Controversial decisions proved costly as United fell to a frustrating defeat.

Dundee United 1 (Graham 6')

Hibernian 3 (Kukharevych 18', Bowie 90', Hoilett 90'+10)

7.45pm Wednesday 26 February 2025

The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park

William Hill Premiership

Attendance: 10,674

Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

The Team Talk

Jim Goodwin made just one change to the side that defeated Motherwell on Saturday, with Luca Stephenson replacing club captain Ross Docherty in a matchday squad that featured three DUFC Academy graduates.

Ryan Strain and Will Ferry remained on either flank, with Ruari Paton retaining his place up top beside Premiership top scorer Sam Dalby, the match-winning hero last time out against the Steelmen.

Positive news came in the shape of Craig Sibbald, who featured in a matchday squad for the first time since October. 

A fast start from the Terrors

A scrappy start to the game ensured neither team gained a foothold in the opening stages.

Hibs had the first chance, with Martin Boyle seeing his effort blocked. The resulting corner was then cleared as United dealt with Hibs’ early attack.
 
However, United breached the Hibs backline shortly after, with Ross Graham opening the scoring after just six minutes with his third league goal of the season. The ball fell to the unmarked Graham in the right-hand side of the box after a headed clearance from Rocky Bushiri, and, calmly controlling with his chest, unleashed a fierce volley that flew past Jordan Smith, with the aid of a deflection from Jack Iredale.

On Level Terms

Hibs responded well to the United opener, with Martin Boyle coming close to levelling the score at the back post from a whipped cross from Nicky Cadden, only for Ross Graham to prevent a rapid Hibs equaliser at the back post with a crucial, well-timed clearance.
 
However, Hibs did hit back as Lewis Miller’s cross was blocked for a corner, and the resulting in-swinger found the unmarked Mykola Kukharevych to nod in.


 
The match stayed balanced for most of the first half, with Hibs seeing more possession after their equaliser, but Jack Walton remained largely untroubled.

Sam Dalby spurned our best chance to go back in front as he met a Strain cross in the 42nd minute. A rare misjudgement from our number 19 saw his header fly over the bar as United ended the first half on level terms.

Erroneous Decisions

A couple of half-chances again fell Dalby's way before there were strong appeals for a penalty from the United crowd as a Will Ferry corner was met with a headed clearance from Nectarios Triantis, however after a swift VAR check play raged on.

Contentious calls reached boiling point with further VAR controversy in store for United...

It looked certain we had retaken the lead as Dalby bulleted home a header at the back post after a wicked set-piece delivery from Strain.

However, after originally awarding the goal, a VAR check that dragged on for almost six farcical minutes prompted referee David Dickinson to overturn his decision. It was initially investigated for offside, but with the lines unable to be drawn due to a cluster of bodies in the box, Dalby was deemed onside – only for it to be chalked off for a dubious handball.

Graham attempted to double his tally for the evening, however, his effort from the edge of the box flew well wide of the target as we searched for what would have been a well-deserved advantage. 
 
The closing stages saw the welcome return of midfield maestro Sibbald, who made his return to the pitch after a four-month absence.

There was little to separate the sides as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute, however, it was Hibs that landed a sucker punch against the run of play.

It came from another baffling call as Hibs were awarded a goal kick instead of a United corner, despite the ball clearly deflecting off the Hibs man in a battle between Lewis Fiorini and Nathan Moriah Welsh. Although the resultant long ball could have been dealt with, Triantis slipped in Kieron Bowie who slammed high past Walton.


 
United came close to equalising with a Strain free kick from the edge of the box fizzed towards goal and despite being unable to hold at the first attempt, it was eventually dealt with by Smith in the Hibs net.
 
Despite United's best efforts to grab a last-gasp equaliser, Hibs made sure of the win with a third goal deep into injury time. Junior Hoilett wrapped up the three points for the visitors after calmly slotting home in the bottom corner with the last kick of the game.

- By Lyall MacDonald

Post-Match Thoughts

 

Teamlines

Dundee United

Starting XI: Walton, Strain, Ševelj, Graham, Ferry, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Paton, Campbell, Gallagher (c)

Subs: Richards, Trapanovski, Fiorini, Hristovski, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Cleall-Harding

Hibernian

Starting XI: Smith, Miller, O’Hora, Boyle (c), Iredale, Cadden, Welsh, Triantis, Campbell, Bushiri, Kukharevych

Subs: Bursik, Ekpiteta, Manneh, Cadden, Kwon, Bowie, Obita, Hoilett, Gayle

Next Up

We head north to take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday in front of the Premier Sports cameras.

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