin now hopes they can take full advantage.
"We set ourselves a target at the beginning of the season of 45 points. We believed that was going to be the number [for top six], and it looks like that is going to be the magic number," he said.
"We're one point off of that with two games to go [before the split], and we've given ourselves a great chance.
"We've not been out of the top six all season. I think way back at the beginning of the season, we would have wanted enough points to make sure we avoided the mess at the bottom of the table.
"But because we've been in the top six for as long as we have, the expectations grow and people get greedy, and that's what's happened.
"The criticism that we've had over the last few weeks has been justified. We put ourselves out there, I make decisions, sometimes they don't work and I take the criticism on the chin.
"But we've given ourselves a great chance of achieving something special, I think, for a newly-promoted team."
Paul McNicoll
Fan writer
A Sunday drive to Dingwall isn't the worst fate in the world, but let's be honest, Saturday would have been better. At least for a football fan like me.
Why the TV schedulers thought Ross County v Dundee United deserved the live treatment, I'll never know. But off I went.
I won't say the first half was dreadful, but if it was your introduction to football, you'd probably find a new hobby.
The second half, however, was a different story, at least for United fans. We were the better team, secured all three points, and put ourselves on the brink of cementing a top-six spot.
After the horror show that was the Dundee derby, I'd been mentally preparing for the worst. It felt like a must-win up in Dingwall, or the season might unravel faster than my willpower around a buffet.
But in the end, United did what needed to be done. Tight at the back, compact in midfield, and took our chances when they came. So what were we all so worried about?
Speaking of midfield, let's talk about Ross Docherty. When he plays, he's the guy. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why, but his influence is undeniable. Goals and assists? Not so much. But any United fan will tell you, when he's in the team, he pulls the strings. A Paisley puppetmaster, if you will.
The problem? He just cannot stay fit. It's the old now you see him, now you don't. As much as that frustrates the fans, it must drive him up the wall. It just seems to be niggle after niggle and United always feel like a weaker side without the 32-year-old.
But when he's healthy, he's the first name on the teamsheet. There's a big decision to be made on El Capitan in the next few weeks as he's out of contract this summer.
If you could guarantee he'd stay fit, the club would have handed him a new contract already, I've no doubt about that.
But, unfortunately, his greatest weakness isn't his passing, tackling, or even his goalscoring, it's simply his availability. And that's what makes this such a tough call for the club.
Paul McNicoll can be found at The Dode Fox Podcast, external
With two matches to go until the Scottish Premiership splits, only four points separate the teams in sixth and ninth as they fight to squeeze into the top half and potentially secure European football next season.
Dundee United's narrow win in Dingwall means they are almost certain to be in the top half regardless of their results against Hearts and St Johnstone before the split.
Data company Opta give Jim Goodwin's side a 99% chance of being in the top six given their six-point buffer and superior goal difference to St Mirren, Motherwell and Ross County.
At the other end of the spectrum, they rate County's chance as next to zero, at 0.3%, given they have a four-point gap to make up on sixth-placed Hearts with a far poorer goal difference.
Hearts are only one point above both St Mirren and Motherwell, but the Tynecastle side's superior goal difference is almost worth an extra point at this stage, and they are heavy favourites to sneak in with a 66% chance.
However, Neil Critchley's side play Motherwell away in their final match before the split, which could prove crucial given the congested nature of the table.
St Mirren are away to Dundee and home to Ross County as they attempt to overhaul Hearts, buoyed by their dominant 5-1 win over Kilmarnock on Saturday.
And Motherwell boss Michael Wimmer is hoping to bounce back from their defeat by Aberdeen when they travel to Rugby Park next weekend before that all-important match against Hearts.
"The league always feels - Celtic and Rangers are a bit different - like you could beat everyone," said John Sutton, who played as a striker for three of the sides hoping for a top-six spot in Hearts, St Mirren and Motherwell.
"The split gets knocked a little bit, I really liked it as a player. You make the top six, and it's game on, trying to get European qualification.
"I think if you take Celtic and Rangers out of things to an extent, every game's a very tricky game. I expect the picture to change this weekend and I expect it to change the following weekend as well."
Vicko Sevelj (Dundee United): Has gone about his business in impressive fashion all season. Singled out for praise by his manager after dropping back to play a crucial role in defence as United earned a massive three points away to Ross County.
