Robson treble breaks 8-man Hearts

LONDON, England -- Dundee United captain Barry Robson fired a hat-trick in Wednesday's 4-1 rout of Hearts who had three players sent off in their sixth straight Scottish Premier League defeat.

United had asked for the game to be postponed and Robson admitted he found it "really hard" to perform after the trauma of their weekend match at Motherwell which saw the death of Phil O'Donnell who collapsed on the pitch.

The Scottish Premier League insisted the game against Hearts went ahead with a pre-match tribute of a minute's applause for O'Donnell who was the Motherwell captain.

Robson's treble followed a hotly-disputed 23rd minute free-kick and two late penalties after 70 and 88 minutes as Hearts lost their discipline and had Marius Zaliukas, Lee Wallace and Michael Stewart red carded.

Scotland international Robson, the subject of continued speculation regarding a move to Celtic, had little time for celebrations.

He told BBC Radio Scotland: "It was really hard playing today because football means nothing compared to what happened.

"All our thoughts are with Phil and his family at this time and we had to play game, we didn't really want to - the most important thing here is Phil's family, and all our condolences go to them.

"I never really knew him as a guy but I just knew how good a player he was to play against.

"All the tributes have to go to him because he was a fantastic football player and he's going to be sadly missed."

United manager Craig Levein admitted: "I was worried at how the players would react after the events of the weekend but they managed to keep their concentration.

"I can't say anything about players in other teams but I was happy we managed to keep our discipline and didn't get involved in some of the things that were happening."

Lithuanian Zaliukas was the first to go when he elbowed Lee Wilkie off the ball in the penalty area after Hearts had cleared an attack, Robson converting the spot kick.

Stewart nearly followed when he spoke out of turn after being booked for a foul. Hearts were finished off from the free-kick as Noel Hunt glanced home Robson's 84th minute delivery.

Lee Wallace followed Zaliukas down the tunnel when he brought down Robson inside the box giving the United skipper his treble chance.

Stewart received a second yellow card in the closing seconds when referee Alan Freeland's assistant alerted him to a touchline argument involving the player and a supporter in the stand.

Aberdeen ensured they stayed level with fourth placed Dundee United with a 1-0 home win over to Inverness Caledonian Thistle while Kilmarnock lost 1-0 at home to Falkirk. E-mail to a friend