Hibernian 1-2 Dundee United: Late winner ends Hibs' Euro dreams

Hibernian 1

Fletcher 40

Dundee United 2

Feeney 28; Goodwillie 89

THE feel-good factor that had enveloped Easter Road in the build-up to the visit of Dundee United evaporated after David Goodwillie struck a later winner for the visitors to leave Hibs with virtually no chance of securing a Europa League berth.

With four games left – two against the Old Firm – United can now assume they have staved off any threat from the Leith outfit for fourth place after opening up a 10-point advantage.

Over the course of the 90 minutes, it was a result they merited given their bravery in getting players forward, although they were aided by the sending off of stand-in captain Chris Hogg just minutes before Goodwillie scored.

"I didn't think a point was good for us if we are to catch Hearts," said Craig Levein, the Dundee United manager.

"The starting line-up is as adventurous as I dared to put it. If this was October and at 1-1, I would have taken a draw. If we hadn't picked up three points, I would have been disappointed. I thought we deserved to win."

United, now two points behind Hearts ahead of the Tynecastle side's trip to Rangers today, opened up a lead in the 28th minute through Warren Feeney following inept defending at a corner from the hosts, although Steven Fletcher ensured the sides were level at the break with a 40th minute strike.

It was a disappointing end to a good week for Hibs given the Under-19s' domestic success.

After the first team successfully negotiated their way into the upper echelon following the split a fortnight ago, the Hibs youngsters bolstered the trophy cabinet by winning the league title and then celebrating the double with the collection of the SFA Youth Cup on Wednesday with victory over Rangers at Hampden.

Following this defeat, Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen now faces a severe shortage of defenders for Thursday's encounter at city rivals Hearts after Hogg was unjustly sent off by referee Stevie O'Reilly for a late challenge on Craig Conway in the 84th minute.

Hibs are already without captain Rob Jones and Sol Bamba, who both missed yesterday's loss, through suspension.

Paatelainen is planning to view TV footage of the incident before deciding whether to lodge an appeal at the SFA.

He said: "We were two men down at that point because David Van Zanten had to come off for treatment for a head knock.

"I didn't think, in my opinion, it was a red card. These decisions decide matches, they have to be correct ones. I didn't think it was a malicious tackle, he went for the ball. It was late and it was possibly a yellow card."

As well as the enforced changes due to suspensions, Paatelainen gave goalkepper Yves Ma-Kalambay his first start since January after Grzegroz Szamotulski was ruled out with a troublesome thigh problem. If Ma-Kalambay was hoping to provide his manager with a selection headache upon Szamotulski's return to fitness, he didn't do a good job of it.

The Belgian fuelled panic in his defence by refusing to come for two Danny Swanson's corners, that coming

after Denes Rosa hit Derek Riordan's pass wide from inside the box in what was the first sight of goal in the seventh minute. After surviving Swanson's first corner, Ma-Kalambay needed the aid of the bar and his team-mates to keep the score level from the second in the 12th minute.

Darren Dods powered a header off the woodwork from inside the six-yard box and Danny Grainger's follow-up on the rebound was cleared off the line by Lewis Stevenson.

Hibs didn't heed that warning and United broke the deadlock from another set piece in the 28th minute. The goal was down to United showing initiative coupled with Hibs' defensive frailties.

Danny Grainger was afforded time to control Swanson's back-post corner before lifting a teasing effort into the crowd of players.

Dods then flicked a header across to the back post for Feeney who volleyed the ball into the net from under the bar.

Sensing Hibs were on the ropes, United went searching for another.

The lively Swanson was again involved, this time exhibiting exceptional close ball control to ease past Van Zanten and Hogg but his lofted shot, after exchanging passes with Paul Caddis, cleared the bar.

The moans from the stands soon turned to cheers, however, when Fletcher levelled on 40 minutes.

Jonatan Johansson did the hard work by creating room for a cross and Fletcher showed his poacher's instincts to stroll in at the back post.

The game sprang to life during the final minutes that saw Hogg sent off.

And Goodwillie took full advantage of United's greater numbers, collecting Lukasz Zaluska's kick out before drilling a low shot into the net from 18 yards.