Hibernian 1
Dundee Utd 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

George Fleming made a return to the United side at Easter Road after serving a suspension in last weeks Scottish Cup defeat. With John Holt promoted to the starting eleven, Derek Addison and Frank Kopel missed out, and Derek Frye was given a place on the bench.

United dominated throughout the opening half an hour, with much of their attacking play up to the penalty box very effective, though they fizzled out 18 yards from goal. Billy Kirkwood had an acutely angled shot across the goal fail to be converted by anyone, and John Holt's 20 yard shot was blocked after a good move by Graeme Payne and Fleming. Holt was again involved on the half hour mark, with a strong wind-assisted drive flash narrowly past the Hibs goal. Two minutes before the interval Sturrock sprinted down the wing and pulled inside before crossing to the unmarked Felming on the other side of the box, who headed down to the feet of Holt, but his hurried shot went well past.

Within two minutes of the restart Hibs, who couldn't do a thing right in the first half and were jeered off by their fans, shocked United with a goal. MacLeod rolled the ball across the edge of the box to Des Bremner who turned and let fly a shot from 18 yards when deflected of Narey and over McAlpine's head into the net. Hutchiston then split the United defence, and Callachan rounded the advancing McAlpine, but couldn't get control of the ball and was cleared by a United defender. Hegarty controlled a corner on the edge of the box to drive narrowly past, and at the other end Rae managed to get a toe in front of McAlpine but Stark was on hand to bundle the ball off the line. Hibs had an incredible escape in the 74th minute when Kirkwood lobbed into the goalmouth, where Dodds reacted with a header to beat McArthur only for two Hibs defenders to clear off the line at the last second. United claimed a goal but the referee was not interested. United made a desperate effort to pull that vital goal back, but the Hibs defence managed to survive the last-gasp pressure. Once again United had few breaks and plunged to their fourth straight defeat, and having been League leaders for so long now found themselves in 4th spot, with high-flying St Mirren leading the pack.