Full TimeSecond Half ends, Dundee United 2, Hibernian 1.Post updateAttempt missed. Will Fish (Hibernian) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin Nisbet.Post updateFoul by Jamie McGrath (Dundee United).Post updateMykola Kukharevych (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Post updateAttempt blocked. Ilmari Niskanen (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Aziz Behich.Post updateAttempt missed. Elie Youan (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin Nisbet.Post updateAttempt saved. Mykola Kukharevych (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Kevin Nisbet with a cross following a set piece situation.Dundee United have revived their hopes of staying in the Scottish Premiership after Jamie McGrath’s 90th-minute penalty earned them their first win in 12 games against Hibernian. Jim Goodwin’s side had slipped five points adrift at the bottom after Ross County won on Saturday, but returned the gap to two with his debut victory in his fifth game in charge. Steven Fletcher was the United hero, crashing in an early header and winning the spot-kick after Mykola Kuharevich had levelled for Hibs.
The game began with United taking the lead as Fletcher rose to emphatically power home a cross from Aziz Behich. Despite going in front, United were jittery on the ball, constantly giving it away. However, Hibs could do little with all of their possession and failed to trouble goalkeeper Mark Birighitti before the interval.
The visitors levelled out of the blue on 70 minutes when veteran defender Charlie Mulgrew failed to reach a cross from Marijan Cabraja, allowing Kukharevych to bring the ball down on his chest before crashing a shot high into the net.
Hibs went close to stealing it when Nisbet whipped a fantastic free-kick against the crossbar, with Kukharevych unable to steer his follow-up header on target. Fletcher then cut across Will Fish to draw contact, with McGrath sending David Marshall the wrong way with a cool penalty.
Fletcher was undoubtedly the player of the match, leading the way for United with his hold-up play proving crucial for a side who were initially reluctant to get numbers forward after going in front. A word of praise too for Behich, who did a power of running up and down the left flank and could have had a hat-trick of assists.
Hibs’ main man is also a centre forward and Nisbet cut a frustrated figure for long spells as his team-mates struggled to find any fluency. Wide players McKirdy and Youan never got going and there is a real dearth of creativity in the middle of the park for Johnson’s side.
The win was exactly what United needed, especially after the results from Saturday, and Goodwin will be hoping they can continue their form as they face Motherwell away next Saturday (15:00). Hibs, meanwhile, host Edinburgh rivals Hearts next Saturday (12:30 BST) and will need to improve if they are to stay in the top half of the table.