Highlights - Dundee Utd 3-0 Hibernian

By Clive Lindsay

Dundee United consigned Hibernian to their fifth straight defeat to leave the Edinburgh outfit deeper in relegation trouble.

Danny Galbraith had blasted a good chance over for Hibs before Jon Daly stole in unmarked to bundle in the opener off the post after 13 minutes.

David Robertson was the creator and set up the second after 48 minutes, Craig Conway racing clear to blast home.

Johnny Russell stabbed the third past keeper Graeme Smith after 81 minutes.

United's deserved win means that Hibs have gone 12 games without a win, 10 of those in the Scottish Premier League, and have not scored in their last seven games.

They are now only two points ahead of bottom side Hamilton Accies, who now have two games in hand, and face a crucial match against third-bottom St Mirren on Tuesday.

Both sides had gone into the game minus influential players through injury or illness - United being without midfielder Morgaro Gomis while forward Derek Riordan's absence continued for Hibs.

Hibs manager Colin Calderwood, whose side went into the game without a goal in 541 minutes of football, continued to ring the changes in an attempt to find a winning formula.

Conway provided a clinical finish for United's second goal

New signings Martin Scott and Victor Palsson were handed starts along with Liam Miller and David Wotherspoon, with captain Ian Murray, Kevin McBride, John Rankin and Merouane Zemmama, who is poised to join Middlesbrough, dropping out.

United manager Peter Houston went for experience, with Scott Robertson, David Robertson and Daly returning to the starting line-up at the expense of youngsters Stuart Armstrong and Russell.

And it was David Robertson who ought to have given United an early lead when he was found by a cross deep to the back post from Conway but volleyed well over from 10 yards.

Hibs responded but failed to capitalise on a couple of good chances of their own.

Miller outmuscled Barry Douglas at the back post but shot into the side-netting from 12 yards then Colin Nish headed into the path of Galbraith only for the striker to volley high into the stand from a similar distance.

Those long crossfield balls falling on top of left-back Callum Booth were giving Hibs problems and a delivery from Douglas led to the opening goal.

David Robertson headed the ball into the penalty area and Daly stole in unmarked to beat goalkeeper Smith and score off the inside of the post.

Daly ought to have put United further ahead when found by a Conway cross 14 yards from goal, but the striker failed to get a firm enough connection and his header skimmed wide of the far post.

Hibs started to apply some pressure, but it was United's Scott Robertson who went closest to adding to the scoreline before half-time with a low drive from just outside the box that was screwed a yard wide.

United's top scorer, David Goodwillie, was virtually anonymous in the first half and squandered an early chance after the break, firing well over from 15 yards.

However, it was not long before the home side extended their lead when David Robertson's through ball set Conway on a foot-race with Francis Dickoh that the United winger won with ease before blasting the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box off the despairing hand of Smith.

Hibs immediately had an opportunity to pull a goal back, but Wotherspoon fired straight into the arms of Pernis from 14 yards.

David Robertson missed an even better chance to kill off Hibs when Goodwillie played the ball into his path, but the midfielder blasted over from just inside the area.

A couple of corners caused chaos in the Hibs defence and, after the ball had been cleared off the line twice, Conway's cross found the unmarked Russell, whose first header was blocked by Smith but the striker stabbed the ball in at the second attempt.

That ensured that United ended a run of three straight draws, if you discount the penalty shoot-out against Ross County in the Scottish Cup, and eight in their last nine games.

Hibs were denied the consolation of their first goal of 2011 when new signing Matt Thornhill's header was cleared off the goal-line in the dying seconds.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version