By Sean Saranczuk
August 26 2003

Hearts strolled to a 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Tynecastle to exorcise the ghosts of last week's derby defeat at Hibernian. Phil Stamp opened the scoring for the Jambos in the 21st minute before Mark Wilson put through his own goal 60 seconds later.

Mark de Vries completed the scoring nine minutes before the break.

The home fans were cheering 21 minutes into the game after last Sunday's 1-0 Edinburgh derby loss.

Dennis Wyness was fouled by David McCracken allowing Stamp the opportunity to strike from the set-piece.

United lined up a stout defensive line in front of goalkeeper Paul Gallacher, but Stamp found a space low at the right-hand post from 20 yards.

Just a minute later, the former Middlesbrough man was involved again when his long cross-field ball found De Vries.

United defender Wilson was aware the Dutchman was behind him but, when he attempted to head back to his keeper, the ball spun away from Gallacher's grasp and into the empty net for an own goal.

United almost got back into the game in the 31st minute when the pace of Collin Samuel caused the home defence a major problem.

Fortunately for Hearts, Finnish international keeper Tepi Moilanen had the measure of his angled effort, clutching it gratefully at the second attempt.

But Hearts were not taking their foot off the pedal and De Vries grabbed the third in the 36th minute.

He took a pass in his stride, waltzed inside one defender and calmly slotted the ball home with his left foot from close range.