MATCH REPORT: HIBS V UNITED

United grab a valuable point against Hibernian with a last gasp equaliser from Luke Bolton. The on-loan winger’s priceless goal was his first for the Club. 

The two sides went into today’s game with very contrasting fortunes. Hibernian, sitting third in the Scottish Premiership, were unbeaten in their last seven matches and had won their last four games on the bounce. United on the other hand had one win in their last five in all competitions, but manager Micky Mellon could be pleased with United’s sixth place position in the Premiership so far this season. United came into the game having won four, lost four and drawn four of their last 12 matches, an indicator of the need to establish some consistency in their form.

The two sides last met back in August and it was a solitary goal from Hibernian’s Doidge midway through the second half that settled the tie.

United made two changes to the side that narrowly lost to Rangers last weekend. Clark and Butcher return to the starting eleven with Sporle and Harkes dropping down to the bench.

Hibs manager Jack Ross also made two changes to the side that beat Alloa in the Scottish League Cup quarter final in midweek. Magennis steps up from the bench, whilst top scorer Nisbet returns from injury. Wright and Gullan drop to the bench.

Hibs had the better possession in the opening ten minutes but nothing to trouble the well organised United defence. Littered with free-kicks, neither side could create too many clear cut opportunities.

In the thirteenth minute the Edinburgh side took the lead. A right foot cross from Magennis evaded everyone and slipped past Siegrist. Doidge was in its path but made no contact to allow the ball to cross the line, giving Magennis his first goal for Hibernian.
United were unlucky not to equalise on the twenty minute mark. Played through by McNulty, Shankland found himself in behind the Hibs defence and his quick fire shot went through Marciano’s legs but did catch the goalkeeper’s boots to divert the shot being goal bound.

Siegrist was at his best to save United going further behind with two great saves in quick succession. The first saw the keeper change direction as a Boyle cross was deflected by Reynolds and Siegrist got his hand to the ball. As the ball came back out it was met by Boyle again who this time set up Doidge. His shot was stopped again by United’s in-form keeper.
United continued to press for a first half equaliser. A Fuchs through ball found Shankland through on goal. As Marciano came out of the Hibs goal he could only head the ball away. McNulty then tried to play in Shankland from the rebound but his pass was just out the striker’s reach.

On the fortieth minute a speculative shot from McNulty twenty five yards out just dipped over the Hibernian goal with Marciano well beaten.
Referee Gavin Duncan blew the half-time whistle with the Edinburgh side one goal ahead but with United showing signs of coming back into the game in the last ten minutes of the first half.

As Hibs kicked off the second half neither manager had made any changes.
Hibs continued to have the bulk of the possession, with United’s defence continuing to be resolute to keep them at bay.

United made a double substitution to change their shape ten minutes into the second half. Wingers McMullan and Bolton coming on to give United extra width, switching to a four for two.

The game was now end to end with McNulty and Doidge being both sides main instigators, but neither side could create many goal scoring chances. Hibernian may have had the bulk of the possession in the first hour but with just a one goal advantage to show for it, United still had their tails up looking for an equaliser.
The best chance of the second half so far came in the seventy second minute for Hibernian, when a Boyle assist set up Nisbet. The striker’s shot was just inches wide of the left hand post.

Hibs were now controlling the game and United had to rely on Siegrist again with saves from Doidge and Gogic with just five minutes remaining.
United were still looking for the equaliser and McNulty and Shankland were often tracking back to link up with the midfield.

The pivotal moment for United came in the ninety first minute. Substitute Bolton pounced on a deflection to hit a left foot shot from the left corner of the of the six yard box into the Hibernian net to equalise. It was the on-loan Manchester City players first goal for Dundee United.

United had weathered the wave of attacks from the home side to grab a valuable point to take back to Tannadice.

Siegrist’s performance in particular, along with dogged defending from United may not have been pretty to watch but it’s a well earned point away to third placed Hibernian that keeps United in sixth place and sets us up nicely to play Kilmarnock back at Tannadice on Wednesday this week.

Hibernian - Marciano, Stevenson, Hanlon (C),Porteous, McGinn, Magennis (Wright 65 mins), Hallberg (Gogic 71 mins), Newell, Boyle, Doidge, Nisbet,
Subs not used - Barnes, Gray, McGregor, Doig, McGinn, Gullan, Bradley,

Dundee United - Siegrist, L.Smith, Connolly, Reynolds (C), McNulty, Clark (McMullan 53 mins), Edwards (Bolton 53mins),Robson (AG), Butcher, Shankland, Fuchs (Pawlett 69 mins)

Subs not used - Deniz, Powers, Sporle, Harkes, Appere (AG), Neilson (AG)

Bookings:
United - Reynolds 51 mins, Robson 69 mins, Pawlett 79 mins,
Hibernian - Gogic 77 mins