Hibernian striker Dean Shiels fluffed a late chance to steal all three points from Dundee United in a highly entertaining Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter at Tannadice.

United went ahead through Noel Hunt's 12th-minute penalty, before United profited from a terrible piece of goalkeeping from Lukasz Zaluska when John Rankin's volley squirmed its way past the Pole in the first minute of the second half.

Both teams had chances to win the game, with Hunt and Steven Fletcher each hitting the woodwork, but Shiels should have clinched an away victory only to slice a shot wide in injury-time with the goal at his mercy.

The game started at a frenetic pace and the first clear opportunity fell to Hunt as Danny Grainger's long throw-in from the left landed at his feet, but he made a mess of his attempted shot and could only flick the ball wide.

Within two minutes of that miss, Hibernian pieced together a free-flowing move which cut through the heart of the United defence.

A through-ball from Filipe Morais found Colin Nish and his smart back-heel deceived Zaluska, allowing Shiels to take control of the ball.

Shiels immediately squared a pass to Fletcher, but with Zaluska still out of position the striker was unable to direct a shot towards goal, allowing United to clear.

The counter-attack was on for United who almost found the back of the net when Jim O'Brien's powerful effort was blocked by visiting goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay.

However from the rebound Guillaume Beuzelin carelessly barged into Willo Flood and referee Eddie Smith awarded a penalty to the hosts, which Hunt just managed to slide past the left arm of Ma-Kalambay.

Hibernian should have restored parity in the 29th minute when Shiels raced on to a pass from Fletcher which had dissected the home rearguard, only for the forward to get the ball caught in his feet as he advanced towards goal.

United recovered confidently from that brief scare and ended the opening period by once again putting their opponents under pressure, with Hunt flashing a header wide from Grainger's cross.

Zaluska's blunder then gave Hibernian a footing in the game.

Rankin's downward volley should have been comfortably gathered by the United goalkeeper, but the Pole only succeeded in fumbling the ball inside his near post.

Zaluska was possibly slightly unsighted by the presence of Shiels but still should have done far better.

Grainger tried to quickly atone for his goalkeeper's mistake with a free-kick from 20 yards which was whipped just over the crossbar and then, within a frantic four-minute spell, both teams hit the woodwork.

United were denied by the frame of the goal when Mark de Vries picked out Hunt with a well-placed header from Craig Conway's cross.

Hunt did well to turn a header towards goal but could only watch in anguish as his effort hit the crossbar.

In the 76th minute, great improvisation from Fletcher saw the striker flick the ball up and unleash an acrobatic overhead kick which shaved the outside of Zaluska's far post on its way wide.

Ma-Kalambay became extremely busy during the closing stages, saving headers from De Vries and Hunt, while Danny Swanson had a powerful drive beaten away by the Belgian.

At the other end of the park a reflex block from Zaluska prevented debutant Nish from turning in a drive by Rankin.

Hibs thought they had created a winner with time fast running out.

Fletcher received a pass from Merouane Zemmama and crossed to Shiels, but the forward could only push his shot wide from close range when he should have found the back of the net.

Teams:

Dundee Utd Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Grainger (Kalvenes 90), Conway, Flood (Swanson 76), Kerr, Gomis, O'Brien (De Vries 63), Hunt.

Subs Not Used: McLean, Kenneth, Buaben, Odhiambo.

Goals: Hunt 13 pen.

Hibernian Ma-Kalambay, McCann (Gathuessi 46), Hogg, Morais (Zemmama 76), Hanlon, Beuzelin, Shiels, Rankin, Murray, Nish, Fletcher.

Subs Not Used: McNeil, O'Brien, Stevenson, Chisholm, Gray.

Booked: Hanlon, Hogg, Rankin.

Goals: Rankin 46.

Att: 6,635

Ref: E Smith (Scotland).