MATCH REPORT : BATTLING EASTER ROAD POINT KEEPS UNITED FOURTH

After a two-week hiatus due to the international break, in which six United players featured, the Terrors were back in action with a high-stakes match-up with Hibernian at Easter Road. Tam Courts’ side headed into the fixture in the knowledge that three points could secure their top six status for the 2021/22 season.
 
Three changes were made to the side that snatched victory at the death in Paisley, out went Calum Butcher, Scott McMann and 17-year-old Miller Thompson and in came Ross Graham, Kevin McDonald and Nicky Clark as United lined up in the 3-4-1-2 shape that changed the dynamic of the aforementioned match in the second half.
 
There has been an incidence of early goals in matches involving United, and this one was no different as Academy graduate Ross Graham gave his boyhood club the lead after just nine minutes. In the second phase of a corner, the ball found itself at the feet of Tony Watt wide on the right who teased Harry Clarke before clipping a delightful cross onto the head of Ryan Edwards at the back-post. The skipper diverted it back into the middle and Graham rose above his man on the six-yard line to loop his headed effort over Kevin Dabrowski, sending the 2,000 strong Tangerine Army into raptures behind Benji Siegrist’s goal.
 
On the ball, the hosts looked dangerous, through the lively Sylvester Jasper in particular. The was keen to receive from deep and directly drive at Graham on the right, able to either jink towards the line or dart inside towards the middle of the park. Jasper was the recipient of an inch-perfect Newelll pass from just inside the centre circle, collecting the ball in the right half-space before looking to pick out a teammate in the middle with a tantalising drilled cross along the six-yard box, no takers in the middle for Hibs.
 
It took until the 37th minute for either side to have another sniff of goal, Dylan Levitt the instigator. The Welsh international received a throw-in on the right and executed an exquisite turn away from Chris Mueller before looking to find the advancing Ilmari Niskanen, the Finn failing to connect with the ball properly at the back post and diverting it into the side-netting.
 
Three minutes later, Clarke went close for Hibs with a venomous strike from just outside the area after spinning away from Graham, Siegrist producing an acrobatic, one-handed save to palm the ball over the bar.
 
This was a sign of things to come though, and the Hibees full-back wasn't to be denied a second time. Chris Cadden’s cross floated over the head of Liam Smith who misjudged his clearance, and Clarke was waiting to pounce. He plucked the ball out of the sky with his right before firmly burying into the far corner with his left, levelling the arrears on the stroke of half-time.
 
After a passive first half from the Edinburgh outfit, it was clear they had been instructed to up the ante at the break by their gaffer. Green and white shirts surrounded their opponents when United looked to play out from the back, forcing multiple turnovers in dangerous areas. However, they continued to struggle in carving out clear-cut chances, with the visitor’s backline standing strong to clear a barrage of crosses.
 
The match sparked back into life with just under 25 to play, with Elias Melkersen’s close-range header deflected wide by Niskanen on the recovery. Merely 60 seconds later, a bizzare stramash in the box saw shots from substitute Liam Henderson, Melkersen and Mueller all blocked in close vicinity to the target. Finally, Norweigan striker Melkersen collected a long-ball into the channel from Newell before cutting in past Edwards and testing Siegrist with an unorthodox, dipping effort. Cadden was on the scene to pick up the pieces but sent his awkward shot well over the bar.
 
On 72 minutes, United were denied what seemed to be a stonewall penalty. Niskanen escaped down the right and delivered a low cross into the box. Paul Hanlon cleared only as far as Josh Doig who failed to control it properly and clearly handled the ball, no penalty according to referee Don Robertson.
 
A couple of half-chances followed for either side, Joe Newell and Clarke having a wayward shot and poorly-timed header respectively before substitute Adrian Sporle skewed a left-footed strike into the travelling support following tireless running from Marc McNulty.
 
The introduction of Mathew Anim-Cudjoe seemed to spark life into the attack and Arab contingent behind the goal, the Ghanaian’s entry to the pitch greeted with a loud cheer along with his first touch in a United shirt. Anim-Cudjoe went for the near-post in the 89th minute after dancing inside Newell but the ball skidded into the side-netting.
 
At the other end, Melkersen spurned a glorious opportunity for the hosts, blazing Mueller’s drilled cross into the upper tier from all of eight yards with the goal at his mercy.
 
The Terrors’ best chance to take all three points came deep into stoppage time, as Graham’s fizzed cross was palmed straight to Niskanen by Dabrowski. The winger had time and space to control the ball and finish but took too long in the end to pick his spot and a recovering defender nipped in to turn it behind for a corner.
 
This proved to be the last sighting of goal for either side, and the referee’s whistle sounded to conclude what turned out to be a slow-burning classic at Easter Road. United now go into next week’s sell-out Dundee Derby knowing a point will secure their first top six finish since 2014/15.