Dundee Utd 0
Hibernian 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

To compensate for the suspended trio, manager Billy Kirkwood brought in Andy McLaren and Robbie Winters up front, whilst Grant Johnson returned to the midfield to play his first game of 1995.

There was an early scare for the large United support when Keith Wright was afforded too much room in the inside-left channel, but he was eventually closed down by Mark Perry. A roar went up for a penalty for handball against Hunter and was indicative of the tension in the Tannadice camp. The noise was even louder when Scott Crabbe got the ball in the net three minutes later, but celebrations were quickly curtailed because of an offside decision.

Tannadice hearts were in their mouths when Tortolano blasted in a 30 yarder which went fractionally wide of the junction of bar and post. United had a further penalty appeal waved away when Andy McLaren went down in the box and the frustration was evident as Grant Johnson was booked for a tackle on McGinlay immediately after that incident. On the half hour mark, Gordan Petric fired in a free-kick from 20 yards which lacked nothing in pace but didn't have the direction to defeat Leighton.

The ill feeling which had been simmering between the teams came to the surface when Scott Crabbe and Tortotano were yellowcarded after a tussle and exchange of words. Worse followed seven minutes from the interval when Gordan Petric and Gordon Hunter clashed as they awaited for a corner to come over and on the say so of a linesman the referee eventually sent off the two offending players.

Hibs pinned United back at the start of the second half, but Andy McLaren chipped just over to relieve the pressure. If Hibs had looked the likelier side to score in the early part of the second half, then it was United who dominated the closing stages as they went in pursuit of a precious winner. It was agonising stuff and made all the more painful by events of the closing minute. Hibs broke up field and Farrell drilled in a shot from the edge of the box which O'Hanlon blocked, only for the ball to break to Pat McGinlay to head home the rebound to make it a depressing homeward journey for the United fans who had given such wholehearted backing throughout the ninety minutes.

Kirkwood sighed, "That's twice in our last two home games, we've lost late goals."