Dundee1
Hearts0
Aet (90min 0-0)
Scorer: Linn (107)
ON an emotional night for Dundee and their supporters, the Dens Park club secured a semi-final place in the CIS Insurance Cup and the vital financial benefits that will bring them.
It was a goal from substitute Bobby Linn - part of the new breed that Jim Duffy will have to work with - who got the solitary strike which separated the teams after the game had dome to extra time.
Duffy, the Dundee coach, admitted that he was having to put more responsibility on his young players since the club went into administration and lost key figures such as Georgi Nemsadze.
Dundee just about deserved their win on a night which was high in passion and emotion in what was the club's first game at home since they went into administration.
Duffy was given a standing ovation at the end of the match for his decision to turn down a move to Partick Thistle and remain as manager at Dens Park.
The way his side played showed clearly they were playing for his loyalty and they rewarded him with a fine performance.
Duffy said afterwards: ''It was a very emotional evening for everybody concerned with the club. I think the players gave that little bit extra and the fans helped them, too.
''They were tracking back and making last-ditch tackles and, when they got tired, the crowd kept lifting them.''
Duffy praised his crop of youngsters, such as Linn and Mark Fotheringham, who put in another man-of-the- match performance
''Because of our situation, I maybe have to put more responsibility on people like Bobby quicker than I would have liked,'' said Duffy. ''However, he has that useful energy which will help them through.''
Goalscorer Linn was nearly lost for words afterwards when he tried to describe his emotions about scoring his first goal for the club on such an emotional night.
''It was unbelievable for me,'' said the 18-year-old. ''I saw Nacho Novo hit a post and I just followed it in and it hit off me and went in. It's not the best goal I'll ever score but it was a great moment and I am thrilled.''
Craig Levein, the Hearts coach conceded that maybe because of what has happened to Dundee in recent weeks they deserved that little bit of luck which won them the game.
Levein said: ''I am a bit disappointed as the game ebbed and flowed and was up for grabs right until the end.
''It was one of these days when things just didn't go for us. We arrived at Dundee just when they made a rallying call to the people of Dundee to get behind the team.
''They responded and it was a bigger crowd than usual and they played well and never stopped running.''
It is Hearts' third defeat in a row after they went down to Bordeaux in the UEFA Cup at Tynecastle last Thursday and Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.
They did have their chances to win the game and, just before the end of 90 minutes, Julian Speroni produced a magnificent save to tip a Kevin McKenna header over the bar.
Although that was Hearts' best chance, it was Dundee who controlled the match for long periods.
Steve Lovell, before he went off injured, and Nacho Novo showed great movement up front and caused the Hearts defence all sorts of problems.
Dundee (4-4-2) Speroni; Mackay, Wilkie, Mair, Hernandez; Rae (Sancho 84), Smith, Brady, Fotheringham; Novo, Lovell (Linn 72). Subs: McCafferty, Hutchinson, Cameron Booked Fotheringham, Novo Hearts (4-3-3) Gordon; Neilson, Webster, Kisnorbo, Maybury; MacFarlane, Stamp (Valois 81), Hartley; Kirk, de Vries (McKenna 69), Wyness (Severin 60). Subs: Moilanen, Wales Booked Hartley, Webster, Kisnorbo
Referee W Young
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