United front flattens Hibs

Dundee United 3 Hibernian 1 Subs: Hannah for Miller 13, Lilley for Thompson 80, Paterson for Hamilton 83 Not used: Combe, O'Brien.

Booked: Aljofree 18, McIntyre 62.

Referee: J Underhill.

Subs: McManus for Luna 75, Zitelli on for Jack 85 Not used: Caig, Townsley, Smart.

Booked: Fenwick 12.

Attendance: 7,950.

AT the business end of last season, when United were scrapping for their SPL life and Hibs were in the thrall of a championship race, a late, disputed penalty in this fixture saw Alex Smith's side hit their lowest ebb. That it is the Edinburgh side who wake up this morning nursing a sense of grievance says much for the new found resilience at Tanna-dice Park.

Despite bossing the game for much of the first half, the improbable late collapse of Alex McLeish's side also illustrates how the individual promising fragments of their season resolutely refuse to come together.

For most of the match United old boys Craig Brewster and John O'Neil had played with belligerence and no little skill.

By the end, the big frontman could not even hit the target with the goal at his mercy from three yards.

Goalkeepers are a notoriously hardy bunch, but Hibs' Nick Colgan was visibly demoralised by the slipshod defending on show in front of him.

As well as a quick-fire double strike by Jim Hamilton, he was left pounding the turf in frustration after Danny Griffin's expert free- kick from a narrow angle left him bewildered.

After the game, and a post-mortem session in which guilty parties had declared themselves, McLeish clearly shared his goalkeeper's disappointment.

"Christmas came early for United," he said. "I thought we controlled it and, if our finishing had matched our outfield play, it could have been over by half-time. Brewster had a smashing game, but let's be honest, it was a sitter. He'll have a sleepless night over it."

Doubling as a managerial joust between two prospective contenders for the Scotland job, this game made for absorbing viewing throughout. Both of the candidates stuck rigidly to their systems, Hibs bringing back Ulises de la Cruz, Franck Sauzee and Mathias Jack to form their typical 3-5-2 shape.

For United, Jim Lauchlan was still missing, as he served out the last game of three-match ban after his sending off against Aberdeen. The heart of the United defence continues to look at ill-at-ease in his absence. His manager is glad he is available for Saturday's visit to Parkhead.

But after just four minutes, Hibs caught United's makeshift central defence cold.

Brewster rolled a ball into his strike partner Paco Luna, and the Spaniard saw the opportunity to send the ever-willing John O'Neil scampering beyond the frontmen. O'Neil took one touch and unselfishly prodded the ball back to Grant Brebner, arriving in support. Brebner simply curled the ball around Gallacher and into the net from just inside the box.

Stung by the early deficit, United pushed on. That match was then halted after Charlie Miller collided with Colgan as the former Ranger man aimed to latch onto a Jim Hamilton cross. Miller, nursing a dead leg, limped from the fray shortly afterwards, to be replaced by David Hannah.

Seeing the departure of their most creative force, United could have wilted, but instead the substitution bore fruit.

Immediately, United looked sharper. First, Jim Hamilton profited from a neat Steven Thompson knock down, to deliberately line-up a left-foot half volley from 22 yards.

Just as the ball appeared to be arrowing into the top corner of the net, Colgan palmed the ball behind to safety.

From the resultant corner, United worked a variation on the Sheringham routine, and Hannah's low right-foot drive was only touched to safety after the goalkeeper had flung himself headlong in the opposite direction. He collided once more, this time with covering team-mate Brebner just for good measure.

United had to wait until 20 minutes had elapsed of the second half and Paul Gallacher had made several good saves, most notably from O'Neil, before the equaliser finally came.

Hannah robbed a weary-looking Ulises De la Cruz on the left and traded backheels with Jim McIntyre, before his cross finally made it all the way through to the far post. Hamilton finished with conviction.

The big striker's best moment was yet to come. Franck Sauzee was inexplicably short on a pass to Ulrik Laursen and Hamilton pounced on an instant. He took a touch, and sent a delightful 25-yard chip sailing beyond Colgan. It was his third goal in two games. Afterwards, the striker said: "If you don't try it, it doesn't come off, and if it doesn't come off you look like a fool."

Then came Griffin's late free-kick which gave the score and even more flattering hue. It may have seemed harsh, but Hibs were the only ones who left Tannadice looking foolish.

Copyright 2001
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