When teams score late to dramatically turn the outcome of a match, it can often paper over previous cracks. However, there was no denying the feeling of the Hibernian supporters despite Kevin Nisbet’s late leveller.
The Scotland striker took his impressive tally to seven in just six matches since returning from a serious knee injury. A hat-trick in last weekend’s badly-needed 3-2 victory over Motherwell was an indication of his current form and his double here emphasised his importance to the Easter Road side.
His first cancelled out Glenn Middleton’s early breakthrough for Dundee United and his second, in injury-time at the end of a frustrating and fruitless second half, restored parity after Ian Harkes’ strike had earned the visitors the advantage for a second time before the break.
There was a disconnect right across the Hibs team during a 90 minutes that repeatedly exposed their frailties in defence and a bluntness in attack. Manager Lee Johnson will have been thankful for a fit-again Nisbet, but he has urged others to help out their star striker as a massive Scottish Cup encounter with city rivals Hearts looms large on the horizon next weekend.
“He’s massive,” said Johnson. “But I think other people need to step up and ease the burden in terms of goals. That could be full-backs, centre-halves from corners, other forwards. We’ve got to promote everybody as goal scorers, not just Nizzy.
“But the important thing is he’s here, he’s fit, he’s getting fitter by the minute, he’s played two 90 minutes now on the spin, and it’s five goals in two games.
“I think it [a new contract] is something the club will look to discuss with him and his people. But my focus at the moment is on the games, and we’ve got a big cup game next week.”
From the outset, Hibs were riven by square pegs in round holes. United were not slow in making the most of the space they were afforded as the home side took on the hue of a team that had been hastily assembled prior to kick-off. Ryan Porteous, again in a defensive midfield role, coughed up possession within the first minute and was relieved when Arnaud Djoum could not beat David Marshall from 16 yards.
Hibs failed to heed the warning and United took the lead after just five minutes. Djoum ghosted onto a throw-in on the right and Steven Fletcher helped on his low cross to Middleton, who lifted his shot in off the underside of the bar.
Hibs came within a whisker of an unlikely equaliser when Kyle Magennis drilled a stunning shot off the bar at the other end, but they did drag themselves level in the 25th minute. Johnson had returned Porteous to the centre of defence and pushed Campbell forward from right-back to midfield just a minute before and the pair combined to set up Nisbet at the edge of the box. He still had plenty to do but feinted away from one tackle and arrowed in a superb finish.
Parity lasted just five minutes, however, as Hibs were sliced open again. Harkes cut inside on the right of the box and flashed in a shot that looped over Marshall with the aid of a deflection off Lewis Stevenson.
United could easily have scored more in a first half they dominated but the feeling always persisted that Hibs could not be as bad after the break. The home side pushed forward from the off but lacked the quality to rescue something from the game until Nisbet stepped up to the mark in injury-time. He tamed Porteous’ long ball with his chest and swivelled to find enough space for a shot that flew into the bottom corner.
“That’s a sore one – the highs and lows of football,” said United manager Liam Fox. “I am disappointed for the players for their effort, attitude and quality. I am also disapppointed for the supporters. They were magnificent and we wanted to send them home with three points.
“There is stuff for us to work on but some of our play and movement was really good.”
