Hibernian 1
Dundee Utd 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

After a series of bad results at Easter Road, a measure of the progress that has been made under manager Tommy McLean can be gauged from the fact that, there was disappointment in the Tannadice camp, that we had left the capital without registering a victory!

On chances there was no doubt that United should have won. Even at the start when United weren't at their best, there were a couple of good chances. Kjell Olofsson pounced on a slip by Hughes to race in on goal and the Swede's venomous right foot shot carried such power that Leighton's save was involuntary with the ball striking his face before creeping past the post.

Seven minutes later, Darren Jackson cleared a Robbie Winters flick off the line. Then came Hibs best and chances of the entire match. After 18 minutes, Harper played the ball over from the right. Darren Jackson ran in and Sieb Dijkstra spreadeagled himself to keep out the former United man's shot at the foot of the far post.

Three minutes later Dow played the ball through to Kevin Harper in the inside right channel and the Under21 striker slotted the ball home to put Hibs ahead. That was just about the last to be seen of the Easter Road men in an attacking sense. Five minutes before the interval Mark Perry got his head to al Andy McLaren cross, but headed over from right in front of goal.

However, two minutes before the break justice was done when United equalised. Lars Zetterlund drove into the box and Hughes clumsy challenge brought him down. Andy McLaren sent Leighton the wrong way from the spot for his second goal of the season.

United's domination of the second half was almost total. Olofsson struck the base of the post with a 25 yarder after 69 minutes and two minutes later a stunning free-kick by the Swede was destined for the top left-hand corner, until Miller got the slightest of deflections to hoist the ball inches over. The Hibs goal remained under threat. Lars Zetterlund fired over after his initial header effort rebounded into his path and in the very last minute, Leighton was at full stretch in mid-air to hold a curling 20 yard free-kick from Kjell Olofsson. The disappointment of not taking all three points was tempered by results elsewhere elevating United into fourth place in the table.