Paul Hartley's first Premier League strike of the season ended a run of two
successive defeats for Hibernian and put them in good heart for their Scottish
Cup semi-final against Aberdeen next weekend.
Man of the match Hartley fired home after 22 minutes, stroking his effort
under the advancing Alan Combe after Pat McGinlay threaded a neat pass through
the Dundee United defence.
It settled a poor contest in which both sides laboured and almost certainly
ended Dundee United's hopes of bringing UEFA Cup football to Tannadice next
season.
While his goalscoring talents have so far remained hidden, cup strikes against
Clyde and Clydebank his only registration on the goalscoring charts before
today, Hartley's creative abilities are more easily identified.
And it was his dart down the right wing which brought the save of the match
from Combe.
Hartley pulled his cross behind the retreating United defence, Dirk Lehmann
watched the ball speed past and Pat McGinlay drilled in the first-time shot
which Combe stopped to his left when he was moving quickly in the opposite
direction.
Hibs boss Alex McLeish caused a pre-match surprise by dropping Scotland
under-21 striker Kenny Miller to the bench.
McLeish has become increasingly worried about the hype surrounding the
youngster and no doubt with half an eye on next week's last four clash, elected
to keep him out of the limelight.
A worrying spate of injuries forced McLeish into using his outfield
substitutes before he could think of giving Miller a run but it was another of
Hibs' fresh faces in Hartley who took centre stage.
After a bright start, masterminded by Israeli midfield man Jan Telesnikov,
United faded badly.
It was almost a mirror image of their season as a whole.
What had looked a secure UEFA Cup spot at Christmas has descended into a
mid-table scrap.
Finland striker Mixu Paatelainen produced the first save from Combe in the
United goal, although the acrobatic dive to his left was more for effect than
necessity.
McGinlay was the man handed a place in the starting line-up because of
Miller's absence and he made a compelling case for inclusion in next week's
Hampden showpiece with a wholehearted display which included the threaded pass
for Hartley's opener.
Dirk Lehmann should have made it two immediately afterwards but scuffed a shot
straight at Combe when the influential Franck Sauzee, who lasted just 45
minutes, offered the German a clear strike on goal after forcing a pass through
a crowd of bodies.
After two successive defeats, it appeared Hibs were about to take control but
Mark McIntosh was forced off on the half hour, Sauzee only lasted until the
break and Derek Collins limped off 14 minutes after the restart, to leave
McLeish struggling to reorganise.
The disruption offered the Tangerines a way back into the contest but their
recovery efforts were hardly inspiring.
Anastasios Venetis hustled away in midfield but the sheer size of the United
side makes the aerial route to goal an attractive option.
But the Hibs defence remained solid and Tannadice striker Jim Hamilton's
attempts to gain a penalty with an elaborate dive emphasised the visitors
desperation and brought the former Hearts man only a yellow card.
The first of the three home substitutes Matthias Jack did well to clear as
David Hannah, returning from suspension, advanced on the home goal and a neat
sliding tackle from the same man prevented Hamilton bursting through.
Another flying Combe save from McGinlay near the end kept the home fans nerves
on edge until the final whistle.
But the three points were deserved, although a win next week will be more
welcome.
Teams:
Hibernian: Colgan, Collins (Murray 60), Dennis,
McIntosh (Jack 29), Smith, Lovell, Sauzee (Brebner 46),
McGinlay, Hartley, Paatelainen, Lehmann.
Subs Not Used: Gottskalksson, Miller.
Goals: Hartley 23.
Dundee Utd: Combe, McQuillan, De Vos, Malpas, Pascual,
Venetis (Easton 82), Hannah, Telesnikov,
Davidson (McConalogue 68), Hamilton, Ferraz (Jenkinson 46).
Subs Not Used: Gallagher, Partridge.
Booked: Hamilton, Hannah, Jenkinson.
Att: 10,261
Ref: George Clyde (Scotland).
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