A 69th minute Jim McIntyre goal gave Dundee United a point at Easter Road and lifted the spirited Tannadice men off the bottom of the Bank of Scotland SPL table.

The Edinburgh men had led for most of the match after striker Thomas McManus had got them off to a dream start after only two minutes with a fine drive from the edge of the box.

There seemed no real danger for the home side until McIntyre headed home from close range - and at the end the ragged Hibees were left holding on for their first point in six league games.

However, it had started so well for the Edinburgh men.

Boss Bobby Williamson reshuffled his pack looking for a good reaction from the midweek defeat against Dunfermline and his side got off to a flyer with the early goal.

Recalled striker Mixu Paatelainen knocked a ball down to McManus on the edge of the United box and the Scotland Under-21 star slammed a right-footed drive past a despairing Tannadice goalkeeper Paul Gallacher and into the corner of the net.

It was just the start the home side needed and immediately there was an air of confidence about their play as they set about increasing their lead.

However, in the ninth minute United should have equalised when Russell Latapy swung a corner in from the left and found Jim Paterson unmarked only three yards from goal.

But to the astonishment of everyone inside Easter Road, the United midfielder somehow managed to head wide when it seemed a goal was certain.

Moments later the visitors had another half chance when the ball rebounded of the shin of Hibs defender Yannick Zambernardi to Andy Tod - but the United stopper stabbed the ball wide from six yards out.

From then on, for some reason, the game deteriorated.

Play was flowing from end to end and both sides were winning corners with ease - but the delivery into the box was not always the best.

In the 25th minute the lively and confident McManus hammered a free-kick from 25 yards just over the bar. It was as close as either side came before the half-time whistle.

If the beginning to the first half was joyful for Hibs scorer McManus then the opening to the second period was disappointing for the youngster as after only three minutes he limped off to be replaced by Garry O'Connor.

United midfielder Latapy, the visitors' most creative player before the break, was again at the hub of the Tannadice play as they set about trying to grab the equaliser.

And in the 50th minute the former Hibs and Rangers player tried a clever angled chip from 14 yards out which went just over Nick Colgan's crossbar.

United boss Ian McCall tinkered with his line-up when he substituted Jamie McCunnie for Stephen Carson and then Latapy for Billy Dodds in an attempt to make more headway against a stubborn Hibs defence.

And almost immediately, the move paid off when the tenacious visitors drew level out of the blue with a well worked goal.

Paterson outpaced Hibs defender Mathias Doumbe and crossed from wide on the left to the back post - where McIntyre headed in from almost on the line.

The goal sparked the game into life and substitute Dodds should have scored when he had a free shot from 14 yards but the veteran's low shot was straight at Colgan and the ball bounced away for a corner.

In the closing stages it was all United and Dodds and Stuart Duff both missed great chances to tie up the points for the visitors.

Teams

Hibernian: Colgan, Smith, Matyus, Zambernardi, Murray, Brebner, McManus (O'Connor 48), Paatelainen, James (O'Neil 75), Jack, Doumbe.

Subs Not Used: Andersson, Arpinon, Townsley.

Booked: Zambernardi.

Goals: McManus 3.

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Bollan, McCunnie (Carson 64), Easton, Lilley, McIntyre, Paterson, Duff, Latapy (Dodds 66), McCracken, Tod.

Subs Not Used: Combe, Ogunmade, Chiarini.

Booked: McCracken.

Goals: McIntyre 69.

Att: 7,518

Ref: D Somers (Scotland).