Rory Loy's second-half equaliser prevented Hearts closing the gap on Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic to four points as Dundee sealed a 1-1 draw at a sold-out Tynecastle.

Hearts took a 24th-minute lead when Arnaud Djoum headed his third goal in six Hearts appearances after moving up front alongside Osman Sow in the absence of the suspended Juanma Delgado, .

The home side looked comfortably on course for their fifth consecutive league victory and clean sheet, but Loy beat the offside trap in the 67th minute before finishing brilliantly for his seventh goal of the campaign.

With Celtic drawing at home to Kilmarnock, Hearts stayed six points behind, but Aberdeen could move ahead of them into second on Sunday when they play Hamilton.

Hearts looked sharper in possession from the start and Sow got a shot on target after a skilful run by Sam Nicholson.

They got the breakthrough from some quick passing which stretched Dundee.

Prince Buaben played an instant pass out to Callum Paterson whose first-time cross fell perfectly for the unmarked Djoum to power a header into the corner from 12 yards.

Djoum soon came close to a second after Sow's shot was diverted into his path. The Belgian was quickly closed down by Julen Extabeguren, but his shot was looping underneath the bar until Scott Bain backtracked and tipped it over.

Hearts lost Billy King to injury following a foul by Kevin Thomson, but continued to look the more threatening team, even though Dundee had some better spells of possession.

Dundee midfielder Greg Stewart threatened from two free-kicks after the break, one which just evaded team-mate James McPake and the back post, while the other was saved by Neil Alexander.

But Hearts came closer when Bain tipped over Nicholson's free-kick after McPake was booked for tripping Djoum on the break.

And the hosts were on top when they were caught out by Thomson's pass down the left to Loy, who cut inside a defender and curled a right-footed shot into the far corner.

Dundee immediately looked more confident and Alexander saved well from Thomson, although the flag was dubiously raised, before a Kane Hemmings free-kick zipped just wide of a post.

Hearts looked edgy and failed to put substitute centre-backs Thomas Konrad and Kostadin Gadzhalov under serious pressure as Dundee held on for their fifth draw in seven matches.