Tangerines Squeeze Past Hibs

Dundee United Leave it Late Against a Struggling Hibernian

Trailing 2-1 at home to Hibs in the 90th minute, defeat for Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United looked inevitable.

After falling behind in the twentieth minute, courtesy of Sam Dalby, Hibs responded assuredly and equalised just before the break, converting a well-worked set piece.

United seized the initiative after the break and were unlucky to have a goal chalked off for offside, denying Dalby a second of the afternoon.

The visitors capitalised on this stroke of luck with former Premier League bagsman Dwight Gayle putting Hibs ahead in the 74th minute.

The Dundee United of old might have rolled over and allowed the Edinburgh side to extend their lead. This season’s United displayed the kind of resilience that has pushed them to fourth in the SPFL, just one point behind Rangers.

With Hibs down to ten men after Joe Newell received his marching orders in the eighty-fifth minute, the game turned on its head.

After some neat build-up play on the left flank, Luca Stephenson bundled home a cross to bring United level. Bedlam ensued in the home end, and I found myself almost choking on one of the last cashews in my ‘Hickory Smoked Nut Selection’ in excitement.

Goodwin’s men were rewarded for their tenacity in the dying embers when substitute Meshack Ubochioma gloriously volleyed home to complete the comeback. As the winger wheeled away in celebration, the United faithful could be contained no longer, as they surged onto the hallowed Tannadice turf in a full-scale pitch invasion.

This victory may prove decisive come the end of the season. The European dream is well and truly alive for Dundee United.

Image from WikiCommons