Dundee Utd 1
Hibernian 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

We posted our third 1-0 Tannadice victory over Hibs this season, with about the only variable factor being that on this occasion Darren Jackson didn't score our winner! Darren was, however, instrumental in us almost taking an early lead. He was the subject of a professional foul and from the free-kick, the ball was slipped into the path of Freddy Van Der Hoorn's whose shot went narrowly past. Further efforts followed with Dave Bowman and Billy McKinlay (twice) firing in long range efforts. Then Brian Welsh shot over. Little had been seen of Hibs in the early stages, but when they came into the picture, Alan Main twice came to our rescue. Firstly he confidently held a corner and then spectacularly tipped a Tortolano cross over the bar. In the last minute of the first half Willie Findlay ran in to net, but was pulled up for off-side.

The substitution of Mixu Paatelainen after an hour almost had immediate effect, he appeared to be pulled down on the point of shooting almost as soon as he came on, but the referee waved away our penalty claims. However, only a quite magnificent one-handed save by Alan Main prevented a Micky Weir header from putting the Easter Road side ahead. Ten minutes from time the decisive goal arrived. Mixu Paatelainen turned on a through ball in the box, but Willie Miller brought him down and Mixu picked himself up to send Goram the wrong way from the spot with ten minutes remaining. The action didn't end there because Micky Weir almost forced his way through a packed tangerine defence and only a fine Goram save low down to his left kept out a shot from Jim McInally in the closing minutes.