Dundee United eased the pressure on much-maligned manager Gordon Chisholm with a first win in six to condemn Hibernian to only their second away defeat of the season.

Collin Samuel netted the only goal of the game when he latched on to Lee Miller's 61st minute flick-on to fire a right-footed shot beat Zbigniew Malkowski from eight yards out.

For Hibs, Derek Riordan went closest to scoring when his free-kick six minutes from time drifted just wide of Derek Stillie's far post.

Miller created the first opportunity in a lacklustre start to proceedings, linking-up with Mark Kerr courtesy of a neat one-two 20 yards from goal.

But the clever interplay between the pair did not match the final product as the midfielder dragged his effort past Malkowski's right-hand post.

The nerves of the United fans were then tested as Alan Archibald collided with Scott Brown in the box, but referee Brian Winter correctly waved away the faint appeals for a penalty from the away support.

The first clear-cut chance of the first half took 27 minutes to arrive and it was Samuel who was handed the opportunity to test Malkowski when Kerr's cross found its way to him 10 yards from goal.

However the 24-year-old saw his cushioned left-foot volley drift harmlessly wide.

Referee Winter then chose to produce the first yellow card of the afternoon three minutes later, when Kerr clattered into midfield rival Brown on the right touchline.

The challenge was late, but Brown dusted himself off and then conjured up an excellent opportunity for Dean Shiels as the match dramatically sprung to life.

The Hibs forward timed his run perfectly to get on the end of the Scotland squad member's tantalising cross, but from only six yards out he blazed his effort well over the bar.

The home side retaliated with a swift counter-attack, but David Fernandez's weak left-footed effort was easily gathered by Malkowski.

The match was now flowing from end to end and only 60 seconds later Shiels was presented with another fantastic opportunity to break the deadlock from a similar position to his first attempt.

This time Riordan was the provider as he danced outside Ritchie on the right-hand side of the penalty area but from the 22-year-old's cross Shiels clipped his effort just wide.

Gary Smith strode forward to create the first chance of the second half, but once again Shiels' luck deserted him in front of goal.

The youngster attempted to do the right thing in taking the ball around the advancing Stillie but touched the ball too far ahead of him and when he eventually found his feet he could only blaze a wild effort across the face of goal.

O'Connor then amazingly missed an open goal when he deflected substitute Steven Fletcher's cross wide - although the striker was adjudged to have been in an offside position and a free-kick was awarded.

From the set-piece Stillie launched the ball towards the Hibs penalty area and from Miller's flick-on, Samuel lashed the ball past Malkowski from eight yards out to give United the lead.

The visitors responded immediately and from Riordan's in-swinging cross Fletcher hit the bar with a header from 10 yards out.

The substitute was in an offside position according to assistant referee Mark Doyle, but Winter ignored his raised flag and the goal would have counted.

The last chance of the game fell to Riordan who was given the opportunity to score thanks to a free-kick 25 yards from goal.

But his curled effort landed just past Stillie's right-hand post as United held on for a hard-fought victory.

Teams:

Dundee Utd Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Robson, Fernandez (McIntyre 71), Miller, Samuel.

Subs Not Used: Samson, McInnes, Kenneth, Robertson, Cameron, Goodwillie.

Booked: Kerr, Robson.

Goals: Samuel 61.

Hibernian Malkowski, Whittaker, Smith, Caldwell, Glass, Shiels (McCluskey 72), Scott Brown (McDonald 90), Beuzelin (Fletcher 49), Thomson, Riordan, O'Connor.

Subs Not Used: Simon Brown, Morrow, Hogg, Rudge.

Booked: Glass, Thomson.

Att: 7,976

Ref: B Winter (Scotland).