Juanma scored a first-half penalty to secure a 1-0 victory for Hearts to maintain their strong start to the Scottish Premiership season against Dundee United.

The visitors were handed the chance to take the lead in the 15th minute of the match when Sam Nicholson was brought down in the box by Blair Spittal.

Juanma stepped up to take the spot kick and he buried his effort into the bottom corner, sending the ball past Luis Zwick.

Hearts almost doubled their advantage when Danny Swanson lined up a free kick from the edge of the box, but his strike was well saved by Zwick, who tipped his effort over the bar.

In the second half, Juanma should have doubled his and his side's tally for the afternoon when he latched onto a cross from Swanson, but he could only send his effort past the post.

Juanma continued to be a threat down the middle for the visitors and his deflected shot landed at the feet of Nicholson, but he could not turn the ball beyond the reach of Zwick.

United almost came back into the game when Aaron Kuhl was allowed to raid forward to the edge of the box and he sent his strike just over Neil Alexander's bar.

Dundee were reduced to 10 men when Spittal's day was made worse as he received his second booking to earn a red card. However, the home side still pushed for a leveller and their hopes were raised when they won a free kick on the edge of the box.

However, Aidan Connolly could only strike the set piece straight into the hands of Alexander, allowing Hearts to hold out for the win to move them back into third place in the table, while United remain bottom.