Dundee Utd 0
Hibernian 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

A wet and windy Tannadice welcomed new signing Jim Lauchlan for his debut in this match. Young Stephen McConalogue returned to the squad after recent illness and earned a place on the bench. An overseas trialist first seen in Monday’s U/21 match at Tannadice joined him as a substitute.

United made a great start by winning two successive corners but failed to capatilise. Soon after Thompson was played through the middle and had to lunge at the ball to direct it goalwards but Colgan was alert and rushed out to block. In 20 minutes Licina was cautioned for a challenge on Latapy in the middle of the park. Debutant Lauchlan endeared himself to the fans with an assured early first half display. United went close again in 29 minutes when Aljofree headed a McQuillan cross goalwards at the back post but the ball was deflected off Smith. As the game edged towards half time, United survived a rare Hibs attack when Aljofree desperately cleared close to goal after neat passing movements from their forwards. In 41 minutes Lauchlan was booked for a tackle on Jack. Sauzee fired the resultant free kick over the bar. In the last minute of the half United won a free kick on the edge of the box when Jack felled Atangana. Aljofree stepped up and hit a sweet left footed shot that forced a save from Colgan.

Both teams came out for the second period unchanged. United were now attacking the East Stand end of the ground and gained a bit of encouragement from the support there early on. In 50 minutes Thompson was bundled off the ball and won a free kick. Aljofree flighted the ball into the box but it was headed clear by Smith. The ball broke to Easton 18 yards out who hit it first time but it flew wide of the goal. Three minutes later Aljofree won a corner and the fans behind the goal lept out their seats to give encouragement to the players but it came to nothing. There was a scare in 55 minutes when de Vos and Partridge got muddled up and lost possession to Paatelainen. However Combe got down to the Finn’s shot from close in and saved well. Hibs missed a glorious chance when Lehmann squandered an open goal after Combe parried the ball out. In 76 minutes Thompson narrowly shot over from distance. With 10 minutes remaining on the clock United lost a goal. With a hint of offside Tam McManus ran in on Combe and slotted the ball home. With just seconds left McConalogue forced a great save from Colgan as he struck from the edge of the box.