United drop four points off the promotion pace

Because during those 45 minutes they were overwhelmed by the division leaders.

A defence that not so long ago was going the best part of seven games without conceding, looked like they might do so each time the opposition got anywhere near their goal.

And if there was something of a rally after the break it was without any significant goal threat until a Tope Obadeyi header in the 76th minute was well saved by Ross Laidlaw in the home goal.

That was United’s first and only good chance of the night. The Hibs response was swift and ruthless.

They quickly added a third through substitute John McGinn.

Incidentally the sight of the Scotland international coming on late in the game to return from injury, can’t have made United’s night any better.

Well struck as his goal was, he was helped by the poor defending that was also a feature of Cummings’ brace.

The only small consolations on a miserable night were the appearance near the end of new signing Thomas Mikkelsen and the fact, although they were well-beaten, that the gap at the top is only four points.

There is plenty of time left in the campaign for it to be closed.

For that to happen United will have to play much better than this and return to the kind of mean defending that has been a feature of their play all season.

Until Friday that is.

Tope Obadeyi had United’s best chance on a poor evening for the Tangerines.