THE contrasting situations of both managers was a constant backdrop as ill-fortune and poor play combined on Saturday to cost Hibernian a point, one which, in truth, they would not have merited.
Having latterly looked capable of riding the storm, Hibs fell prey to a contentious refereeing decision, which saw Chris Hogg given his marching orders following a late challenge on United substitute Craig Conway. With David Van Zanten already off th
e pitch for treatment for a head gash David Goodwillie feasted on the disarray apparent in the Hibs' rearguard and left Ian Murray, still attempting to get his bearings after his hurried redeployment at centre-half, on the turf. The substitute striker's finish was sure, and recalled little of what had gone before as both sides, though mostly United, failed to take advantage of the numerous opportunities presented by slack defending.
Goodwillie's introduction again reflected well on Levein, whose decision to send the same player on against Hibs at the start of last month saw him grab a late equaliser. Indeed, Goodwillie's lime green boots seem to denote a preference for the Easter Road side, or not as the case may be. All of his three SPL goals have come against Hibs, with his most recent ones having significant impact. On-loan Celtic defender Paul Caddis was among those singing Levein's praises after a game which saw United go ahead through a tap-in by Warren Feeney, and then lose the lead after Steven Fletcher scored from similar range.
"Working under a manager of his calibre has been brilliant for me," he said. "Everyone has a different way of managing. Craig Levein has a different way of doing things from Gordon Strachan, and I am benefiting from that. I hope I go back to Celtic a much better player.
"I am not saying Gordon Strachan has not got the respect of the players, but everyone at Dundee United respects Craig Levein so highly," he continued. "He's very fair and treats everyone the same. He doesn't have favourites."
Levein himself was less eager to declare his genius. "It worked today – if it doesn't I tend to keep quite about it," he said of the Goodwillie substitution. His bold team selection might also have gone either way. Fortunately for him the selection of Danny Swanson paid dividends, with United's play a lot more expansive than they are often given credit for. For Paatelainen, however, there was no such vindication.
The circumstances were already tricky as Paatelainen contemplated the team which might get the win needed to sustain faint hopes of qualification for European football next season. Steven Thicot joined Hogg in the centre of defence after suspension ruled out both skipper Rob Jones and also Sol Bamba.
Colin Nish's absence for the same reason was not quite as pivotal, since Hibs have options in attack. One of them, Jonatan Johansson, started his first game in a month, and looked as good as at any stage of his Hibs career.
But the hoped-for blend in midfield was again missing, with midfielder John Rankin pushed out wide with little success. At one stage in the first-half, after another Swanson slalom down the pitch, Rankin was spotted expressing his frustration to the manager, and seemed to plead for a change in tactics. A different outlook will certainly be adopted at Tynecastle on Thursday night, when Hibs travel with some apprehension to face Hearts.
On top of being without the suspended trio of Nish, Bamba and Jones, Hibs might also be deprived the services of David Van Zanten, who received a head gash against Dundee United. This occurred in the lead-up to United's winning goal, and contributed to Paatelainen's anger at the final whistle.
He expressed surprise the game was not stopped, as is the norm with head knocks. Van Zanten's injury could result in a nervy return to the starting line-up for Darren McCormack, whose right-back beat will be uncomfortably close to Hearts supporters unlikely to let his recent court appearance, after an attack on Hearts striker Calum Elliot, pass without comment.
Paatelainen will also have to plan to be without Hogg, whose appeal following his red card is far from certain to be successful. The Finn, in short, does not have his troubles to seek, with the Hibs supporters having tired of below-par displays at Easter Road.
Their dissatisfaction was evident at the final whistle, and making the fare on offer perhaps harder to accept is the obvious talent flushed throughout the club. Paatelainen could do worse than offer quick promotions to members of the Easter Road under-19 team, whose double-winning achievement was celebrated at half-time.
It might promise a better future at Easter Road, although few fans filing away from the stadium on Saturday looked as though this thought was adequate compensation for the misery of the present.
Threadbare Hibs hope to earn a reprieve for red-carded HoggMIXU Paatelainen is not a manager who appeals for the sake of it, but circumstances combined with his firm contention that Chris Hogg did not deserve to be shown a straight red card for his challenge on Craig Conway has persuaded him to request that Hibs begin the process which they hope will lead to a reprieve for the defender.
Although the Easter Road club decided against seeking to overturn a red card issued to Steven Fletcher during a Scottish Cup match against Hearts in January, they will submit an appeal on behalf of Hogg tomorrow in the hope the defender is free to take part in Thursday night's derby at Tynecastle.
Paatelainen was adamant Hogg's challenge was worth only a yellow card, but further motivation to appeal is provided by the personnel crisis which currently threatens to undermine their attempt to take anything from the match against Hearts. Defenders Sol Bamba and Rob Jones are already suspended, while a head injury sustained by David Van Zanten in the lead-up to Hogg's red card on Saturday could see him sidelined. Striker Colin Nish is another who won't be available, due also to suspension.
It leaves Paatelainen with a massive headache as he attempts to win back favour with the Hibs supporters, whose boos and jeers were voluble at the final whistle on Saturday after United clinched a late victory through David Goodwillie. Paatelainen could only lament more ill-fortune at the final whistle and described Hogg's red card as a big decision which referee Stevie O'Reilly got wrong.
"I didn't think it was a red card," said the Hibs manager. "I thought Hogg went for the ball totally and full-heartedly, not the other player. But the referee makes the decision and he decided it was a red card. These are very big decisions and they decide matches," he continued. "They have to be correct ones. Unfortunately that wasn't to be today. It was not a malicious tackle. There was no aggression shown there at all. He went for the ball totally. He didn't go for the ankle. He was late, and it possibly might have been a yellow card, but no more than that."
Hibs' case was strengthened by the opinion of both Dundee United manager Craig Levein and match-winner Goodwillie. Both felt Hogg's challenge, while mistimed, was not malicious, and merited only yellow.
"I thought it was harsh," said Levein. "The lad Hogg is an honest, wholehearted defender. We know to our cost. Jon Daly has twice suffered after challenges with Hogg – both of them fair challenges, I must add. But he does go in hard, and I'd expect my defenders to do the same."
The full article contains 1287 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
