Dundee United vs Hearts Prediction: Dalby can delight for Tangerines in victory

The Scottish Premiership has a full Sunday schedule this week and an intriguing clash is in store at Tannadice Park as Dundee United host Hearts.

The Tangerines head into this round of fixtures in a surprising third place in the table, with Jim Goodwin’s men in strong form, having lost just one of their last 10 league matches. Hearts, meanwhile, continue to struggle in all competitions this season, and after exiting the Conference League in agonising fashion towards the end of 2024, they enter the new year just five points above St Johnstone. Read on for my Dundee United vs Hearts prediction.

Football Odds

Team News

While they are on the road to recovery, this match comes too soon for Louis Moult and Craig Sibbald and both will sit out this contest through injury.

However, they are the only enforced absentees affecting Goodwin’s squad selection, and a few changes are expected to be made from the side that overcame city rivals Dundee at Dens Park last time out.

Hearts boss Neil Critchley, meanwhile, will be without the quartet of Frankie Kent, Stephen Kingsley, Calem Nieuwenhof and Gerald Taylor through injury.

Musa Drammeh was the hero in Hearts’ 1-0 victory over Motherwell last time out and should retain his place on the wing. However, star striker Lawrence Shankland remains in the treatment room and will play no part in this contest.

Dundee United vs Hearts Odds

Form coupled with home advantage means that Dundee United are the favourites for victory at 6/4 while the visiting Jam Tarts are 15/8 to return to Edinburgh with all three points.

The draw provides odds of 5/2, while Sam Dalby is tipped as the likeliest opening goalscorer at 5/1.

Dundee United to win @ 11/8

The hosts have been particularly strong in front of their own fans in recent weeks - going five games unbeaten, winning three and conceding just one goal - and they should be more than capable of extending this good form against Hearts on Sunday.

The visitors have lost four of their last five away matches, with each of these defeats coming to nil, and no side has picked up fewer points on the road in the Scottish Premiership this season than the Jam Tarts (five).

Sam Dalby to score anytime @ 8/5

The Tangerines may be the fourth top goal-scorers in the league, but they do possess the division’s top marksman this season, Dalby, who is on loan for the campaign from Wrexham in League One.

The 25-year-old has 10 league goals to his name this season, including winners in two of Dundee United’s last three, and each of these strikes have come across his last 13 appearances.

This impressive form is showing no signs of slowing down and he looks more than a tempting price at 8/5 to net again on Sunday.

Offers

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.