DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
Dundee United maintained their long unbeaten run at Easter Road that now stretches back more than three years - but will be disappointed to go home with only a point after failing to hold on to a 3-1 lead.
Two goals from skipper Jon Daly and one from Danny Swanson appeared to have sent United well on the way to three points in Leith.
But two quick goals from the home side brought them back from the dead in a thoroughly entertaining SPL match, which was United's second 3-3 draw away draw in the League.
Peter Houston made four changes from the midweek victory at Airdrie, with skipper Jon Daly brought in for his first start in a month and strike partner Johhny Russell returning from suspension. Keith Watson came back in at right back and Scott Robertson took his place in the centre of midfield. Stuart Armstrong, Lauri Dalla Valle, Barry Douglas and Ryan Dow dropped onto the bench. Hibs boss Colin Calderwood lined his side up with an attacking-looking 4-3-3 formation featuring strikers Garry O'Connor, Leigh Griffiths and Junior Agogo.
From the kick-off, both sides looked like they wanted to attack and it took only seven minutes for United to create the first clear chance, with Scott Robertson doing well to play in fellow midfielder John Rankin, who teed up Danny Swanson, only for the midfielder to mis-hit his effort and see it bobble wide. United continued to attack and only two minutes later Swanson, playing in a very advanced role in the early stages, was caught marginally offside after a good through ball from Daly.
Hibs' first chance came on the 10th minute when Pernis couldn't deal with a Griffiths corner under a challenge from Agogo, but managed to gather at the second attempt. United's midfield - with Flood playing a deeper role behind Rankin and Robertson - was causing Hibs problems and Swanson was unlucky to be ruled offside after Rankin played a perfect through ball.
Chances were being created at both ends and, after a quarter of an hour, O'Connor danced past Keith Watson and shot from a tight angle, forcing Pernis to palm the effort wide. The corner from Griffiths - Hibs' third of the game - dropped perfectly for O'Hanlon but his header was right at Pernis.
After 20 minutes, United missed a golden opportunity when an Ian Murray mistake led to ex-Hibs player Rankin racing clear on Stack. He tried to chip the keeper but his effort landed on the roof of the net. United were to be made to pay for missing the game's best two chances so far only two minutes later when Hibs went ahead, as on-form striker O'Connor showed good composure to latch on to a through ball, round Pernis and side-foot home.
United tried to lift themselves and nearly equalised within a minute of the goal when a Kenneth header had to be nodded off the line by Towell. But it wasn't long before United did level the game, with skipper Jon Daly scoring his third goal in consecutive games on the 27th minute. Paul Dixon did well on the left to play in Rankin, whose low shot was parried away by Stack but only as far as the onrushing Daly who coolly slotted home.
Just after the half hour United took the lead and, once again, it was down to good work in midfield. Rankin - who had always been a threat - dispossessed Hibs defender Hanlon and then perfectly teed up Swanson to his left. This time, United's playmaker who has such a good scoring record against Hibs didn't miss as he slotted a low drive into Stack's bottom left corner.
Half time: Hibs 1 - 2 United
It was a first half that could have had even more goals than it did with United's midfield duo John Rankin and Danny Swanson proving a constant threat. Hibs often looked shaky in defence but strikers O'Connor and Griffiths still looked a constant threat.
Within two minutes of the re-start, Swanson showed great footwork to shuffle past his marker on the edge of the box, then curved in a shot that was too close to Stack. In the next attack, Swanson played in Dixon on the left flank and his cross was inches too far in front of Daly. For the next quarter of an hour the game descended into a much scrappier affair than the first half, with the only chance of note coming when a long range drive by Griffiths went past Pernis's post.
After 20 minutes of the second half, the game burst into life with Agogo nearly getting on the end of a dangerous cross, then United countering with Swanson racing through only to be denied by a good challenge from Hanlon. Exactly midway through the second half, United added a third with a finely crafted goal. A magnificent back heel by Rankin on United's left flank set Dixon clear and his perfect left-footed delivery landed at the feet of Daly at the back post to tap home.
The goal seemed to finally spark a sluggish Hibs side to life and, with 19 minutes to go, Agogo had a shot deflected wide. Hibs' next attack brought them back into the game when an Osbourne shot from the right edge of the box deflected off Robertson and beyond Pernis. Almost right away, they drew themselves level when O'Connor played in Agogo, who easily got past a challenge from Dixon and drove the ball low into the net.
With the game suddenly on a knife-edge, both teams again looked edgy and struggled to create any real chances until the final minutes of the game, when a long range Rankin attempt swerved in the air but was held by Stack, then a 25-yard Palsson effort took a wicked deflection but Pernis did well to save.
Full time: Hibs 3 - 3 United
United would normally be relatively pleased to leave Easter Road with a point. However, having done the hard work of getting themselves into a commanding 3-1 lead against a Hibs team that looked bereft of confidence, Peter Houston will be infuriated that the side seemed to switch off for a few frantic minutes that allowed the home side to get back into the game. Hibs were always a threat in attack but United will feel that, having dominated the midfield, they should have held on for the win.
Man of the match: John Rankin. The former Hibs man was a constant menace and always seemed to be able to play a dangerous through ball. His link-up play with Danny Swanson, his closest challenger for the man of the match award, was a joy to watch and served to prove what Hibs are missing, after they let him go last season.
HIBS: Stack, Towell, Murray, Hanlon, O'Hanlon; Palsson, Osbourne, Wotherspoon (Sproule, 46), Agogo (Sodje, 89); Griffiths (Booth, 86), O'Connor
Subs not used: Brown, Stevenson, Stephens, Horner
UNITED: Pernis; Watson, Dixon, Kenneth, Gunning; Flood, Rankin, Robertson, Swanson; Russell (Douglas, 73)
Subs not used: McCallum, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Dalla Valle, Dow, Marsh-Brown
Two goals from skipper Jon Daly and one from Danny Swanson appeared to have sent United well on the way to three points in Leith.
But two quick goals from the home side brought them back from the dead in a thoroughly entertaining SPL match, which was United's second 3-3 draw away draw in the League.
Peter Houston made four changes from the midweek victory at Airdrie, with skipper Jon Daly brought in for his first start in a month and strike partner Johhny Russell returning from suspension. Keith Watson came back in at right back and Scott Robertson took his place in the centre of midfield. Stuart Armstrong, Lauri Dalla Valle, Barry Douglas and Ryan Dow dropped onto the bench. Hibs boss Colin Calderwood lined his side up with an attacking-looking 4-3-3 formation featuring strikers Garry O'Connor, Leigh Griffiths and Junior Agogo.
From the kick-off, both sides looked like they wanted to attack and it took only seven minutes for United to create the first clear chance, with Scott Robertson doing well to play in fellow midfielder John Rankin, who teed up Danny Swanson, only for the midfielder to mis-hit his effort and see it bobble wide. United continued to attack and only two minutes later Swanson, playing in a very advanced role in the early stages, was caught marginally offside after a good through ball from Daly.
Hibs' first chance came on the 10th minute when Pernis couldn't deal with a Griffiths corner under a challenge from Agogo, but managed to gather at the second attempt. United's midfield - with Flood playing a deeper role behind Rankin and Robertson - was causing Hibs problems and Swanson was unlucky to be ruled offside after Rankin played a perfect through ball.
Chances were being created at both ends and, after a quarter of an hour, O'Connor danced past Keith Watson and shot from a tight angle, forcing Pernis to palm the effort wide. The corner from Griffiths - Hibs' third of the game - dropped perfectly for O'Hanlon but his header was right at Pernis.
After 20 minutes, United missed a golden opportunity when an Ian Murray mistake led to ex-Hibs player Rankin racing clear on Stack. He tried to chip the keeper but his effort landed on the roof of the net. United were to be made to pay for missing the game's best two chances so far only two minutes later when Hibs went ahead, as on-form striker O'Connor showed good composure to latch on to a through ball, round Pernis and side-foot home.
United tried to lift themselves and nearly equalised within a minute of the goal when a Kenneth header had to be nodded off the line by Towell. But it wasn't long before United did level the game, with skipper Jon Daly scoring his third goal in consecutive games on the 27th minute. Paul Dixon did well on the left to play in Rankin, whose low shot was parried away by Stack but only as far as the onrushing Daly who coolly slotted home.
Just after the half hour United took the lead and, once again, it was down to good work in midfield. Rankin - who had always been a threat - dispossessed Hibs defender Hanlon and then perfectly teed up Swanson to his left. This time, United's playmaker who has such a good scoring record against Hibs didn't miss as he slotted a low drive into Stack's bottom left corner.
Half time: Hibs 1 - 2 United
It was a first half that could have had even more goals than it did with United's midfield duo John Rankin and Danny Swanson proving a constant threat. Hibs often looked shaky in defence but strikers O'Connor and Griffiths still looked a constant threat.
Within two minutes of the re-start, Swanson showed great footwork to shuffle past his marker on the edge of the box, then curved in a shot that was too close to Stack. In the next attack, Swanson played in Dixon on the left flank and his cross was inches too far in front of Daly. For the next quarter of an hour the game descended into a much scrappier affair than the first half, with the only chance of note coming when a long range drive by Griffiths went past Pernis's post.
After 20 minutes of the second half, the game burst into life with Agogo nearly getting on the end of a dangerous cross, then United countering with Swanson racing through only to be denied by a good challenge from Hanlon. Exactly midway through the second half, United added a third with a finely crafted goal. A magnificent back heel by Rankin on United's left flank set Dixon clear and his perfect left-footed delivery landed at the feet of Daly at the back post to tap home.
The goal seemed to finally spark a sluggish Hibs side to life and, with 19 minutes to go, Agogo had a shot deflected wide. Hibs' next attack brought them back into the game when an Osbourne shot from the right edge of the box deflected off Robertson and beyond Pernis. Almost right away, they drew themselves level when O'Connor played in Agogo, who easily got past a challenge from Dixon and drove the ball low into the net.
With the game suddenly on a knife-edge, both teams again looked edgy and struggled to create any real chances until the final minutes of the game, when a long range Rankin attempt swerved in the air but was held by Stack, then a 25-yard Palsson effort took a wicked deflection but Pernis did well to save.
Full time: Hibs 3 - 3 United
United would normally be relatively pleased to leave Easter Road with a point. However, having done the hard work of getting themselves into a commanding 3-1 lead against a Hibs team that looked bereft of confidence, Peter Houston will be infuriated that the side seemed to switch off for a few frantic minutes that allowed the home side to get back into the game. Hibs were always a threat in attack but United will feel that, having dominated the midfield, they should have held on for the win.
Man of the match: John Rankin. The former Hibs man was a constant menace and always seemed to be able to play a dangerous through ball. His link-up play with Danny Swanson, his closest challenger for the man of the match award, was a joy to watch and served to prove what Hibs are missing, after they let him go last season.
HIBS: Stack, Towell, Murray, Hanlon, O'Hanlon; Palsson, Osbourne, Wotherspoon (Sproule, 46), Agogo (Sodje, 89); Griffiths (Booth, 86), O'Connor
Subs not used: Brown, Stevenson, Stephens, Horner
UNITED: Pernis; Watson, Dixon, Kenneth, Gunning; Flood, Rankin, Robertson, Swanson; Russell (Douglas, 73)
Subs not used: McCallum, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Dalla Valle, Dow, Marsh-Brown
