Dundee Utd 0
Hibernian 1
League (Premiership)

Match Report

A narrow win for Hibs, who maintain their one hundred percent start to the season, meant a first defeat of the season for United. Both sides had made excellent starts to the new season with United gaining four points from their first two Premiership fixtures since promotion. Hibs came into the game on maximum points with a slender opening day victory over Kilmarnock followed by a convincing 4-1 at Livingston. Both sides had the chance to go top of the league with victory. United, buoyed by victory over Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, made two changes to their side. Injury to Liam Smith meant a first start for new signing Ryan Edwards and Nicky Clark replaced Logan
Chalmers who was among the substitutes. Lawerence Shankland continued to miss out. Unsurprisingly Hibs made no changes to the side who took the field at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Saturday.

As will be the norm until October, both sides took the knee in support of the campaign behind Black Lives Matter just before the 6pm kick-off. The first action of note came within the first ten minutes and it was in the form of a nasty collision between Jamie Robson and Paul McGinn. Both players competed for a cross field switch of play which McGinn got to first with his head. Robson’s attempt to win the ball resulted in both players requiring treatment. McGinn stayed on but Robson was unable to continue and was somewhat harshly booked before being replaced by Adrian Sporle. Hibs produced the first attempt on goal as young defender Josh Doig hit a powerfully struck shot well
wide of Benjamin Siegrist’s left hand post after around twenty minutes of play. Just before half time Louis Appere earned a free kick in a dangerous position at the left edge of the box after being fouled by Ryan Porteous. Nicky Clark stepped up to shoot but his decent looking effort deflected five yards over the bar for a corner.

United started the second half positively with chances created from a corner and a Luke Bolton header. Ryan Edwards had to be on his toes as on form striker Kevin Nesbitt received the ball from Christian Doidge eighteen yards from goal. His shot was met with an excellently timed block from Edwards. The best opening of the match then came the way of United. Impressive tricky play from Bolton set up a chance on the edge of the box for Ian Harkes. Bolton showed great composure to lay it off for Harkes for an unchallenged shot at goal but the American failed to hit the target, his reaction showing he should have done better. Mark Connolly and debutant Edwards then showed great commitment to thwart Christian Doidge and Nesbitt at the six-yard box grafting well to eventually clear the danger. The breakthrough in the game arrived in the sixty fifth minute. Bolton blocked a Doig shot but the break of the ball favoured Hibs as it fell to Christian Doidge who smacked a shot high into the net past Siegrist from six yards. To United’s credit they pressed hard for an equaliser. Alex Gogic got a vital touch to deflect a long-range Calum Butcher effort wide for a corner. Peter Pawlett’s in swinging corner presented another chance for Connolly who made a solid connection with the header only to send it wide. United had one last great chance as the ball fell perfectly for Pawlett in the box for a volley at goal but he sliced his effort well wide. A first defeat of the season but United competed well against a Hibs side who have started the season very strongly.

Match report written by Stewart Graves