Dundee United struck twice in injury time to snatch victory from a struggling Hibernian side who completely capitulated to fall to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

Despite Sam Dalby opening the scoring for the hosts, Hibs led late on thanks to headers from Warren O'Hora and Dwight Gayle.

However, captain Joe Newell was sent off after 85 minutes for a second yellow and his flaky side collapsed under sustained United pressure.

Luca Stephenson equalised after a goalkeeping error to slam in a 93rd-minute leveller and there was still time for more late drama and more defensive disasters.

Substitute Meshack Obuchioma was the beneficiary, capitalising on the confusion to lob in the winner from the edge of the box with the clock on 99 minutes.

United move up to fourth - a point behind Rangers - while Hibs drop to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Jim Goodwin named a United side without their recognised spine - no Ross Graham, Ross Docherty, Craig Sibbald or Louis Moult - and they started on the back-foot, happy to absorb any Hibs pressure.

However, they took the lead when Glenn Middleton burst away from Lewis Miller and squared for Dalby, who did well to poke home ahead of O’Hora.

Hibs were threatening from set pieces, though, and eventually levelled through O’Hora, who nodded in a headed cut-back from Miller.

It was a fair scoreline at the break, before a second 45 minutes that was far more entertaining.

United thought they were ahead almost immediately after the restart when Middleton crossed for Dalby, who powered past the defenders to score. However, it was deemed offside after a VAR check and Hibs’ were jolted into action.

Jordan Obita’s brilliant ball in was powered in at the back-post by substitute Dwight Gayle, and it looked like Hibs were set for only a second win of the league season.

They made that task harder when Newell walked for his second yellow on 85 minutes - a tackle on Stephenson that was also checked as a possible straight red.

After that, a United goal seemed inevitable, and it came when Bursik flapped at a Kristijan Trapanovski cross, with the ball dropping for Stephenson to tuck home.

Perhaps the winner should have been no surprise.

Another calamity at the back - Bursik punching defender Jack Iredale instead of the ball - allowed Meshack the chance to lob into an empty net and he did just that.

United fans are starting to get used to this late drama.

After Graham's 99th-minute penalty equaliser against Kilmarnock a few weeks back, plenty would have believed a winner was coming after Stephenson's leveller.

Yes, it was a bit fortuitous, but it was Jort van der Sande who got in there to ruffle up the Hibs back line - a late Goodwin substitution.

Meshack was another late change - he only came on in the 88th minute - replacing Middleton, who had impressed on a rare start this season.

This was a United side missing key players, and they still snatched victory. That's the sign of a decent team and Goodwin will be delighted.

Plenty have accused Hibs of having a soft centre, and United took full advantage of it late on.

Having gone ahead in the 72nd minute of a relatively even game, their confidence evaporated when Newell was sent off after flying into a challenge recklessly when he was already on a booking.

Yes, he gets the ball, but he also gets a fair portion of Stephenson's leg and it was a silly challenge to make in the circumstances.

They now fall to the bottom of the table. Next up is the Edinburgh derby. A defeat there will see David Gray come under serious, serious pressure.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "The team have shown brilliant character up to now. Most teams would settle for the point at 2-2, but we wanted to push on.

"I got a little bit too excited and caught up in the moment. I ran on to celebrate with Meshack and unfortunately ended up on my backside.

"There's no getting away from the fact the red card plays a part. I think it's a poor-timed tackle and the right call in the end. We made that advantage count."

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "When we were seriously asked questions, we failed to come up with the answers. When you're down the bottom or under-perfoming, results do seem to go against you. It feels that way at the moment.

"We are being punished all the time for individual errors and decision making. I'm responsible for that as the head coach. I take it on the chin and it's up to me to make sure we put this right."