A defensive mix-up in injury time between Dundee United substitute Jim
Lauchlan and goalkeeper Paul Gallacher gifted Hibernian all three points in a
sensational ending at Tannadice Park.
With the game petering out for a draw, Lauchlan, on earlier for Mark Wilson,
collided with Gallacher with no trouble looming and Hibs midfielder Ian Murray
was left with a tap-in from a yard out.
The visitors had struck the woodwork twice in an entertaining first 45 minutes
before David McCracken went up for a corner in the 32nd minute and was handily
placed to shoot home from close range for only his second United goal.
But McCracken turned sinner after the break when he conceded a 57th-minute
penalty with a foul on Tom McManus which the Hibs striker slotted away before
Lauchlan and Gallacher combined for the late gift to the Easter Road men.
Hibs began the game with a surge of inspiration and in the sixth minute they
carved out the first chance of the game when wing-back Gary Smith swung a high
cross from the right over to the back post where Janos Matyus headed back across
goal.
Hibs' in-form striker McManus was unmarked only six yards out but somehow the
Scotland Under-21 star mis-hit his shot over the crossbar.
The Edinburgh side were still the more impressive and their reward nearly came
in the 16th minute when McManus drove a low free-kick in from the left and when
Derek Lilley mis-kicked his clearance, Matyus crashed a close-range shot off the
crossbar.
The confident visitors kept up the pressure and moments later McManus struck
the post from a tight angle after a goalmouth scramble.
In the 21st minute United midfielder Charlie Miller made his first real impact
on the game when his 25-yard shot was well saved at the expense of a corner by
Hibs goalkeeper Nick Colgan.
As the first half wore on the game was evenly balanced but it seemed a goal
was imminent and there was no surprise in the 32nd minute when the home side
took the lead.
A Russell Latapy corner from the right reached Jim McIntyre at the back post
and when the United striker headed down McCracken was on hand to hammer an
unstoppable shot past Colgan from eight yards out.
In the 48th minute the impressive Latapy swung over a corner from the left and
when defender Andy Tod headed down into a crowded six yard box, United's Jim
Paterson should have done better than scoop the ball over the crossbar from
close range.
Moments later Paterson again had a chance when he dispossessed Smith on the
left but his angled shot from 14 yards went wide of Colgan's far post.
Then Miller sent Lilley clean through on goal but Colgan did well to push the
striker's powerful shot away for a corner.
In the 57th minute the visitors were handed a lifeline when McCracken clumsily
hauled down McManus in the box although referee Mike McCurry hesitated before
pointing to the spot.
McManus dusted himself down before slotting the ball away and then was booked
by McCurry for over-celebrating behind the goal.
The goal gave the visitors fresh impetus and the pendulum swung their way
although there was a scare for the visiting fans when McIntyre failed to connect
with a Lilley cross from the left only yards from goal.
United continued to battle away and in the 66th minute a Danny Griffin
free-kick from 20 yards went narrowly past the post.
In the 84th minute United substitute Billy Dodds, on earlier for Latapy, had a
free header from a Griffin free-kick but the veteran striker headed straight at
Colgan from only six yards out.
A point apiece seemed the likely outcome, but Lauchlan and Gallacher's
defensive disarray presented Murray with a chance he could not miss.
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