Hibernian moved three points clear of Aberdeen in third place in the William Hill Premiership with a 3-1 win over Dundee United at Easter Road.
Martin Boyle fired the home side ahead after just three minutes before fellow striker Mykola Kuharevich added a second after 14 minutes to give David Gray’s side a comfortable interval lead.
Jim Goodwin needed to stir his lacklustre side at the break and second-half substitute Kristijan Trapanovski quickly reduced the deficit after slack Hibs defending.
The rejuvenated Taysiders however, could not complete the comeback and Hibees substitute Dwight Gayle restored the two-goal advantage with a header in the 87th minute.
With the Dons, who started the day behind on goal difference, losing 1-0 at St Mirren, Hibs opened up what could be a significant gap with only three fixtures remaining.
Both sides were coming off defeats. United losing 5-0 at home to Celtic on the day the Hoops clinched the title, while Hibs lost 1-0 at Aberdeen which ended their 17-game unbeaten run in the league.
The game had yet to settle when the home side took the lead with a goal that owed much to poor defending.
Attacker Junior Hoilett’s threaded pass found wing-back Chris Cadden down the right and when United defender Declan Gallagher failed to deal with the cross, the ball fell to Boyle, who knocked into the empty net from a couple of yards.
United captain Ross Docherty got caught in possession at the edge of his own box and Jack Walton made two good saves, firstly from Kuharevich and then Hoilett on the follow up.
However, moments later, on a Hibs counter, the United keeper was beaten by Kuharevich’s angled drive which went in off the far post, after he had outstretched the visiting defence.
Tannadice striker Sam Dalby had a decent drive saved by Hibs keeper Jordan Smith but the sharper Leith side were firmly in control.
United had it all to do and they came out for the second with real purpose and determination.
Smith made a brave save from Emmanuel Adegboyega at his post and needed treatment but the visitors kept up the pressure and when Kuharevich failed to clear a corner, Trapanovski – on at the break for David Babunski – fired in from a tight angle.
Glenn Middleton, who took over from Jort Van der Sande for the second half, was also making a difference on the left wing.
Docherty was booked by referee John Beaton for diving inside the Hibs box, with VAR checking for a penalty to no avail as far as the Tannadice men were concerned but they were right back in the game.
Hibs steadied themselves and began to threaten again and in the 75th minute defender Jack Iredale headed a Boyle corner just over the bar.
At the other end, United defender Vicko Sevelj missed the target with a header from close range before Tannadice defender Ryan Strain blocked an effort from Hibs substitute Josh Campbell for a corner that was defended.
The game stretched further in the latter stages and the points were secured for the men from Leith when Gayle steered a header from a cross from fellow substitute Nicky Cadden to take Hibs marching on.
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