Dundee Utd 2 Hibernian 1

7 April 2002
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:

Scorers:
Hibernian: O'Connor.
Dundee Utd: Venetis, Lilley.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotsman on Monday 8th April 2002

O’Connor in record mood

ONLY the continued potential of Easter Road marksman Garry O’Connor supplied any encouragement to Bobby Williamson as his capital troops slumped to a disappointing defeat by previously-struggling United at Tannadice Park yesterday.

O’Connor’s continued excellence in the finishing department saw him provide second-half hope for the Easter Road outfit with what was discovered to be a record-equalling strike by a Hibs player.

Not since Gordon Rae’s consistency in the early Eighties has anyone managed a goal-a-game sequence in five consecutive outings.

And the consistency of the 18-year-old’s ability in the danger area must now encourage serious thoughts as to his inclusion in Berti Vogts’ Scotland’s squad selection named tomorrow, for next midweek’s friendly against Nigeria at Pittodrie.

But despite all of O’Connor’s marksmanship and industry, yesterday afternoon offered little else in terms of the Hibs future.

True, Bobby Williamson has only recently taken over the reins at Easter Road but the urgency of last season was again marked absent in the Hibs performance.

Dundee United manager Alex Smith emerged the more satisfied at the finish, not only because the points remained at Tannadice, but because it was United’s first home SPL victory since mid-January. Few would deny their right to celebrate afterwards, considering the new look about their formation.

While O’Connor’s display earned him the respect of even the home fans, United’s introduction of another 18-year-old, midfielder Stephen O’Donnell, brought similar responses from both sets of supporters.

The rough edges on the teenager’s performance were there for all to see, but occasionally a glimpse of his potential brought a smile to the face of Smith and his backroom staff.

Hibs had hoped to repeat their 2-1 success at Tannadice only 15 days earlier, but United’s youngsters hustled and harried their way to what will be seen by many to be a big win for the club.

Inside the opening three minutes only a superb Tony Caig parry of a thundering netbound effort from Hasney Aljofree prevented an opener.

With Charlie Miller dictating the midfield policies at that early stage, Hibs were hard pressed to cope.

However they did settle to some semblance of order and in 20 minutes home keeper Paul Gallacher denied former Tannadice favourite Craig Brewster’s shot on the turn from 18 yards before Brewster was again foiled, this time by home skipper Jim Lauchlan.

Sadly for Hibs, Brewster had failed to polish his shooting boots and in 38 minutes he scorned a golden opportunity created by the hard-working O’Connor, firing his finish from eight yards straight at Gallacher. And how Hibs were made to pay for that slip, with United racing away to the far end to edge themselves into an interval lead - thanks to Tassos Venetis. The Greece under-21 cap accepted a short pass from Craig Easton in his stride and thundered a 25-yard shot over the top of the advancing Tony Caig.

With O’Connor adopting a shoot-on-sight policy, though, Hibs were always in with a chance of getting back into the contest although the young striker’s accuracy after Brewster had laid on a chance was wide of its target.

And United again made their visitors pay when edging into a 2-0 lead on the 54-minute mark. Young O’Donnell crossed from the right and the ball found its way to Derek Lilley who scored from close range. O’Connor pulled Hibs back into contention with a confident finish in the 64th minute, the ball breaking to him off substitute Jarkko Wiss at the edge of the United area.

From then on, United retreated into their shell in an attempt to maintain their advantage and it took a quality save from Paul Gallacher to prevent Paco Luna from levelling before Lauchlan was forced into a goal-line clearance after his keeper had miscued his punch of a lob into the penalty box.

In the dying minutes Luna was rightly yellow-carded for diving in the box.

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Lauchlan, McCracken, Aljofree (McConalogue 79mins), Duff, Easton, Miller (Paterson 61), O’Donnell (Winters 67), Venetis, Lilley, Thompson. Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Carson.

Hibernian: Caig, De la Cruz, Smith, Caldwell, Hilland, Arpinon (Townsley 76), O’Neil (Wiss 62), Jack, Orman (Luna 62), Brewster, O’Connor. Subs Not Used: Colgan, Fenwick.

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