German striker Luka Tankulic grabbed a delightful double as Dundee’s promising pre-season continued at Dens Park.
Signed along with compatriot Thomas Konrad at the start of the week, Tankulic celebrated his new deal with two goals in just one half after coming on at the break.
Gary Harkins got things moving for the Dark Blues with a penalty on 33 minutes then Tankulic made it 2-0 with a low shot five minutes after half-time.
With 74 minutes on the clock, Tankulic had the fans on their feet again when he stroked home a free-kick from outside the box into the top left-hand corner.
While results aren’t the be all and end all over the summer, it is encouraging that Dundee have racked up victories over Manchester City, Morecambe and now the Jam Tarts, with Sheffield United to follow at Bramall Lane on Friday.
As the teams came out, there was an unfamiliar look to this friendly, with the Dark Blues in all red and the Jam Tarts in their Argentina-style strips.
In the home starting line-up was central defender Konrad, while Tankulic was named as a substitute.
Peter MacDonald had the first chance for Dundee after just a couple of minutes when he headed over the Hearts bar.
Good play from Paul McGinn down the right on seven minutes ended with his cross finding Harkins but the midfielder shot wide from near the penalty spot.
MacDonald fired wide again as the hosts dominated the early play, then the striker blasted a free-kick against the post after Harkins was fouled on the edge of the area.
On 25 minutes, the visitors had their first real go at goal but home keeper Kyle Letheren did well to punch the 20-yard shot from David Smith back out.
The Dens men took a deserved lead on 33 minutes from the penalty spot.
Hearts defender Brad McKay stuck a boot out and tripped Harkins and the Dundee playmaker picked himself up before slotting home the kick to keeper Scott Gallacher’s right to make it 1-0.
McKay blocked a shot from Greg Stewart just before the break as the Dark Blues ended an entertaining half on the attack.
The hosts made six changes at the break, with Kyle Benedictus, Kevin McBride, Phil Roberts, Martin Boyle, Craig Wighton and Tankulic all getting their chance to impress boss Paul Hartley.
The fans were keen to see the German striker and he didn’t disappoint, scoring just five minutes into the second half.
He collected the ball off Jason Holt out on the right-hand side of the park, cut in and then let fly with a low strike from 20 yards that nestled nicely in the far corner of Gallacher’s net.
Dale Carrick had a great chance to get one back for the Tynecastle men five minutes later after he was teed up by former Dundee United midfielder Prince Buaben but the striker clipped his shot just over.
As usual in these friendlies, the fluency of the play was affected by the multitude of changes made by both teams but Dundee stayed well in control.
Hearts should have grabbed one back when they broke forward but James Keatings sent his shot from close range wide of the post.
Gallacher did well to come out of his goal and scoop the ball away from Wighton then a cross from the left by the youngster was blasted wide by Boyle.
Boyle then brought a fine save out of the Jam Tarts keeper before quick feet from Wighton saw him fouled by Kevin McHattie.
Up stepped Tankulic to stroke a superb free-kick into the top left-hand corner of the Hearts net from 25 yards to make it two for him and three for his new team.
Attendance: 2,551
Dundee: Letheren, McGinn (Kerr 65), McPake (Benedictus 46), Konrad, Dyer, Ferry (McBride 46), McGowan (Riley 65), McAlister (Roberts 46), Harkins (Boyle 46), MacDonald (Tankulic 46), Stewart (Wighton 46). Sub not used: Adam.
Hearts: Gallacher, Paterson, McHattie, McGhee, McKay, Holt (Oliver 58), King (Gomis 58), Buaben (Robinson 58), Carrick, Keatings, Smith. Subs not used: Alexander, Wilson, Ozturk, Walker.