Hibernian 3 Dundee United 3: Next best thing in wait for win

Saturday 24 September 2011

FOR any Hibernian supporter struggling to remember the last time they were able to celebrate a league victory at Easter Road, it was on February 26 after a 2-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

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Chris Tait

Seats in the stadium have been increasingly uncomfortable since then, in the home stands anyway. After seven months without a home win, regulars might be willing to settle for a result that at least felt like a victory. They will then be thrilled by this draw with Dundee United yesterday.

A solitary point was not quite what the fans were anticipating after Garry O’Connor put their side ahead after 22 minutes, but considering they fell behind by two goals midway through the second half the result may in hindsight be classed as heartening.Hibs’ success in battling back will also allow them to maintain – if hardly enhance – the momentum fostered by their penalty shoot-out victory over Motherwell in the League Cup in midweek.As in that match it was O’Connor who was their salvation. After scoring twice and converting his penalty at Fir Park, he added his fourth goal in three outings yesterday. Junior Agogo threaded a pass for O’Connor to latch on to and he adroitly evaded Dusan Pernis and shot home from an acute angle.“It looked as if the keeper had managed to force him wide, but he hit it with power and it was top class,” said Hibs manager Colin Calderwood. “I didn’t see his second goal on Tuesday as someone stood in front of me and I didn’t realise what a good finish that was either.”O’Connor very nearly added a second minutes later, only for Keith Watson to get a toe to a headed flick from Leigh Griffiths. It is just a shame that his form has not been replicated by the rest of his side.It took Hibs just seven minutes to surrender their lead again, and they were behind after half an hour. John Rankin, the former Hibs midfielder, sent a low drive at goal which Graham Stack could only parry as far as Jon Daly, who turned the ball in.The Hibs goalkeeper had been restored to the side despite Mark Brown’s imperious display in the shoot-out on Tuesday night, and while he was complicit in United’s equaliser he could do little about their second.Agogo dawdled on the ball long enough for Rankin to dispossess him and dispatch a pass to Danny Swanson, who clipped a low shot into the bottom corner.When Daly stooped to nod in Paul Dixon’s cross after 68 minutes it appeared as though three points were secured – United were away to Hibs after all – and their supporters were able to turn their attention to other issues.Scott Allan was left out of the United squad due to the precocious teenager’s unwillingness to sign a new contract and the visiting fans made their displeasure with him clear at various intervals throughout the match. The influence of Rankin on this match will only have endorsed their assertions that their side can do without him. “[Rankin] has a fantastic character, he’s a great player and a fitness fanatic,” said United manager Peter Houston. “Certainly so far he has been a great signing for me.”However, this match was not over and Hibs rescued a point. Isaiah Osbourne had a shot deflected in by United midfielder Scott Robertson after 73 minutes, and Agogo made up for his earlier faux pas by scoring the equaliser a minute later. “We’ve got out of the fire a wee bit,” said Calderwood. “But once we got the third [goal] the momentum was a little bit more with us.”It was not enough to arrest Hibs’ dismal home record, but it will probably do for now.

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Hibernian 3 Dundee United 3: Next best thing in wait for win

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