Preview: Hearts vs. Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

With Dundee United rooted to the foot of the Scottish Premiership table, the Jam Tarts will be hopeful of returning to winning ways on home soil.

Match preview

Robbie Neilson's men head into Saturday's clash on the back of a 3-0 loss to Rangers, meaning third-placed Hearts now find themselves 19 points behind the Ibrox outfit in the table.

It is worth noting, however, that Hearts chalked up an impressive 10-game unbeaten streak before falling to the Gers, securing six wins and four draws across all competitions.

The Jam Tarts have been especially strong on home soil of late, winning four of their previous five league matches at Tynecastle, and they have scored at least three goals in three of their last four home victories.

When you look at the bigger picture, Hearts have won eight of their 12 home league games this season, and they average more than two goals per game at Tynecastle, having found the back of the net 28 times.

With 16 goals and four assists under his belt, Lawrence Shankland has chalked up more goal involvements than anyone else in the division this term, so the 27-year-old will be confident of enhancing his tally against struggling Dundee United.

Meanwhile, the Tangerines find themselves rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership table after 23 games, having recorded five wins, five draws and 13 losses this season.

Although Dundee United sit just three points shy of ninth-placed Kilmarnock with a game in hand on many of their relegation rivals, Liam Fox's men will need to turn things around quickly if they want to beat the drop.

With 25 goals to their name, Dundee United are the second-lowest scorers in the division, and they also hold the third-worst defensive record, having conceded 40 goals this season.

It is no secret that Dundee United have struggled on their travels this term, winning just one of their 11 away games in the league, with four of their previous six encounters on the road ending in defeat.

Following a 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock on Wednesday, the Tangerines head to Tynecastle on a four-match winless run in the league, and they have also failed to score in each of their previous three Premiership defeats.

Hearts Scottish Premiership form:

W

D

W

W

D

L

Hearts form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

D

L

Dundee United Scottish Premiership form:

W

W

L

D

L

L

Dundee United form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

L

L

Team News

Hearts have been hit hard by injuries in recent times and look set to be without a number of players this weekend, including Beni Baningime, Craig Halkett, Gary Mackay-Steven and Liam Boyce.

To make matters worse for the Jam Tarts, experienced goalkeeper Craig Gordon will miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg, while Austrian midfielder Peter Haring is still struggling with a concussion issue.

Despite suffering a 3-0 loss on Wednesday, Neilson is not likely to make a host of changes to his starting XI this weekend, as the Hearts boss has selected a settled side for much of the campaign.

By contrast, Dundee United have no injury problems to report, meaning Fox has a full-strength squad at his disposal for Saturday's clash.

Ryan Edwards, Liam Smith and Glenn Middleton have featured in every league game for the Tangerines this season, while Manchester United loanee Dylan Levitt has bagged four goals and three assists from midfield.

Hearts possible starting lineup:

Clark; Sibbick, Rowles, Kingsley; Hill, Snodgrass, McKay, Cochrane; Shankland, Kuol; Ginnelly

Dundee United possible starting lineup:

Birighitti; Edwards, Mulgrew, Graham; Smith, Djoum, Levitt, McCann; McGrath, Middleton; Fletcher

We say: Hearts 3-1 Dundee United

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