The Hoops fight back to claim share of points after six-goal thriller at Easter Road

Hibs, clad in their new anniversary hooped shirt fought back from 3-1 down to secure a share of the points in a six-goal thriller at Easter Road this afternoon. 

The Pat Stanton Stand and Famous Five Stand both had impressive displays ahead of kick off. 

Hibs head coach David Gray made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 with St Mirren prior to the international break. 

Defender Grant Hanley was back among the subs despite his heroics for Scotland in Denmark. Junior Hoilett and Thibault Klidje also dropped to the bench, while midfielder Miguel Chaiwa was absent. 

Warren O’Hora returned along with midfield duo Jamie McGrath and Josh Mulligan. Striker Kieron Bowie also started. 

Jim Goodwin went with the same starting XI that won 2-0 in the Dundee derby. 

Hibs started on the front foot but it was the visitors that took the lead against the run of play when Luca Stephenson headed home a Will Ferry cross. 

But Hibs fought back and equalised when Yevhen Kucherenko makes a mess of a punch from a corner and knocked it straight into his own net with Rocky Bushiri initially getting the credit. 

Kucherenko soon made amends up for his own goal with a tremendous save from a Kieron Bowie diving header. 

But it was Unted who went in at the break in the lead after Ivan Dolcek rounded Jordan Smith before cutting back to Zac Sapsford who scored from close range. 

Things got worse shortly after the restart when the visitors added a third. 

Stephenson found space at the back post and fired home a deflected cross from Amar Fatah. 

Hibs responded when Josh Mulligan pressured a United defender into a mistake and the ball fell to Bowie who beat his marker and slammed the ball into the net. 

Gray then made a triple change. Dan Balaser came on for his Hibs debut, with Thibault Klidje and Junior Hoilett entering the fray replacing Martin Boyle, Dylan Levitt and Chris Cadden. 

Kucherenko then saved a dipping effort from Jamie McGrath as Hibs looked for an equaliser. 

With eight minutes remaining United were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Vicko Sevelj for handball.

The incident which was missed by the on-field officials was spotted by VAR.

Referee Dan MacFarlane was sent to the screen where he saw the Croatian defender handle from Bowie’s overhead effort and awarded the penalty kick.

McGrath took responsibility and made no mistake from 12-yards. 

Both sides had late chances to win the game but in the end a draw was a fair result. 

After the final whistle Gray told Premier Sports: “We got a point out of a game where our character was tested. 

“Our defence was poor. The positive I can take is that we came back after finding ourselves 3-1 down. 

“I told the players we gave them far too many chances and that we were miles off it today. 

“We relied on our goalkeeper heavily, second half. 

“For us, being at home, we weren’t good enough defensively, and a lot of that was down to Dundee United being good too, but we need to be better defensively. 

“I credit the players with their desire to go and get back into the game, but it feels like we’re chasing too much.” 

On the penalty and the incorrect VAR call in the previous game, Gray adds: “The whole point of VAR is to get decisions right… It’s all about accountability, and the officials coming out [to discuss decisions] is important that there is that accountability.” 

Hibs: Smith, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, C Cadden, McGrath, Levitt, Mulligan, N Cadden, Boyle, Bowie. 

Substitutes: Sallinger, Hanley, Youan, Klidje, Obita, Barlaser, Hoilett, Megwa, Campbell. 

Dundee United: Kucherenko, Keresztes, Esselink, Iovu, Ferry, Camara, Sevelj, Stephenson, Fatah, Dolcek, Sapsford. 

Substitutes: Richards, Eskesen, Sibbald, Naamo, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Constable, Beattie, Moller.