Dundee United brought their marvellous March to a close in style at Easter Road last night, yet another commanding performance pushing them five points clear of Hibs in third place.
The past month has seen them beat Hearts, storm back to draw at Ibrox, clinch a point at Pittodrie, knock Rangers out of the Active Nation Scottish Cup, thump Motherwell with 10 men and, finally, play Hibs off their own park.
The Edinburgh side actually took the lead inside the first minute through a Patrick Cregg strike, with United equalising via Jon Daly’s penalty on 19 minutes before a superb Danny Swanson goal made it 2-1. David Goodwillie then cracked in a terrific third for the Tangerines on 60 minutes, before sub Francisco Sandaza made it four.
With hardly any home fans left in the stadium, Hibs grabbed a late consolation thanks to sub Anthony Stokes.
United are in formidable form and it must be hard for manager Peter Houston and his players not to get carried away as they go clear in third, sit five points behind Celtic and have a cup semi-final to look forward to.Character”We had a major setback, losing a goal after 37 seconds, but once again the players showed their character and resilience in abundance tonight,” said Houston. “We got a break with the penalty kick then Swanson scored one of the goals of the season for me.
“I was right behind it and it was with his bad foot!
“Then we got another fantastic goal from a striker, Goodwillie, and we capped it all off when Sandaza scored to make it 4-1.
“Three strikers getting goals that was a complete performance and different class.
“I will be honest and say I would have been happy to come here and not get beat but we had some clinical finishing.
“People have said we are five points behind Celtic but Hibs are five behind us and will still think they can catch us.Great place”We have not done anything yet we are not in Europe and have not secured third spot yet.
“We are in a great place, though. We have 55 points and we finished with 53 last season so that’s great. But, I would stress I am not thinking too far ahead and am only concentrating on our next game against St Johnstone.”
Home boss John Hughes acknowledged, “We were playng against a Dundee United side that is the form team in Scotland. They dominated the game in midfield and we couldn’t get to grips with them.”
United were without the suspended Paul Dixon due to his red card against Motherwell so Sean Dillon filled in at left-back, with young Keith Watson staying in the side on the right. Promoted from the bench was Morgaro Gomis, who took his customary place in the centre of the park.
There was a stunning start to the match with Hibs taking the lead after only 37 seconds.
The ball was collected by Ian Murray out at the left-hand corner flag, he played it across to Cregg, who drilled in a shot from the edge of the area that took a deflection on its way into the net.BookedWith six minutes on the clock, Goodwillie tried to break up the left for United but was stopped in his tracks by Liam Miller, who was booked.
Then a quick free-kick from Garry Kenneth that split the defence almost caught Hibs out but Daly couldn’t get a clear run on goal and he was dispossessed. Up to then, United had been guilty of wasting their set-pieces.
The home side claimed for a penalty on 16 minutes, arguing Kenneth had pushed Murray in the back, but ref Stevie O’Reilly waved play on.
But there was a spot-kick given at the other end, with Daly levelling for the Tangerines on 19 minutes.
Swanson collected Pernis’s kick-out and carried the ball forward. He played a one-two with Goodwillie before picking out Daly, who was lurking inside the box, with a pass. In came Chris Hogg to challenge and he tripped the big Irishman, who got up and converted the spot-kick.
That may not have been the bonniest of goals but the next one was a beauty.
Conway finally found a head with a corner from the right but Andy Webster’s effort was blocked. The ball came back out to Swanson, who trapped the ball, danced to his left then swerved a superb left-foot shot into the far corner to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
Swanson said, “I knew it was going in as soon as I hit it and it was just good to get the win.”
Hibs squandered a great chance to equalise just before half-time. After Conway appeared to be fouled, Nish was sent clean through on goal and looked certain to score. He took the ball past the advancing Pernis but it went way right and he could only play it back across, where Watson was waiting to boot clear.BlockedHibs should have made it 2-2 eight minutes into the second period when Nish broke forward into the box. He poked the ball past Pernis and it looked to be going in until it hit the far post. It rebounded to Derek Riordan who also appeared sure to score but Dillon blocked.
Just a minute later, it was the Tangerines’ turn to hit the woodwork, with Daly smashing Swanson’s corner on to the upright.
United were warming to it again and they stretched the lead with yet another cracking shot on the hour. Prince Buaben won possession with his chest and the ball went forward to Goodwillie. There did not seem to be too much on but Goodwillie had different ideas, moving the ball a yard to his right before sweeping his strike low and into the bottom far corner.
On 69 minutes, Nish had a chance at the near post for the Hibees but a timely interception from the unflappable Webster sent the ball away for a corner.
Cregg was then booked for a heavy challenge on Conway.
Instead of being pinned back, the Tannadice men were playing keep-ball, frustrating the Hibs players and fans.ReminderHowever, the home side sent out a reminder that they were still in the game when Pernis had to claw a John Rankin corner out from under his bar.
The visitors brought on frontman Sandaza for midfielder Swanson and the Spaniard capped a fantastic night for United, scoring a classy fourth.
Daly played the ball forward to Goodwillie and suddenly he was joined by Sandaza as United had a two-on-one break.
Goodwillie played the ball to Sandaza as he reached the box and, after getting it under control, he played it under Stack and into the net.
Hibs sub Anthony Stokes nodded in a last-gasp consolation for Hibs, despite looking to be offside, but it was not enough to take the shine off yet another brilliant display by United.
Attendance: 9185.