Hibs ratings from Dundee United draw at Tannadice as Easter Road side warm up for Hearts with battling point

Hibs fought back from a goal down to grab a hard-earned point courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice. On a day when illness, injury and international absences forced David Gray into fielding an unfamiliar starting XI, the Easter Road side at least managed to avoid a defeat as they prepare to welcome league leaders Hearts for the second derby of the season next weekend.

An early Luca Stephenson goal was cancelled out by Martin Boyle’s thumping equaliser late in a frantic first half. But neither team could find a winner in a second half long on effort – but short on quality.

With Warren O’Hora and Chris Cadden both declared unavailable on the morning of the match, Zach Mitchell and Kanayo Megwa stepped into the starting line-up. For on-loan Charlton centre-half Mitchell, a Hibs debut four months after signing would have been both a welcome promotion and – potentially – a bit of a head scrambler.

Martin Boyle also returned to the starting XI after recovering from illness, forcing Elie Youan onto the bench. And Nicky Cadden was welcomed back on the left flank, the calf injury that had kept him out since last month having cleared up.

Hibs found themselves a goal down after 20 minutes, the visitors failing to clear the danger from a throw-in – and paying the price when Stephenson found himself free to finish well amid the mayhem. But for a brilliant Grant Hanley block on Max Watters less than 10 minutes later, the striker looking favourite to capitalise after Raphael Sallinger had gifted possession to Zachary Sapsford, Gray’s men would have been two down.

But they were creating chances, at least. Should have scored from a counter-attack that was 90 per cent Boyle, the striker seeing his shot blocked by Ross Graham. And surely had to find a finish for a Cadden cross that somehow eluded both Boyle and Kieron Bowie as the strike pair lurked a couple of yards from goal.

That missed double chance at least produced a corner. From which Hibs scored the equaliser, Cadden’s in-swinger from the right being flicked on by the boot of Mitchell – and Boyle doing the rest, hammering the bouncing ball down into the ground and beyond United keeper Dave Richards.

Their dander up, Hibs might have taken the lead just two minutes later, Mitchell’s header – from another Cadden corner – coming back off the crossbar. During a fraught start to the second half, United probably had the better of the chances as Jim Goodwin’s men seemed to find space on the left flank, in particular.

Raphael Sallinger made a big save from Dundee United sub Kristijan Trapanovski as the home side threatened. As both teams went to the bench for energy and quality, the game became more open.

Thibault Klidje was very close to scoring, Richards getting a big hand to his dinked effort, after being played in by a brilliant ball from fellow replacement Josh Campbell. And another of the new faces from the bench, Dylan Levitt, screwed a shot wide from the edge of the box as Hibs pressed for a winner.

Coming into the game off the back of a painful loss to Rangers at Ibrox, it was essential that Hibs grabbed some sort of positive ahead of next weekend’s festive belter. They’ve done that, at least. Now for the real fun …

Here’s how we rated the Hibs players on the day: