Heart of Midlothian lost to Dundee in the first-half at Dens Park. The Jam Tarts found themselves going into the interval 3-0 down following a poor 45 minutes and a late collapse.

Frankie Kent would get Hearts back into the game on the hour mark but the visitors were unable to build on it and return to Edinburgh with just one point to show from their opening two Scottish Premiership fixtures.

Joel Sked looks back at a poor afternoon and evening for Steven Naismith's men in the City of Discovery.

Docherty wins tactical battle

This could easily have been a game plucked from last season, notably the first half. Slow start? Check. Poor decision-making? Check. Safety first in possession? Check. Sloppy goals conceded. Check. Hearts started poorly in the first 45 minutes at Dens Park and it only charted in one direction. And not the direction the big travelling support wanted. Steven Naismith cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, an audible 'f--k off' at one point when Cammy Devlin tried to dummy a ball in the belief it was going to Lawrence Shankland on the edge of the Dundee box.

The Hearts head coach had switched to a back three. It would suggest to counter Dundee's 3-5-2 and their forward pairing. Tony Docherty altered his own formation to a 4-3-3 with a solo striker. They were better, more purposeful and looked to have a clear game plan, knowing they were going to be coming up against a changed Hearts formation. The combination of full-back and wide man nullified the away side's formation. Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan dominated the midfield, constantly breaking in support when a Hearts attack petered out - open play xG of just 0.06 in the first half. It was somewhat of a surprise Naismith didn't tweak it and push either of the wing-backs into a winger role and go with back four.

The half-time scoreline showed 3-0. But that was generous. To Hearts. While there were a number of poor individual performances. It was a collective failing.

Sloppy goals

The first-half was bad. Very, very bad. It was enhanced, if you like, by some incredibly sloppy goals given away Now, anytime teams concede goals they will look at their own downfall rather than any competency from the opposition. In this case, Hearts can very much look to their own failings. Zander Clark's reaction said it all after the first goal, his face planted into the turf. Naismith was agitated when play broke down on the Hearts left. It only got worse. Clark, who had a few good first-half saves, fluffed a clearance which fell straight to Luke McCowan. At that moment you worried McCowan would pop the ball into the empty net like he did 12 months previous. However, he waited and gave the ball to Scott Tiffoney. The winger danced into the box and beat Clark at his near post. The second was just incredibly poor by Gerald Taylor as he tried to clear with his wrong foot. The penalty conceded by Frankie Kent right at the end of the half just compounded matters.

McKay role

Barrie McKay is a talented footballer. One of the most talented in the Hearts squad. But it is a talent that requires the right platform. Is McKay best as a central midfielder in a three? It is doubtful. Space can be limited. The likelihood is he will receive the ball with his back to goal and no doubt under pressure. McKay has been at his most dangerous and creative on the left of an attacking trident. He can get more freedom in such a role, moving laterally infield. Getting the ball out wide allows him to have a view of the whole pitch. He can dribble at the opposition full-back, he can combine with his own full-back and he can drift looking to play incisive balls behind the opposition backline. That threat is dimmed when fielded centrally.

Second-half reaction

It didn't get worse. It was hard to see how it could. Naismith made a triple change, going from a back three to a back four. While Dundee had a goal chalked off it was more of an even fixture. Yutaro Oda was a bright spark with his directness and pace running in behind and down the left of Dundee's defence. The goal threat increased, albeit not all that much from open play - 0.06xG in the first half to 0.12 from the second half. But there wasn't any sustained period of pressure. Hearts didn't dominate and control the way they may have wanted. There was no seige on the Dundee box. There were moments. But at 3-0 down, Hearts required more than moments. 

Tiffoney terrorises Hearts defence

Dundee boss Tony Docherty was right, Scott Tiffoney gave Gerald Taylor a "torrid time". You can add Daniel Oyegoke to that. The winger was direct, quick and never stopped running. He turned Oyegoke inside out on a couple of occasions, scored following a driving run into the Hearts box and was on the end of a robust challenge from Taylor toward the end of the first half. A challenge that many expected to be a red card. After a stop-start first season at Dens Park he is turning into a key player at Dens. His performance was everything Hearts were lacking in attack.

The second question

On Thursday, Naismith was asked whether Hearts could push for second place. Naismith played it down. "I'm not even thinking about that", was the answer. The focus is on combining European and domestic football and finishing third. But any idea of a push for second can be consigned to the fantasy folder. Teams wanting to be in such contention can't and rarely lose so convincingly and in such a manner as Hearts did at Dundee. The result sobers expectations and gives the side a reality check with a big season ahead. At the same time, there is no need to go the other way and think everything is now a disaster. It's one result. Yes, a poor one. But it is just two games into the campaign.