MATCH REPORT | UNITED LEAVE IT LATE TO TAKE THREE POINTS AT TANNADICE

DUNDEE UNITED 2

HIBERNIAN 1

12PM SUNDAY 9TH APRIL

CINCH PREMIERSHIP

TANNADICE PARK

Jamie McGrath wraps up three tangerine points as United defeat Hibs at Tannadice. 

PRE-MATCH

Our Scottish Cup-winning Manager Ivan Golac was greeted by the fans before kick-off. 

THE TEAM TALK

There was a welcome return for Charlie Mulgrew after missing out in recent weeks through injury. Academy graduate Kai Fotheringham was also handed a starting spot after featuring from the bench at Ibrox.

Ryan Edwards and Peter Pawlett were the ones who missed out - the latter coming off injured at Ibrox last weekend. 

It looked like a rethink in formation, with Aziz Behich forming part of a midfield five. 

A COSTLY MISS

The visitors really should have opened the scoring inside two minutes, but were denied by Mark Birighitti. 

Harry McKirdy looked to cause problems out wide, delivering a low cross across the face of goal. It was Kevin Nisbet who looked certain to score but our Australian shot-stopper was in the way to deny Hibs the opener. From the resultant corner, Will Fish rose highest but his header posed no threat and sailed high and wide. 

IN THE LEAD

United hit the front in style with just eight minutes on the clock. It’s been a common theme for Goodwin’s side, as Aziz Behich dug out an early cross into the centre of the box. In the middle was Steven Fletcher, who rose high and headed down into the far corner beyond David Marshall. 

HIBS PRESSING

The visitors dominated the ball for the majority of the first half, with United looking to hit on the counter. 

The Terrors carved open another chance, as Ian Harkes found Behich, again roaming forward down the left. He played in another teasing cross but unfortunately, there was no one on the end of it to double our lead. 

Hibs went close to an equaliser before the half as Josh Campbell looked to divert McKirdy’s freekick towards goal but it was cut out in time by Fletcher. 

END TO END 

Just five minutes after the restart, Fletcher really should have had us two to the good. 

It was another dangerous ball into the box - this time from Kieran Freeman - that caused the Hibs’ backline problems. A deep delivery to the back post was cushioned down by Behich into the path of Fletcher, but our number nine blasted over the bar from inside the penalty area. 

Hibs had a chance of their own, with McKirdy racing forwards and slipping in Chris Cadden. He fizzed a low cross into the danger area which was cut out by Loick Ayina before it could reach a mint shirt. 

Pressure from Hibs resulted in a United change on the hour mark, as Fotheringham was replaced by Ilmari Niskanen. The Finish international was involved in the early moments of his appearance, delivering a left-footed cross into a dangerous area - unfortunately, it was just ahead of any tangerine shirts. 

Scott McMann then tried his luck from distance with a drilled effort but Marshall was equal to it. 

PAYING THE PRICE

A glorious chance passed us by moments before Hibs’ equaliser. 

Again it was Behich involved, drilling a low cross across the box. Niskanen met it but he blasted his left-footed effort well over the bar. 

From the counter, Hibs’ substitute Mykola Kukharevych restored parity with an emphatic finish off the underside of the bar. 

Two big chances fell the visitors’ way with just five minutes to go. Nisbet’s freekick came off the crossbar before Elie Youan dragged a shot wide a few moments later. 

THE PERFECT CHAOS

Despite being pegged back, Jim Goodwin’s side maintained their press - continuously finding space down the left flank. 

Into the 90th minute, a lofted ball into the box found Fletcher. He gained control before being bundled over by Fish - leaving the referee no option but to point to the spot. 

Calmness personified in the eye of the storm, McGrath stepped up and slotted home a dramatic late winner - sending Marshall the wrong way from the spot.

United dug deep for the final six minutes of additional time. Edwards replaced Fletcher and Sadat Anaku replaced Harkes as we held out for all three points. 

TEAMLINE

Starting XI: Birighitti, McMann, Mulgrew, Fletcher (90’ Edwards), Sibbald, Behich, McGrath, Freeman, Harkes (88’ A.Sadat), Fotheringham (60’ Niskanen), Ayina

Unused subs: Newman, Graham, Djoum, Cudjoe, Thomson, MacLeod

NEXT UP 

We’re on the road in the cinch Premiership next Saturday, facing Motherwell at Fir Park in a 3pm kick-off.

Tickets are available directly from Motherwell FC.