Hibernian 3
Dundee Utd 2
League (SPL)

Match Report

It was a glorious day on Leith as Hibs kicked off and United started the game well without ever taking the game by the scruff of the neck. As the half wore on, Hibs started to assert themselves and gradually the pressure on the United defence increased with Kenneth in particular coping with all Hibs and O’Connor could throw at him. In the 27th minute, only an excellent save from Bullock prevented O’Connor from giving Hibs the lead. As the Hibs striker burst through on goal, the Englishman stood strong to block the well-struck drive.

In a poor five-minute spell in the closing stages of the first half, United threatened to fall apart. Firstly Riordan struck Bullock’s right upright from 10 yards after slack defending by United. Then, within 60 seconds, more indecisive defending saw Riordan cut the ball back for Shiels to slam the ball home from 8 yards. Just 4 minutes later, Glass then struck Bullock’s right hand post with a well struck drive from the edge of the area. As half time approached the United support were relieved to see their favourites go in only one goal down.

In the second half United showed a bit more composure in midfield and created a few half chances in the first 15 minutes. In the 61st minute McIntyre was put through wide on the left and his drive was deflected behind for a corner. From the corner, taken by Wilson, McIntyre rose majestically to head the ball home from 8 yards to make it 1-1.

Within five minutes Hibs were in front once more. Kenneth thought he had marshalled O’Connor wide enough on the left hand edge of the area but the Hibs striker unleashed a drive across the body of the diving Bullock to restore the capital side’s cushion. In the 75th minute, the introduction of Scotland for Crawford produced almost an immediate result. Within a minute, the Trinidadian striker had won the race for a break of the ball 6 yards and out and slotted home past the stranded Brown in the Hibs goal. More drama followed in the 82th when the Hibs captain Murray was sent off for violent conduct after leaving his foot in when challenging Archibald as the United defender cleared. This spurred United forward as they sensed victory was within their grasp. It was as United drove forward that they were sucker-punched. O’Connor was left one on one with Kenneth wide left and as the two players grappled for the ball 40 yards out, the referee adjudged Kenneth to have fouled O’Connor. Any dismay within the United ranks at this decision was multiplied when following a bout of head tennis in the box, Hibs’ Smith nodded the loose ball into the corner of the net to clinch all three points for the home team.