Craig Gordon save of the season seals Hearts win at Dundee

Hearts kept their Scottish Premiership lead intact at Dundee after substitute goalkeeper Craig Gordon produced a stoppage-time save that immediately had teammates, coaches and pundits calling it the best of the season.

Gordon, 43, had not played a minute of competitive football since Scotland’s World Cup qualification heroics over Denmark, but was thrown on and then delivered a moment that preserved all three points.

Claudio Braga’s goal from the edge of the box had looked like the defining act, yet Gordon’s intervention took over the story. With Hearts protecting a one goal lead, Emile Acquah met a chance with a header that seemed destined for the net, only for Gordon to somehow scoop it away.

“It’s probably one of the best of my career,” Gordon told Sky Sports after the match.

He later explained that even he expected the ball to cross the line.

“Sometimes you surprise yourself as a goalkeeper,” Gordon told BBC Scotland. “That was definitely one that I thought was a goal, but decided to go after it anyway and somehow managed to claw it out.

“That really does feel as if it was one of my best.”

The reaction inside the stadium and on the benches matched the disbelief Gordon described. Former Hearts team mate Steven Pressley, now Dundee head coach, said he had spoken to Gordon at length before kick off and expected rust to be a factor.

“I spoke to Craig at length before the game,” Pressley said. “He’s been starved of opportunity and you wonder if it’s going to affect his performance… wow, it seems to have improved it.

“He made a couple of big saves today. That’s the reason they’re top of the league, they have a second choice goalkeeper who’s world class.”

Former Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson, working as a pundit, said the moment changed the whole end of the match.

“That’s save of the season. Every player is running to Craig Gordon. That is one of the best saves I have ever seen.

“That dressing room will be electric. Against any other goalkeeper in the league, that is a goal and Dundee get a draw.”

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes said Gordon delivered exactly what the side needed at a decisive moment, and pointed to the bigger significance for a team in a title race.

“Craig has always been capable of that big save, that big moment,” McInnes said. “When he was called upon, he stood up. “I thought it was past him. Magnificent moment for him.

“For Craig, to be 43 years of age, throwing himself about a training ground… obviously, there’s a lot of motivation this season in terms of the World Cup, and trying to be part of something special here.

“It’s first class, and good on him. I’m pleased for him. It’s a wee reminder everyone that he’s still got a role to play and when we needed him, he was there.

“Any team that has a successful campaign, they’re the bedrock, digging out results like that. It felt significant.”