Dundee United 1 Hibernian 1

7th December 2002
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:

Scorers:
Hibernian: Murray.
Dundee Utd: Wilson.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotland on Sunday on Sunday 8th December 2002

Tannadice is not half as nice as the Glasgow gathering

PROOF, if any were truly required, that the match which yesterday captured the imagination on the banks of Tay lay 50 miles to the south west, then the dawdling trickle of fans from all sides into Tannadice until moments before kick-off served it up beyond reasonable doubt.

Packed city centre pubs quenched the thirst of a multitude of viewers. How precious few though of tangerine persuasion hungered for here afterward rather heading about the ravenous consumption of seasonal shopping?

Those who dashed late into the ground, however, missed all the fun, poor souls. Both goals, and a not inconsiderable portion of the thrills in an unappetising stalemate, arrived in the opening seven minutes as Bobby Williamson’s men defied the odds to depart with only one point rather than the expected three.

Such minor rewards are a relative boon to United yet continued poor results aside, foremost among the multitude of pains currently draining the spirits of the Tannadice faithful is the pending departure of Scotland striker Steven Thompson, the Terrors’ best prospect for many a year determining that his future lies elsewhere despite the temptation of a deal described as the best ever offered at the club.

Despite his inevitable pledge that he would be giving the customary 100% in the interim, Thompson was dropped by Paul Hegarty from the roster which was mauled 4-1 by Dunfermline in mid-week, confined instead to a place on the bench until a chorus of jeers accompanied his belated introduction in the 89th minute.

A case of preserving the sanity of a man now torn between his present and a more lucrative future? Or perhaps, the protection of an asset whose value must now be maximised if a suitable replacement is to be imported to fill such prolific boots in time for the battles of spring and beyond?

Yet with their prize marksman absent from the starting 11 for the first time this season, the hosts did not balk and punished some tardy defending from Hibs to steal a lead in only the third minute.

Derek Lilley, whose shot in the opening attack served up an early warning, won a corner which was duly lined up by Jim Paterson. Slammed inward, it was met by Mark Wilson who made a stealthy dash into the middle to nod his first ever goal for United powerfully into the roof of the net.

Hibs, 2-1 victors when these sides clashed at Easter Road in October, hardly had had time to stretch their legs. Under nigh immediate scrutiny, they promptly set about filling in the hole which their inattention had dug, winning three corners in quick succession. Healthy-again Mixu Paatelainen, the sole arriviste from the side which fought so arduously against Celtic, returned in place of Derek Townsley and rose to earn the first, with a header which Paul Gallacher leapt agilely to tip over.

The Finn, in the subsequent despatches, unsettled his former team’s swarm of defenders but was a mere decoy as the Edinburgh outfit swiftly levelled.

At the third attempt, his fellow countryman Jarkko Wiss swung in a peach of a delivery, flicked onward by Paul Fenwick. Capitalising, Ian Murray darted through to divert inside Gallacher’s post, his sixth strike of an increasingly impressive campaign.

After such a sprint out of the blocks though, it became more of a test of endurance. Burly midfielder Charlie Miller at least tried his utmost to inject some craft and creativity forthwith, picking out Jim McIntyre with a splendid through pass which the lumbering striker eventually pushed wastefully into Nick Colgan’s arms.

Thompson’s tenure here may assuredly be nearing its end. Yet talks will continue this week with the former Rangers midfielder - along with presently-injured skipper Danny Griffin - to ascertain their future aspirations. Retaining his services looked all the more vital as United struggled towards the interval, Gallacher thrice underlining his worth with fine stops, including a magnificent parry from Paatelainen which had appeared destined for the top corner.

United, still without a home league win, came out tussling and scrapping but there was too much shadow boxing and not enough clout. It was a troubling sign when Hamilton became the third of five bookings in the 58th minute for time-wasting and Hibs looked much the likelier to score, Craig James centimetres away from poking in a deep cross from Tom McManus during one of the visitors’ increasingly frequent raids.

Nine men repeatedly entrenched behind the ball however, United survived to claim a creditable draw. Retail therapy surely was better than this.

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