Hearts enjoy Tannadice mudbath as Dundee Utd, Celtic and Rangers lament VAR and 3 red cards

Dundee United's match last weekend was called off due to a waterlogging and the playing surface was kept under covers right up until kick-off. Pre-match you could see why, a muddy, sodden field that was going to cut up the moment the game started.

No bother for the Premiership leaders. They were pitch perfect once again. A convincing 3-0 win moves them seven points clear of second-placed Rangers ahead of their trip to Easter Road on Sunday afternoon.

For a rare moment, Hearts supporters will be cheering Hibs on. Although at this rate, they do not need any help from others.

VAR was of assistance here, mind you. The man in the booth, Don Robertson, recommended a review for Amar Fatah's red card when Hearts were just one goal up and he also intervened to award a penalty. That gave Derek McInnes' men a leg-up - although they were already on course for victory.

Hearts now have 54 points. Beaten just twice this season, they once again displayed all the credentials of champions. They started the game with purpose, got their noses in front and never looked back. Fourteen games stand between them and the title.

This victory was achieved without three key players due to injury and suspension - midfielders Beni Baningime and Cammy Devlin and talismanic striker Lawrence Shankland. Many questioned whether Hearts could cope without the trio. So far, so good.

Baningime returns on Tuesday against St Mirren, but Devlin and Shankland are out for a few more weeks yet. Marc Leonard once again displayed his composure in midfield while Landry Kabore led the line and opened the scoring when the numbers were still even.

Hearts once again switched their goalkeeper, with Alexander Schwolow preferred to Craig Gordon. He will have busier evenings. The German will hope this is a permanent reinstatement.

Kabore gets show on the road

Hearts' opener came on 11 minutes and it was pretty straightforward. The ball was fed into Harry Milne by Claudio Braga. The left-back powered away from Ryan Strain and Sam Cleall-Harding and drilled the ball across goal. Kabore - a transfer target for United last summer before Hearts came calling - couldn't miss from inside the six-yard box.

Dundee United's woes deepened on 23 minutes when Amar Fatah was sent off following a VAR review. The winger caught Leonard on the ankle with a tackle and referee Calum Scott deemed it worthy of a red card rather than the yellow he had originally dished out. There was no intent but the contact point was not pretty. A goal and a man up, this was fertile ground for Hearts to kick on and seal victory.

VAR was playing its part. On 28 minutes Strain fouled Braga. Scott gave a free-kick originally but back at Clydesdale House, Robertson reviewed the incident and concluded that the contact took place right on the penalty box line. No review was required; this was a factual overturn. Alexandros Kyziridis sent Ashley Maynard-Brewer the wrong way and celebrated in front of the Eddie Thompson Stand as beverage cups rained down on him.

Now it was a question of how many. With two thirds of the match remaining, Hearts could set to work on improving their goal difference.

Kabore headed straight at Maynard-Brewer from a corner kick on 35 minutes. The Burkinabe should have scored. Then Milne stung the keeper's palms with a vicious drive.

Hearts maintained their pressure at the start of the second half but they played mostly in a low gear. The packed shed behind their goal sang of Barcelona, dreams already turning to next season's Champions League.

United could have interrupted them on 63 minutes when Zac Sapsford, in a rare attack, headed just wide from a Pan Camara cross. At the other end, Maynard-Brewer made a smart double save from Kabore, the second with a raised leg very impressive. He then spread himself to deny Braga. This was Maynard-Brewer's debut and he was intent on not letting more goals past him.

Camara clearly wasn't, though. He was sent off on 75 minutes for moving his head to Leonard, an act of sheer stupidity in the wake of an altercation between Craig Halkett and Owen Stirton. For his complaints, United coach Dave Bowman was also shown a red card.

Maynard-Brewer could do no more. On 81 minutes, Kabore's strike deflected off Strain and through the keeper's weak hand. United now just wanted the final whistle.

Rogers Mato was brought on for his debut just afterwards, but that was the end of the scoring. Hearts will have trickier evenings in their quest for the title.