This is how it feels (Dundee Utd 09 04 23)

There were four changes to the starting eleven for this crucial match against Dundee United at Tannadice with Hanlon (injured), Doyle-Hayes, Stevenson and Hoppe being replaced by Cabraja, Newell, McKirdy and Youan, the last named returning from suspension. It was no surprise that Lee Johnson had rung the changes as Hibs were very poor against Motherwell but whatever improvement he expected was not evident. Other than an early effort by Nisbet, Hibs were poor for the first seventy minutes until they grabbed an equaliser and there was no sign of the ‘front foot’ football spoken of by the manager in the days leading up to this latest reversal.

The absence of Hanlon meant a change in the centre of defence and Johnson decided to go with a pairing of Egan-Riley and Fish, both of whom struggled throughout to deal with ex Hibs man Steven Fletcher. I have to wonder at the choice to move Egan-Riley into the centre when we had an experienced centre half in Devlin sitting on the bench. It was a gamble and it failed to pay off as, but for poor finishing by the hosts, the margin of defeat would have been far greater and tellingly, the best of the squandered chances came in the area where Fish and Egan-Riley were struggling.

Inside the first two minutes, Hibs could and should have opened the scoring. A low cross from McKirdy picked out Nisbet at the front post but Kevin’s flick struck Birighitti on the thigh and went behind for a corner. I confess I thought Hibs would use that as motivation to put the home defence under pressure but it was not to be and in the eighth minute, Dundee United hit the front when a cross by Behich found Fletcher all alone some ten yards out and the striker bulleted a header past Marshall, who had no chance to save it. Both Egan-Riley and Cabraja were close to Fletcher but neither made a serious attempt to win the ball.

On the quarter hour mark, Josh Campbell cushioned a cross into the path of Joe Newell but Joe’s shot was badly sliced and missed the target by miles. Moments later, Campbell struck a low shot that failed to test Birighitti. Behich was causing Chris Cadden all sorts of problems with the Hibs defender getting little or no support from McKirdy who rarely tracked back.

It wasn’t a great watch as both sides committed regular fouls which led to little or no flow to proceedings. Hibs were taking an age to get things moving and the slow play merely allowed the hosts to get back into their shape. Just before the half hour, Jeggo was rightly booked for a late tackle on Scott McMann, the left back who was doing more attacking than defending with Hibs poor down the right. Against Motherwell I wondered if Cadden had a problem with passing to McKirdy and that ‘problem’ was evident again today as Cadden invariably turned back infield rather than look for the wide man.

United were creating chances and Fletcher should have done better than missing the target from good position whilst at the other end, Campbell fired a shot in that Birighitti gathered comfortably. Next, a long ball through the middle looked to have set Fletcher free but the striker was hauled back by Egan-Riley who was booked for his challenge. With half time approaching, a McKirdy corner reached Fish, but the Hibs man couldn’t get any power on his header and only managed to steer the ball wide of the target. On their left, Behich once again lost Cadden and then had a shot at goal, but he dragged the effort wide of the far post. A stupid foul by Joe Newell gave United a chance to put pressure on the Hibs defence but Fletcher couldn’t capitalise and headed wide of the target.

I’ll be honest and say I fully expected half time changes would be made but my expectations were not met as the same eleven started the second half poorly and there was no obvious alteration in the pattern of play. Everything was still too slow and too obvious so United were looking pretty comfortable. A Low cross from Behich picked out Fletcher but the striker went for power over placement and blasted his shot over the bar. Harkes was next to try his luck but a weak shot trundled past the post.

With the hour mark coming up, Johnson finally decided upon a change when Campbell was replaced by Kuharevich and Hibs immediately won a corner, taken by McKirdy and headed over the bar by Kuharevich. Scott McMann then fired in a low effort from distance, but Marshall was up to the task. United substitute Niskanen then missed a glorious chance when a Behich cross was dummied by Fletcher, but the sub blasted his shot high over the bar. It was a costly miss because Hibs equalised a minute later. Cabraja found some space on the left and sent over a cross that Mulgrew missed allowing Kuharevich to control the ball on his chest before slamming it high into the net.

David Marshall was then injured by Fletcher as the Hibs keeper was collecting a high cross and the United man crashed into him. There was no intent to injure but Marshall still needed treatment before he could continue. Using the break in play, Lee Johnson replaced McKirdy and Cabraja with Henderson and Stevenson. Around ten minutes remained when Mulgrew chopped down Kuharevich some twenty five yards from goal. Kevin Nisbet claimed the ball and sent in a stunning free kick that smacked off the bar with Kuharevich off balance in trying to head the ball home as it came towards him.

Elie Youan had been fairly subdued throughout but really should have put Hibs ahead when he played a one two with Nisbet but poked his shot wide with only Birighitti to beat. It would be his last action as he was replaced by the lesser spotted Jair Tavares. That Youan miss proved very costly as a ball into the Hibs area was reached first by Fletcher. There was no immediate danger, but Fish needlessly clattered into him and conceded a penalty. Jamie McGrath sent Marshall the wrong way to put his side 2-1 ahead with only six minutes of added on time to come.

Hibs were piling everyone forward now as United defended in numbers. A Henderson shot was easily gathered and then Nisbet, with four defenders trying to crowd him out, got a shot away but there was no power or direction and Birighitti was untroubled. A final chance to salvage a point fell to Will Fish but the big defender smashed his effort in to the side netting and the game was done.

Another massive disappointment and a huge blow to any chances of finishing in a European spot. In fact, if this form continues, Hibs might find themselves facing Dundee United again after the break.

The players

Marshall – Left horribly exposed at the opening goal and had no chance with the penalty. Strangely, he had very little to do otherwise.

Cadden – Ripped repeatedly by Behich and whilst that was sometimes due to lack of support from McKirdy, Chris had an awful day.

Fish – Fletcher caused him problems throughout and was the man fouled for the penalty.

Egan-Riley – Distribution was poor, and he looked awful as the left centre back when he is so obviously only really powerful on his right.

Cabraja – I now it was his cross to set up the equaliser but other than that I struggle to see why anyone would think he is a better option in that position than Lewis Stevenson.

Jeggo – One paced and terrible with his distribution.

Newell – I was glad to see him back in but once again I felt he spent most of his time committing stupid fouls and moaning at the referee.

McKirdy – The laddie tries but he is, to my mind, a long way short of SPL standard.

Campbell – Josh has suffered a slump in form, and it didn’t surprise me when he was subbed off.

Youan – Not involved nearly enough although that may, in part, be due to the lack of service.

Nisbet – Will be covered in bruises as he seemed to be fouled endlessly.

Kuharevich – Should have been on from the start. Took his goal really well.

Stevenson – Handy at the back as Hibs piled forward and United sat back, Lewis gives a degree of safety knowing he is there.

Henderson – Can’t really remember him getting involved much.

Tavares – On too late to show us what he might bring to the table.

Lee Johnson – Bemoaning the fact that we had two young and naive centre backs. You picked them Lee.

Referee – David Munro – Probably irritated both sets of fans, so job done.