Dundee Utd 1
Hibernian 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

United and Hibernian fought out a hugely entertaining 1-1 draw, the third time this season that the sides have shared the points. A Noel Hunt penalty had United ahead at the break only for that to be cancelled out by a John Rankin volley at the start of the second half.

Following on from the glory night at Tynecastle on Tuesday, Craig Levein was forced into making three changes for the visit of Hibernian. Danny Grainger and Sean Dillon returned and there was a debut start for Jim O’Brien who arrived as part of the deal that took Barry Robson to Celtic. Dropping out completely was David Robertson, with Mark De Vries and Christian Kalvenes starting on the bench. Mixu Paatelainen returned to Tannadice for the first time as Hibs manager.

In front of the live television cameras both teams started brightly although it was the home side that looked more threatening. With ten minutes on the clock Flood went close with a header and then the visitors followed that up by going close through Fletcher. United then went back up the pitch and opened the scoring. New boy O’Brien fired in a great shot that Ma-Kalambay parried. The ball landed on the head of Flood and just as he looked set to score he was pushed to the ground by Beuezlin. The referee correctly pointed to the spot and Noel Hunt stepped up to give United the lead. Towards the end of the half Shiels had a decent chance to equalise but he took too long and the United defence cleared.

The second half started in the worst possible way for United when, with a minute gone, the visitors were back on level terms. The ball found its way to John Rankin in the United penalty area and his shot somehow managed to beat Zaluska who looked to have been distracted by a Hibs player in an offside position nearby.

With two attacking teams on show the game could have gone either way. At one end United had a great chance when De Vries flicked on to Hunt who headed against the crossbar and then at the other end Fletcher had a superb overhead kick that hit the outside of the post.

United continued to take the game to Hibs, who had Ma-Kalambay to thank for a series of terrific saves to deny United re-taking the lead. With United still pressing right up to the end they were twice caught on the break and Shiels could have won all three points for the visitors when in the dying seconds he missed from close range with the goal glaring.