THUMBS UP & THUMBS DOWN FOR CUMMINGS
Goal hero sees red as ref goes card happy
DUNDEE UNITED fans called for a card display and referee Don Robertson joined in as Jason Cummings fired Hibs a huge step closer to a Premiership return.
The striker netted the only goal of a fiery Tayside tusssle, his 20th of the season, to move Neil Lennon’s men 10 points clear of their main rivals.
But the Easter Road ace spoiled a great night with a senseless red card for punching the ball into the net.
He joined United’s Lewis Toshney who was sent off in the first half AND Hibs boss Lennon, who was ordered to the stand in the dying minutes of a bad tempered affair with whistler Roberston dishing out 11 bookings.
An Arabs fans group had urged supporters to hold up cards in protest at chairman Stephen Thompson but there was a mixed response with a section of the home support shouting down protesters.
Lennon described this fixture as “season defining” for the Tangerines and defeat looks to have killed off their automatic promotion hopes as Hibs continue to chase a double.
Ray McKinnon had set his players the challenge of winning all 11 remaining league games but they fell at the first hurdle and Hibs are odds-on for a return to the top flight after a three-year absence.
Tony Andreu’s winner from the spot last December drew the Tangerines level with the leaders but Hibs had since regained a seven-point lead with a game more played.
But a wobble in the league had seen them go four games without a win to open the door again for United.
Easter Road boss Lennon was desperate to get back to winning ways and shake off the Taysiders going into the home straight but to do that they had to end United’s unbeaten run at home.
McKinnon admitted wins were a must to keep alive title hopes and this was the chance to deliver a real psychological blow before their midweek game in hand at St Mirren. Hibs’ Lewis Stevenson and John McGinn both sent efforts just wide before Paul Dixon was relieved to see his sliced clearance go for a corner rather than end up in his own net. Despite everything riding on this game supporters group Fans United had called for a protest against Thompson on the 10th minute. And, in the stand named after the chairman’s late father Eddie, about two dozen banners and scarves with “Thompson out” messages were held up but there were also jeers from those unhappy at the timing in a clear divide between fans. The mood could have been blacker if Cummings had taken advantage of sloppy play from Mark Durnan but Cammy Bell came to the rescue. Toshney was the first in the book for a foul on Andrew Shinnie before Scott Fraser followed. And the ref also flashed yellow at Hibs skipper David Gray for a foul on Simon Murray on the edge of the box but the free kick was wasted. Robertson was reaching into his top pocket again just after the half hour as Toshney was sent off.
It was for another cynical foul on Shinnie with no complaints from the midfielder in his first game back from an injury picked up last month.
And just eight minutes later United were left reeling when the Edinburgh men grabbed the lead.
Shinnie found Cummings with a through ball, the striker chesting down before firing a stunning volley beyond a helpless Bell.
Cummings might even have won a penalty before the break when William Edjenguele barged into the frontman as Lennon had words with the referee at half time.
United failed to raise their game to match the occasion with Hibs dominant, even before Toshney’s red card, and the home side’s discipline let them down with Paul Dixon booked for cementing Martin Boyle early after the restart.
Robertson’s card count reached six yellows, as well as Toshney’s red, when Shinnie went into the book for dissent. Grant Holt and Edjenguele followed for wrestling on the ground.
Hibs had a glorious chance to kill the game off after 66 minutes when Gray’s header set up Boyle but he snatched at his shot and fired over.
Boyle then set up Shinnie as the visitors piled on the pressure and Durnan made a block on the line.
Cummings took the shine off a great performance when he punched Gray’s cross into the net, which was well spotted by Robertson.
Hibs should have sealed the points late on when Shinnie forced a save from Bell but the visitors held on.
DUNDEE UNITED: Cammy Bell 7, Frank van der Struijk 5, Mark Durnan 5, William Edjenguele 5, Paul Dixon 5, Willo Flood 5, Lewis Toshney 3, Scott Fraser 5 (Van der Velden 84, 2), Alex Nicholls 4, Tony Andreu 5 (Mikkelsen 64, 3), Simon Murray 5. Not used: Zwick, Dillon, Murdoch, Telfer, Robson.
HIBS: Ofir Marciano 7, David Gray 7, Darren McGregor 7, Efe Ambrose 8, Lewis Stevenson 7, John McGinn 7, Marvin Bartley 7 (Fyvie 69, 3), Andrew Shinnie 7, Martin Boyle 6 (Forster 88, 2), Jason Cummings 7, Grant Holt 7 (Graham 79, 2). Not used: Laidlaw, Keatings, Crane, Martin.
Referee: Don Robertson.