First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Two second half headers from David Robertson appeared to have given United a rare win at Easter Road before a goal from Benjelloun and a penalty from Antoine-Curier gave the home side a share of the points.
A thrilling second half also saw United reduced to ten men as Sean Dillon was sent off for a professional foul on David Murphy, leading to the Hibs penalty.
With Jordan Robertson suspended and Noel Hunt injured, Craig Levein was left with only Jon Daly upfront. He was supported by David Robertson who returned to the United side after a hernia operation. Mark Kerr stepped into the centre of midfield to cover for suspended skipper Barry Robson.
Hibs started the game with real intent and could have gone ahead after only a minute when Lewis Stevenson fed Steven Fletcher on the left but his strike went across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.
The best chances continued to fall to Hibs and a Zemmama free-kick from 25 yards forced a terrific save from Szamotulski as the ball headed towards the top corner.
United's task became much harder after 24 minutes when lone striker Jon Daly had to limp off after a 50-50 challenge with Chris Hogg. With no attackers on the bench, Craig Levein was forced to replace Daly with Garry Kenneth, allowing Lee Wilkie to go upfront.
Wilkie then had United's first real chance when a Sean Dillon cross found him at the back post. The big centre half rose well to put a header back across goal but the ball went just over and landed on the top of the net.
The best chance of the first half fell to Hibs. David Murphy crossed the ball in and Rob Jones managed to knock the ball down to Fletcher at the far post. He stretched a leg out but could only hit the ball against the post and United were able to clear.
The second half started at a frantic pace and Hibs should have taken the lead just three minutes in. The ball broke to Fletcher inside the box but with plenty of time to steady himself, the striker blasted the ball well wide.
Three minutes later, Fletcher was again denied a goal when Szamotulski dived at his feet to block the ball with the striker one-on-one with the keeper.
United silenced the home crowd after 66 minutes. A sweeping cross from Sean Dillon was met by the head of David Robertson just outside the six-yard box and he steered the ball past Ma-Kalambay and into the net.
United were now dominating the game and Mark Kerr shot narrowly over before Prince Buaben found himself one on one with Ma-Kalambay but the keeper was able to block the Ghanaian's shot with his legs.
The 900 Arabs behind the Hibs goal went wild once again after 74 minutes when a carbon copy goal put United two ahead. This time the cross came in from Willo Flood and again David Robertson was there to nod the ball past Ma-Kalambay.
However, the two-goal lead was to last only three minutes. Good work by Zemmama saw him play the ball into Hibs substitute Benjelloun and he had plenty of time to slot the ball past Szamotulski from 12 yards out.
Hibs were now on top and after 82 minutes they were level. Sean Dillon allowed David Murphy to get goalside of him and then attempted to tackle the Hibs defender but could do nothing but bring him down. Referee Collum pointed to the spot and also showed Dillon a red card, judging that the United right back had committed a professional foul. Substitute Mickael Antoine-Curier stepped up and, after a stuttering run, placed the ball low into the net.
Despite having only 10 men, United continued to battle and makeshift striker Lee Wilkie had a golden chance to win it with a minute to go. Powerful running by Morgaro Gomis allowed him to play in Wilkie who carried on into the box but a great tackle from Rob Jones prevented him from getting a shot at goal.
In what was a committed but far from dirty game, referee Collum showed nine yellow cards, five to United and four to Hibs, in addition to the straight red for Sean Dillon
After the match, Craig Levein said he was happy with the point and had "real pride" in his players. He saw the result as "another step forward for the team".
Man of the Match:
Willo Flood covered every blade of grass this afternoon. One minute he was tracking back, the next he was getting himself into the box. He also provided a great cross for United's second.
Teams:
Hibs: Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Murphy, Hogg, Jones, Kerr, Zemmama, Chisholm (Benjelloun 64), Stevenson, Fletcher, O'Brien (Antoine-Curier 75)
Unused subs: McNeil, Gatheussi, Noubissie, Shiels, McCormack
United: Szamotulski, Dillon, Kalvenes, Wilkie, Dods, Flood, Kerr, Daly (Kenneth 24), Robertson (Robb 75), Gomis, Buaben
Unused subs: McLean, Duff, McCord, Pope, Don
Referee: Willie Collum
Attendance: 14,440
Click here for the full report by Ross Burns.
A thrilling second half also saw United reduced to ten men as Sean Dillon was sent off for a professional foul on David Murphy, leading to the Hibs penalty.
With Jordan Robertson suspended and Noel Hunt injured, Craig Levein was left with only Jon Daly upfront. He was supported by David Robertson who returned to the United side after a hernia operation. Mark Kerr stepped into the centre of midfield to cover for suspended skipper Barry Robson.
Hibs started the game with real intent and could have gone ahead after only a minute when Lewis Stevenson fed Steven Fletcher on the left but his strike went across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.
The best chances continued to fall to Hibs and a Zemmama free-kick from 25 yards forced a terrific save from Szamotulski as the ball headed towards the top corner.
United's task became much harder after 24 minutes when lone striker Jon Daly had to limp off after a 50-50 challenge with Chris Hogg. With no attackers on the bench, Craig Levein was forced to replace Daly with Garry Kenneth, allowing Lee Wilkie to go upfront.
Wilkie then had United's first real chance when a Sean Dillon cross found him at the back post. The big centre half rose well to put a header back across goal but the ball went just over and landed on the top of the net.
The best chance of the first half fell to Hibs. David Murphy crossed the ball in and Rob Jones managed to knock the ball down to Fletcher at the far post. He stretched a leg out but could only hit the ball against the post and United were able to clear.
The second half started at a frantic pace and Hibs should have taken the lead just three minutes in. The ball broke to Fletcher inside the box but with plenty of time to steady himself, the striker blasted the ball well wide.
Three minutes later, Fletcher was again denied a goal when Szamotulski dived at his feet to block the ball with the striker one-on-one with the keeper.
United silenced the home crowd after 66 minutes. A sweeping cross from Sean Dillon was met by the head of David Robertson just outside the six-yard box and he steered the ball past Ma-Kalambay and into the net.
United were now dominating the game and Mark Kerr shot narrowly over before Prince Buaben found himself one on one with Ma-Kalambay but the keeper was able to block the Ghanaian's shot with his legs.
The 900 Arabs behind the Hibs goal went wild once again after 74 minutes when a carbon copy goal put United two ahead. This time the cross came in from Willo Flood and again David Robertson was there to nod the ball past Ma-Kalambay.
However, the two-goal lead was to last only three minutes. Good work by Zemmama saw him play the ball into Hibs substitute Benjelloun and he had plenty of time to slot the ball past Szamotulski from 12 yards out.
Hibs were now on top and after 82 minutes they were level. Sean Dillon allowed David Murphy to get goalside of him and then attempted to tackle the Hibs defender but could do nothing but bring him down. Referee Collum pointed to the spot and also showed Dillon a red card, judging that the United right back had committed a professional foul. Substitute Mickael Antoine-Curier stepped up and, after a stuttering run, placed the ball low into the net.
Despite having only 10 men, United continued to battle and makeshift striker Lee Wilkie had a golden chance to win it with a minute to go. Powerful running by Morgaro Gomis allowed him to play in Wilkie who carried on into the box but a great tackle from Rob Jones prevented him from getting a shot at goal.
In what was a committed but far from dirty game, referee Collum showed nine yellow cards, five to United and four to Hibs, in addition to the straight red for Sean Dillon
After the match, Craig Levein said he was happy with the point and had "real pride" in his players. He saw the result as "another step forward for the team".
Man of the Match:
Willo Flood covered every blade of grass this afternoon. One minute he was tracking back, the next he was getting himself into the box. He also provided a great cross for United's second.
Teams:
Hibs: Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Murphy, Hogg, Jones, Kerr, Zemmama, Chisholm (Benjelloun 64), Stevenson, Fletcher, O'Brien (Antoine-Curier 75)
Unused subs: McNeil, Gatheussi, Noubissie, Shiels, McCormack
United: Szamotulski, Dillon, Kalvenes, Wilkie, Dods, Flood, Kerr, Daly (Kenneth 24), Robertson (Robb 75), Gomis, Buaben
Unused subs: McLean, Duff, McCord, Pope, Don
Referee: Willie Collum
Attendance: 14,440
Click here for the full report by Ross Burns.
