Grant Brebner scored a hat-trick to guide Hibernian into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup after a tremendous fight-back by Dundee United at Tannadice.

The Easter Road midfielder struck twice within the opening 28 minutes against a disorganised United side.

But Stephen O'Donnell handed the Tangerines a 70th-minute lifeline with a well-driven strike.

Then, 11 minutes from the end, Jim Hamilton appeared to have secured a replay for the Tayside team when he stroked home from the spot after Jim McIntyre had been felled by Yannick Zambernardi in the area.

But Brebner was to have the final word when he headed home John O'Neil's cross from the right in the 87th minute.

However, any hopes United manager Paul Hegarty had that the winter break would change his side's fortunes at the foot of the Premier League were dashed with a poor first half display.

Indeed, new signing Daniele Chiarini set the ball rolling with a first-minute blunder which allowed Hibs to carve out a wonderful chance.

The Italian looked to have a Paul Fenwick long-ball covered but he hesitated and allowed Tom McManus to dispossess him on the right touchline.

The Hibs striker darted into the box and laid the ball into the path of Brebner.

But he was unable to get clean contact on the ball and hit the crossbar from six yards.

McManus was causing problems for the United defence and his combination with Brebner took only 10 minutes to pay off.

Once again, the Hibs striker hassled the United defence and broke down the right before bursting into the box and laid the ball across the face of goal for his team-mate.

Brebner darted into the area unbeknown to the United defence and managed to bundle the ball past Paul Gallacher.

The Hibs midfielder added his second in the 28th minute and, this time, did not need the help of his team-mates.

The former Manchester United youth player picked a loose ball up on the right flank, cut across the face of goal - evading a tackle from Mark Wilson - and coolly fired the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net.

But second half substitute O'Donnell hit back for United after 70 minutes when he latched onto a sloppy defensive clearance by Hibs.

Charlie Miller's corner was cleared, but only to the edge of the area, allowing the youngster the chance to step forward and blast the ball goalwards.

The youngster's effort took a slight deflection off Ian Murray and bounced into the net off the side of the post.

Hegarty had introduced former Hearts striker Jim Hamilton to the fray after an hour and the striker came on to a barrage of abuse from the visiting fans.

However, he was to silence them with 11 minutes remaining when he scored the equaliser.

McIntyre broke into the area only to be felled by Zambernardi. Hamilton stepped up and calmly wrong-footed Colgan to slot the ball home.

But Hibs hit back and scored the winner with only three minutes remaining.

Brebner latched onto an O'Neil cross from the right and knocked the ball past Gallacher for his hat-trick.

Teams:

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Daniel Chiarini, Lauchlan, McCraken, McCunnie (Hamilton 71), Wilson, Miller, Easton (O'Donnell 52), Paterson, Dodds, McIntyre.

Subs Not Used: Combe, Lilley, Duff.

Booked: Wilson.

Goals: O'Donnell 70, Hamilton 79 pen.

Hibernian: Colgan, Fenwick, Smith, Zambernardi, Orman, Wiss, Townsley (O'Neil 76), Brebner, Murray, Paatelainen, McManus (O'Connor 73).

Subs Not Used: Westwater, Luna, Jack.

Booked: Zambernardi, Townsley, Paatelainen.

Goals: Brebner 10, 28, 87.

Att: 8,986

Ref: T Brown (Scotland).