United show their steel to leave the capital with a share of the spoils
T1 1
HE more things change, the more they stay the same. Dundee United started the afternoon in fourth with boss Tam Courts urging his players to take control of their Scottish Premiership destiny.
And despite major twists and turns around the grounds on a frantic Saturday, United remained in fourth spot as they inched closer to a top-six finish with a draw at misfiring Hibs.
It’s a fiercely-contested mid-table with United, Hibs, Motherwell, Ross County and Livingston separated by just three points going into the final fixture before the split. Outsiders Aberdeen and St Mirren looked like they’ll be cut adrift despite being just three points from fifth.
Courts is desperate for his side to be one of those in the top half come close of play next weekend, and admits there’s more than bragging rights on the table as they face rivals Dundee at Tannadice.
“I’m sure if you look through the fixtures there’ll be a lot of interesting fixtures, a lot of interesting stories. It’s great for the league,” said Courts. “We’re a really small squad in terms of available players just now so we need to refresh the players, recharge them and then really look forward to a big game in a Dundee derby at home next week.”
Asked for his reflection on another solid display, Courts added: “[It’s] probably a fair result, a point at the end of the day. It’s been a very tight league for a prolonged period of time so naturally there is a lot of pressure on all of the teams around us fighting for the same thing.
“I understand the players’ pressures and in the second half in particular they’ve shown a lot of resilience, togetherness – things that have been very evident in this team throughout and that’s probably what has actually gained us a point today and kept us in fourth position.”
United were just as Courts described them at Easter Road: resilient. They played with less of the ball for much of the afternoon starting from the first whistle, but they took their chance when it came.
It was one of their first forays forward with 10 minutes on the clock that Ross Graham headed home the opener. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a dream season with boss Courts joking the only thing he hasn’t yet supplied is the winning lottery numbers.
He did however, provide an early advantage. Charlie Mulgrew’s cross was diverted across goal by Ryan Edwards before Graham sent his looping header into the far corner.
It was a nightmare start for Hibs, who had managed just five goals in their last 11 outings. Sylvester Jasper’s inviting cross just five minutes after falling behind summed up the Leith club’s recent form as the whipped cross was just begging to be fired home, but no one could apply a finish.
Ilmari Niskanen sent an effort into the side netting for
United to begin a frantic finish to the half, before Hibs debutant Harry Clarke sent a dipping effort just over from 25 yards.
Into stoppage time and Clarke – making his first start after a hamstring injury – found a leveller. He brilliantly controlled a searching Chris Cadden cross before shifting to his left and rifling into the bottom corner.
The hosts would be boosted by the late strike as they pushed for a winner in the second period. Substitute Ewan Henderson added some guile to the attack but neither he, Elias Melkersen nor Chris Mueller could convert in a stramash in the United box on
67 minutes. Melkersen would be denied by a strong Benji Siegrist save just two minutes later before Cadden blazed over the rebound.
Two minutes from time there would be furious cries for a penalty as Mueller skipped past 18-year-old Ghanian prospect Mathew Cudjoe before hitting the deck. It looked like contact was minimal before Mueller’s theatrical fall, and Don Robertson booked the American for simulation.
Deep into stoppage time, Hibs should’ve won it. With 95 minutes played, Mueller laid across goal to Melkersen but the striker lost all composure as he sliced his effort well over the bar with the goal gaping. It leaves Hibs almost certainly needing something from a trip across the capital to rivals Hearts to secure their spot in the top half.
“We have to think if we win, we guarantee top six; after that anything can happen,” said Maloney. “I’m really disappointed with the result, but on the other side the performance was very good.
“At this time of the season, the result will dictate how the players and the supporters feel. But I was pleased with the performance and the difference between talking about a draw and a win is very fine margins.”