DUNDEE United's aspiration to become the third force – the best side in Scotland outwith the Old Firm – was underlined by this merited victory over Hibernian last night which extended the unbeaten run pieced together by Craig Levein's men since 20 September to ten games.
It was also the first time United have beaten Hibs in the SPL in nearly three years. The Edinburgh side had gone nine league matches unbeaten against the Tannadice team since losing 1-0 at the same venue in December 2005.
Compact and assured, Uni
ted were made to fight for all three points by a resolute first-half effort from Hibs. In the second period, however, the Tayside club moved up a gear and exposed the continuing frailty in their opponent's defence. Darren Dods nodded United in front after 53 minutes and the predatory Francisco Sandaza wrapped up the success on the hour with another header.
Craig Conway was the pick of United's midfield and gave Sol Bamba, who was switched to right-back, a torrid time of it in the second half. The former Dunfermline player didn't stay tight enough on his man and most of the danger posed by United emanated down the left flank, where full-back Paul Dixon was also outstanding.
Whatever they lacked in height, the Hibs midfield trio of Ross Chisholm, Joe Keenan and John Rankin made up for in terms of the amount of ground they covered in the first half. Hibs didn't allow United's midfielders the time to dictate the rhythm of the game for 45 minutes. When they ran out of steam, however, United grabbed control.
Perhaps the turning point in the match arrived in the second half after Lukasz Zaluska made a terrific save from Colin Nish. After United went up the park and scored, the belief in Hibs bled away and the home side finished good value for their victory.
Having only won one of their previous five matches, it was no surprise Hibs rung the changes, though the extent of the revision was startling. Mixu Paatelainen re-cast his defence with Andy McNeil in goal, Bamba switched to right-back, Steven Thicot and Chris Hogg were paired together at centre-back and Ian Murray kept his place at left-back.
By contrast, United's manager, Craig Levein, contented himself by replacing the injured striker Warren Feeny with Roy O'Donovan. Otherwise he trusted the players who had carried United on a nine-game unbeaten run. Indeed, the last time United had lost a game was at Easter Road on 13 September.
Having secured three points but looked short of their customary fluency against Aberdeen, United were more like their tidy selves in the early stages of this game. That said, the first sniff of an opening fell to Hibs. Nish's clever back-heel flick created space for Dean Shiels and Lee Wilkie stepped in to make an important block.
O'Donovan's 16-yard angled shot, which McNeil did well to parry, was the closest United came to edging in front.
A poor back pass from Dods should have been punished by Nish. The striker's attempt at a back-heel, however, didn't come off and United breathed again.
Tempers flared when Keenan went down easily in the box and Wilkie made his displeasure obvious. Referee Eddie Smith reprimanded both players without reaching for his book. A few minutes later, though, the United captain was booked for a less torrid display of dissent.
United upped the tempo after the break and
with Levein's men prepared to play the ball forward more quickly and Hibs also eager to break, it was enjoyably competitive. If Dods was let off lightly when he lost possession and gave Nish the chance to shoot from 20 yards – Zaluska made a terrific save – the former Hibs player punished his old team with a superb header in the 53rd minute.
Having gone into the Hibs' box for a long throw which was cleared, Dods stuck around in the danger zone waiting for another opportunity. Conway swept over the tempting cross and the big defender rose to steer a header from eight yards into McNeil's top right hand corner.
The lapses in concentration which have cost Hibs dearly at the back this season struck again after an hour. Willo Flood's free-kick from the left caught the Easter Road side napping and Sandanza glanced home his sixth goal of a productive season.
Dundee United: Zaluska; Dillon, Dods, Wilkie, Dixon; Flood, Scott Robertson, Gomis, Conway; O'Donovan (Goodwillie 90), Sandaza. Subs not used: McGovern, Daly, David Robertson, Swanson, Kenneth, Kovacevic. Booked: Wilkie.
Hibernian: McNeil; Bamba, Hogg, Thicot, Murray; Rankin, Chisholm (Campbell 84), Keenan (O'Brien 72); Shiels; Nish (Pinau 72), Riordan. Subs not used: Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten, Yantorno, Stevenson. Booked: Bamba.
