Hibernian moved up to third place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League with a comprehensive victory over Dundee United in an entertaining match at Tannadice.

After going behind to a Jason Scotland goal, the visitors stormed back and efforts by Derek Riordan, Garry O'Connor, Alen Orman and substitute Sam Morrow gave the Edinburgh team an easy victory over a United side who contributed to their own downfall with some erratic defending.

It was, however, an impressive display by Tony Mowbray's men who could have gone on to score even more goals in a one-sided game which brought out the best in his footballing philosophy.

The Edinburgh club had brought a healthy travelling support up from Leith but they were shocked when the home side took the lead in the eighth minute with a goal of real quality by Scotland.

United skipper Derek McInnes slipped a pass to the Trinidadian inside the Hibs penalty area and the United striker brilliantly turned Hibees defender Gary Caldwell before rifling a left-footed shot from 14 yards into the top corner past a helpless Simon Brown.

In the 12th minute, however, the visitors bounced back with an equaliser which owed much to United's defensive frailties.

Orman took a pass from Steven Whittaker and swung a hopeful cross in from wide on the right only to see the whole Tannadice defence stand stock still as Hibs' on-form striker Riordan stooped to head past keeper Tony Bullock for his 12th goal of the season.

The visitors stormed into the lead in the 22nd minute with a fine O'Connor goal which ended an eye-catching five-man move.

Captain Ian Murray brought the ball out of defence to O'Connor who fed the ball out left to defender David Murphy, who then touched the ball back to Riordan.

When the cross came into the middle, Orman chested the ball down to O'Connor who blasted his left-footed shot from 12 yards high into the net past United keeper Tony Bullock.

In the 43rd minute, however, the Taysiders almost drew level when McIntyre's shot from the edge of the box, after good work by Barry Robson on the left, clipped the crossbar before going over.

An entertaining first half had ended with Hibs on top and they began the second half in confident style.

However, in the 55th minute McIntyre missed a great chance to equalise when he somehow headed a Mark Wilson corner past the far post from almost point blank range.

However, Hibs went racing back up the other end and came close to scoring their third goal with good efforts from Riordan and then Craig Rocastle, both well saved by Bullock.

But hapless United were themselves to blame, once again, for Hibs' third goal which eventually came in the 58th-minute courtesy of the irrepressible Orman.

A wayward cross from the left from Dean Shiels was headed back into the danger area by McIntyre, back to help his defence, and Orman was in the right place to bundle the ball over the line from close range with his head.

In the 79th minute McIntyre's powerful 25-yard drive was only just tipped over the bar by Brown before the United striker missed an easy chance from three yards out, somehow poking the ball around the post.

However, in the 80th minute the visitors scored their fourth goal to compound United's afternoon of misery.

Whittaker robbed Archibald in midfield leaving substitute Morrow, who had come on for O'Connor, with only Chris Innes between him and the goal.

The lively Hibs striker, easily skipped past the United defender and slammed the ball past Brown for his first ever goal for the Easter Road club.

Teams

Dundee Utd Bullock, Wilson, Innes, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerr (McCracken 64), Brebner (Samuel 69), McInnes, Robson, Scotland, McIntyre.

Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Dodds, Grady, Cameron, Kenneth.

Booked: Archibald.

Goals: Scotland 8.

Hibernian Simon Brown, Whittaker, Caldwell, Murray, Murphy, Shiels, Orman (Fletcher 74), Rocastle, Glass, O'Connor (Morrow 67), Riordan.

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Smith, Dobbie, Shields, McCluskey.

Booked: Murray.

Goals: Riordan 13, O'Connor 22, Orman 58, Morrow 81.

Att: 10,152

Ref: I Fyfe (Scotland).