Hibernian 1
Dundee Utd 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

There was a real pivotal moment in the league campaign in this game. The lost point was the result of a 97th minute penalty decision, and a highly contentious one at that, awarded by Referee Freeland, that emanated from a corner that had previously emanated from a Hibernian player not returning the ball to United, that throw in itself previously the result of Alan Combe kicking the ball into touch to allow the injured Jim Lauchlan to receive treatment, then perhaps that's as near as it gets to being pivotal.

What is also interesting is that, with St Mirren's match at Pittodrie being postponed, we would have cut the relegation gap to four points and with a home match for the Arabs on the following Tuesday in the offing against Motherwell while Saints were at home to their six minutes up the road near neighbours Rangers, the opportunity to go into the winter break close on their heals and coming up fast took a blow. Make no mistake. It is between United and Saints for the drop and with "stadium in place" Livingston fast leaving their First Division rivals behind in the promotion race, this result was a bitter blow to United. McCunnie with Danny Griffin playing in front of the Arab rearguard in what clearly was a team designed to defend...and defend they had to. In the first half Hibernian were much slicker than the dogged Tangerines and continually found space down their left flank. Their quick one two's were something that we don't see just now at United and too often they played right through the midfield with the outstanding Latapy orchestrating the Easter Road outfit. That said, the Hibees didn't threaten United that much and the visitors held out fairly comfortably when half time arrived.

The second half was more open than the first period with United creating a couple of excellent scoring chances before Hibs turned up the pressure. David Partridge displayed a rare run up United's left wing beating one man on his way to hitting a dangerous looking cross that first Thompson missed with his head before Lilley had a go. Soon after that attack. Miller found himself free not far out from goal but elected to hit a through ball to Lilley who shot fairly tamely at Colgan. Hibernian came close on a number of occasions but found Alan Combe in very good form. A point apiece seemed on offer and United would have been the five point gap between Tannadice and Love Street continued. However, deep into injury time Russell Lapaty