Lewis Miller scoresSNS

Lewis Miller scored his first league goal for Hibs since November 2023

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Sam Dalby's 89th-minute penalty secured a dramatic draw for Dundee United and extended bottom club Hibernian's winless run in the Scottish Premiership to six games.

David Gray had called for more attacking intent from his Hibs side and he got it from the first whistle, with Lewis Miller powering a header in at the back post for a first-half opener.

However, the hosts were undone by another late lapse as Mykola Kuharevich pulled down Emmanuel Adegboyega in the box.

After a lengthy VAR review, the striker was sent off for his second booking and Dalby scored from the spot.

Hibs remain at the foot of the table, albeit with a game in hand on second-bottom Hearts, while United return to fourth.

After the late drama in the sides' recent meeting - when United scored twice in injury time to snatch a 3-2 win - it was no surprise we had to wait until late on for the contentious moments in this game.

Hibs started vibrantly, but were not truly testing Jack Walton in the United goal.

Miller had a brilliant chance when Jordan Obita breezed to the byeline and cut the ball back, but the Australian defender's shot was more like a clearance as it came off his heel.

He soon made amends. Getting on the end of a superb Obita cross, Miller rose high at the back post to bullet his header across Walton and in.

Hibs' half-time lead was well merited and United changed things up, making two substitutions and changing their formation to a back four.

It almost worked straight away. Luca Stephenson got down the right and cut back for David Babunski, but he sliced his effort wide.

Hibs were still creating chances though. Kwon Hyeuk-Kyu chipped an effort just wide after a poor defensive backpass from Kevin Holt. Warren Ekpiteta had a header tipped over the bar.

But, as always seems to happen, it became nervy in the final few minutes for Hibs. United launched the ball into the box and the hosts had seemingly cleared, but referee Colin Steven heard a voice in his ear.

Over to the VAR screen he went, and found a Kuharevich foul on Adegboyega. The Ukrainian striker was sent off and Dalby fired in a brilliant penalty to once again peg Hibs back late on.

Hibs' late collapse comes as no surprise

Hibs have conceded nine goals in the last 15 minutes of matches this season, more than any other side in the Premiership.

As a result, they've lost 11 points from winning positions - also more than any other team.

It speaks of either a fitness issue, or a mental fragility that has seemingly plagued this Hibs squad for a couple of years despite personnel changes.

The hosts were pretty comfortable for most of this game, but they failed to capitalise on their dominance in possession and should have been further ahead at half-time.

Once more, Gray will have to point to individual errors that have cost Hibs. Once more, his players have let him down.

Below-par United able to rescue late point

There is no doubt the 3-2 comeback win over Hibs just 13 days ago was in the minds of both sets of players heading into the home straight of this game.

The visitors had created little of note for most of the match. Glenn Middleton had looked lively on the left, but he was so isolated from any of his team-mates that often it came to nothing.

They were overrun in midfield by Hibs' three of Joe Newell, Kwon and Nectar Triantis, but Jim Goodwin changed it at half-time to try and add more attacking impetus. Maybe it's time to ditch three at the back.

United were gifted their penalty by Hibs and struggled to really test Josef Bursik in the home goal. They're in dire need of fresh striking options.

What they said

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "Hugely frustrating. My biggest concern is the decision to award the penalty in the first place. The players didn't deserve that.

"We were by far the better team. We deserved to win the game. It's a decision that's cost us the game.

"You can't appeal a yellow card. It's a second yellow for something that, in my opinion, is the wrong decision. The level of performance the players put in, they didn't deserve it.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "At half-time, Hibs deservedly go in in front. They were the better team.

"For everything we put into the second half, we deserved a point. For all the possession Hibs did have, they've only had one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes. That tells you something about how well the boys in front of Jack Walton had been defending."

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