High-flying Hibernian claimed the New Year honours in controversial fashion as Russell Latapy's last-minute penalty left basement boys United shell-shocked at Easter Road.

United manager Alex Smith must have felt his side had secured a vital point in their fight for survival when deep into injury time referee Alan Freeland pointed to the spot after ruling that Danny Griffin had fouled Mathias Jack in the area.

Latapy converted the spot-kick, which was harsh on Smith and his side, who have been desperately short of luck as they stay rooted to the foot of the SPL and still five points adrift of St Mirren.

With the Old Firm both out of action, the win enabled Alex McLeish's side to close the gap on league leaders Celtic to nine points and put space between themselves and Rangers.

For United, a miserable day was capped when goalkeeper Alan Combe appeared to spit at a linesman at the final whistle as the furious United players walked off the pitch - and he could face the wrath of the SFA.

Despite the freezing conditions the home side looked the most creative and in the 14th minute Combe had to save low at his left post to deny David Zitelli's snap-shot after Latapy had found him down the right.

Moments later and it was Jim Lauchlan's turn to deny Zitelli with a brave block in the area as he sized up to score after another pass from Latapy, who was playing in a deep midfield role.

United conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position wide on the left in the 22nd minute, but Paul Fenwick could not get the power or the direction to trouble Combe, who comfortably gathered the ball.

Stuart Lovell, who scored in the derby draw, could have bagged another two minutes later when Latapy picked him out on the edge of the area, but the midfielder's shot went wide of the mark.

Zitelli saw glory in the 26th minute after accepting another pass from Latapy, but he blazed high over the crossbar.

Hibernian stepped up the pressure and Lauchlan again had to be alert in the 31st minute to deny Brian O'Neil.

But Ulrik Laursen should have broken the deadlock with two great opportunities in the space of a minute.

Zitelli's corner eventually ended up at the feet of the Dane after Mixu Paatelainen had took the full force of Jack's effort.

Then moments later Paatelainen found him on the left of the box and he drilled a right-foot shot just past the upright.

In the final moments of the half Franck Sauzee was yellow-carded for a challenge from behind on Steven Thompson.

The game livened up after the restart and referee Freeland had to have words with Charlie Miller and Jack after a flare-up in the middle of the park.

United created a great chance in the 49th minute but somehow Thompson failed to get a head on Craig Easton's cross after a determined run down the left wing and Derek Lilley put his effort wide.

The home side and their fans began to get frustrated and in the 56th minute Jack went into the book for an elbow on Easton.

But the home side continued to push men forward and Latapy let fly with a right-foot effort on the hour that went straight at Colgan, who saved easily.

But United created a good chance moments later when Miller played in Thompson, but Colgan got down to make a great save to deny the striker.

Lauchlan was proving to be a tower of strength at the back for United and in the 62nd minute he headed over Lovell's cross with Paatelainen certain to score.

Combe was then tested by Sauzee's fierce 22-yard free-kick and Paatelainen then watched his looping header from O'Neil's cross go agonisingly past the upright in the 68th minute.

Fenwick was booked for a foul on Thompson in the 75th minute and moments later Hibernian were unlucky to survive a penalty shout when Lilley was man-handled in the box by Sauzee.

Combe then produced a wonderful reflex save to deny Zitelli's header from point-blank range from O'Neil's cross.

The United keeper was again in the thick of the action moments later to deny Latapy in the box and he got back to clear the danger after a goalmouth scramble.

McLeish decided to freshen things up in attack and threw Tom McManus on for Paatelainen, but the Edinburgh side were beginning to fear it was not to be their day.

But United carved out another gilt-edged chance in the 85th minute when Lilley headed David Partridge's cross into the path of Miller, but he failed to connect and the chance went begging.

Combe again saved an effort from O'Neil and it seemed nothing was going to get past the inspired stopper.

But luck has not been on United's side and in the final moments the home side were controversially awarded the penalty when Griffin was adjudged to have fouled Jack.

The referee pointed to the spot which sparked outrage among the United players and Jason de Vos, Combe and Griffin were booked before Latapy kept his cool to stroke home the penalty.

Referee Freeland was escorted off the field at the final whistle, while Combe then blotted his copybook as the sides walked off.

Teams

Hibernian: Colgan, Lovell, Fenwick, Sauzee, Gary Smith, Laursen, Jack, O'Neil, Latapy, Zitelli (Lehmann 87), Paatelainen (McManus 79).

Subs Not Used: Franks, Andrews, Murray.

Booked: Jack, Fenwick.

Goals: Latapy 90 pen.

Dundee Utd: Combe, McCunnie, Lauchlan, De Vos, Partridge, Easton, Miller (Davidson 87), Griffin, Aljofree, Thompson (Hamilton 79), Lilley (Winters 90).

Subs Not Used: Gallacher, McCracken.

Booked: McCunnie, Combe, De Vos, Partridge, Easton.

Att: 10,197

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).