Dundee United 0-2 Hibernian: Doing 'ugly side well' lifts 'clouds' - Jack Ross

Jack Ross said doing "the ugly side" of football well secured a win over Dundee United that lifts the clouds over his worst spell as Hibernian head coach.

Darren McGregor rattled in a thundering first-half drive and Martin Boyle slotted the second after the break.

Hibs are now a point behind third-top Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

"We have done a lot of good things and the last three or four weeks have clouded that a little bit," Ross told BBC Scotland.

"With the conditions of the pitch around the country at this time of year, you have to do the fundamentals and the ugly side of the game properly and rely on the quality you have in the squad - and I think that's what won us the game."

Seven was the number of the day, Hibs having gone into the game with one win in that many games and Micky Mellon's hosts ending it without a victory in such a spell and dropping to seventh in the table.

United have now not beaten Hibs in four visits to Tannadice - and in six meetings overall since December 2016.

• Reaction & as it happened

Both managers made notable changes to their side, with Hibs striker Kevin Nisbet, subject of a failed bid from Birmingham City, and centre-half Ryan Porteous, for whom Millwall made an approach, dropped to the bench with Ross concerned by the affect on their frame of mind.

Mellon's three United changes were less surprising, especially the return of fit-again Benjamin Siegrist in goal, considering the 5-1 drubbing by St Mirren last time out.

Calum Butcher, back in midfield with Jeando Fuchs after the pair recovered from injury, looked to justify the changes almost immediately with a shot that looked to be deflecting over Marciano until the goalkeeper rose to tip over.

However, after that lively start from the home side, Hibs gradually found their feet on a bumpy surface that made flowing football difficult.

McGregor's downward header and Jackson Irvine's shot on the turn were scrambled clear from in front of goal from a corner, but United failed to heed that warning.

It was Paul McGinn's turn to rise above the home defence and, when Siegrist palmed it off the line, Irvine calmly rolled it into the path of McGregor to blast it past the goalkeeper from 14 yards.

For all their endeavour, United were struggling to create chances and, when Lawrence Shankland was handed a rare sight at goal, the misfiring Scotland striker's drive was cleared by the outstretched leg of Marciano just when it looked like a deflection off McGregor might leave the goalkeeper stranded.

United's claims for a penalty when left-back Josh Doig handled were ignored by the officials, but they never looked like staging a comeback.

Man of the match - Jackson Irvine

Darren McGregor was a driving force for Hibs, and not just because he found the net for the first time since 27 January 2019, but Jackson Irvine edges it thanks to setting up both goals as the midfielder finds his feet after a spell without a club

What did we learn?

Mellon has consistently repeated the mantra that his side are newcomers to the top flight after promotion last season, but a good start will turn into a concerning finish if their current run continues and they are dragged into the relegation zone.

He continues to try to squeeze Scotland strikers Shankland and Marc McNulty into his front line along with top scorer Nicky Clark, but without any width to the side, those three natural finishers are starved of ammunition and it may not be long before one has to be sacrificed in the name of creativity.

A stormy media interview a week ago suggested counterpart Ross was feeling a bit of pressure, but he made a big call by dropping Nisbet and Porteous and it paid off in terms of a positive result.

He will now hope his side have turned the corner - and that he gets the chance to restore his two proteges to his side after the January transfer window closes.

What they said

Dundee United manager Micky Mellon: "We should have had a penalty if there is any consistency. The same thing happens today as happened against St Mirren against Lawrence Shankland and we don't get it.

"We got into some good areas, but we just need some more composure and quality when we get in there. We know at some point it's going to click and it will go our way."

Hibernian head coach Jack Ross: "Both goals were good, different goals from different sources, but we had the quality you need to win matches.

"Darren has been a threat in the box throughout his career - usually from his head. But his finish was emphatic and it was significant because we've seen the importance of the first goal in recent weeks. It probably gave us increased confidence."

What's next?

Both sides are away from home in midweek. Hibs travel to Paisley as they face St Mirren on Tuesday (18:00 GMT), with United visiting Motherwell 24 hours later.