Late penalty rescues United

Striker Johnny Russell converted a late penalty to rescue a point after Dundee United had allowed an early advantage to slip in a 2-2 draw with Hibernian at Tannadice.

The Tangerines took a sixth-minute lead when Hibs keeper Ben Williams' clearance rebounded back of John Rankin and into the net but James McPake headed in Leigh Griffiths' cross to level.

Griffiths then fired the visitors in front early in the second-half, only for Russell to later restore parity with just four minutes remaining.

United went in the game with the boost of their midweek victory at Motherwell and forged ahead when keeper Williams cleared Jorge Claros' back-pass against Rankin and then watched the ball return past him into the net.

His opposite number Radoslaw Cierzniak soon blocked from Paul Cairney before Gary Mackay-Steven sliced across goal in reply.

Hibs drew level midway through the first-half with a glancing header by skipper McPake from a free-kick delivery from Griffiths, who later struck onto the roof of the net and then forced Cierzniak to turn against the woodwork.

Home fans were calling for a penalty after the restart following Ryan McGivern's challenge on Keith Watson before Griffiths drove a glorious second past Cierzniak from 25-yards to give the visitors the lead.

Substitute Barry Douglas replied with a free-kick headed over Watson, who then showed his defensive qualities to deny Cairney at the other end.

But it was the hosts still pressing for a way back as Stuart Armstrong's header was helped over by Williams and skipper Jon Daly nodded Rankin's cross wide.

And four minutes from time referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot after McGivern appeared to trip Mackay-Steven right on the edge of the box and Russell did the rest for his twentieth goal of the campaign.

Dundee United: Cierzniak, Watson, Daly, McLean, Dillon, Flood, Rankin, Ryan (Douglas 58), Armstrong (Gardyne 78), Mackay-Steven, Russell

subs (unused): Banks, Souttar, Millar, Dow, Thomson

Goals: Rankin (6), Russell (pen 86)

Hibernian: Williams, McGivern, Hanlon, McPake, Claros, Cairney, Stevenson, Done (Handling 86), Taiwo, Robertson, Griffiths (Doyle 69)

subs (unused): Murdoch, Maybury, Forster, Deegan, Caldwell

Goals: McPake (27), Griffiths (51)

Ref: Muir

Att: 6,160

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