Noel Hunt's penalty leveller kept Dundee United and Hibernian on an equal footing in the race for a UEFA Cup spot.

Dean Shiels handed Hibs the lead after rounding Lukasz Zaluska but they could only hold it for three minutes as Thierry Gathuessi gave away a penalty on the hour mark.

Both sides created numerous chances and Steven Fletcher missed the best opportunity to win an entertaining Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash when Zaluska came off his line to save a one-on-one.

The draw suited Motherwell, who retain the third place that will secure a European spot and sit a point above their two rivals with two games in hand.

The carrot of moving above Well inspired an excellent game that flowed quickly from end to end.

United defender Darren Dods recovered from a foot injury to allow manager Craig Levein to pick the same team that drew 3-3 with Rangers.

Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen moved skipper Ian Murray to centre-back and brought back midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin for the injured Chris Hogg.

United came close to taking an early lead when Hunt met a long free-kick from Dods, but Hibs keeper Andy McNeil back-tracked to push over his looping header.

United striker Mark De Vries then failed to get a strong header on Sean Dillon's dangerous cross.

The visitors were posing problems too and Merouane Zemmama's inswinging corner was headed just over by Martin Canning.

Murray had a let-off after he mis-kicked Dillon's low cross but the ball fell kindly for McNeil, and he soon survived a penalty claim as David Robertson appealed for handball.

A quick break gave Hibs right-back Gathuessi room to shoot in the box but he badly sliced his effort well wide.

Both sides were creating chances and De Vries shot weakly at McNeil inside the box before Zemmama shot straight at Zaluska after a good run to the edge of the United area.

Seconds later Robertson volleyed wide from 15 yards after Hunt's knock-down as the game continued to move quickly from end to end.

Willo Flood ran from deep inside his own half after a Hibs corner before firing a swerving 25-yard effort that McNeil touched over.

Hunt was then inches wide with a 20-yard free-kick as the entertaining first half ended goalless.

Play was briefly tighter in the opening stages of the second half but United left themselves exposed after losing possession from a throw-in.

John Rankin released Fletcher down the left without a United defender in sight and his hooked cross went straight to the unmarked Zemmama, who volleyed a difficult chance high over the bar.

The hosts were soon caught out again in the 57th minute and this time Shiels made them pay. Again United lost possession and Zemmama threaded the ball through for the Northern Irishman, who kept his composure to round Zaluska and slot home.

But Hibs could only keep their lead for three minutes as Gathuessi was punished for a clumsy penalty-box challenge on De Vries and Hunt sent the spot-kick into the top corner.

The chances kept coming and Fletcher's acrobatic effort flew straight at Zaluska before Zemmama's miscued effort almost fell for the Scotland striker.

Hunt headed wide after Dillon's cross was inches too high before Fletcher squandered a golden opportunity with United's back four again caught too far forward.

Colin Nish won the ball after a scramble and played the youngster clean through, but with John Rankin unmarked inside him, Fletcher's low shot was stopped by Zaluska.

Dods missed a long ball before bringing down Fletcher but Eddie Smith only showed the last-man defender a yellow card with the leniency presumably because Fletcher was running towards the corner.

Zemmama almost delivered his own punishment with a free-kick that left Zaluska rooted to the spot but flashed inches wide of the far corner.

United sub Danny Grainger came just as close with a similar strike in an exciting finale that failed to separate the evenly-matched teams.

Teams:

Dundee Utd Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods,Kalvenes (Grainger 71), Flood, Kerr, Gomis (Conway 84),Robertson, Hunt, De Vries (Daly 67).

Subs Not Used: McLean, O'Brien, Kovacevic, Odhiambo.

Booked: Dods.

Goals: Hunt 60 pen.

Hibernian McNeil, Gathuessi, Canning, Murray, Zarabi, Zemmama,Beuzelin, Rankin, Shiels, Fletcher, Nish (Benjelloun 82).

Subs Not Used: Ma-Kalambay, Morais, Stevenson, Chisholm,

McCormack, Campbell.

Booked: Beuzelin, Zarabi, Rankin.

Goals: Shiels 57.

Att: 7,404

Ref: E Smith (Scotland).