Hibernian were left to rue a number of missed first half chances this afternoon when Dundee United fought back to draw at Easter Road Stadium. Merouane Zemmama had put Hibernian into a first half lead only for Andy Webster to level after the break - it was however a great game of football with neither side letting the high winds deter them from proving that this was two of the most entertaining sides in the league.

Following last weekend's excellent result and performance against Motherwell, John Hughes resisted the urge to make to many changes to his side with Benjelloun for Nish the only exception. Hibernian got the action underway in their all-white change kit, and the home side almost carved out the opening goal in under a minute after Stokes threaded the ball through to Riordan and his low cross had to be cut out by Dixon. The ball was only partially cleared however and Zemmama tried to catch out goalkeeper Weaver from a tight angle only to see his shot strike the post and go behind.

When Hogg brought down Cadamarteri just outside of the Hibernian penalty area, Dundee United were gifted a free kick in an excellent position. Set piece expert Dixon took the resulting dead ball and he was just off target with his effort. Despite the difficult playing conditions both teams had started positively and Hibernian were next to threaten when Riordan left Buaben for dead on the left, creating space for the shot - but his effort lacked power and was comfortably stopped by Weaver.

The best chance of the game so far fell to Hibernian on 12 minutes when a long ball forward intended for Riordan was headed into the path of Stokes by Webster. The striker adjusted his body before trying to beat Weaver at his near post with a powerful right foot shot that the goalkeeper did brilliantly to keep out and from the rebound Stokes could only look on in frustration as the ball again struck the post before going behind.

Benjelloun picked up a yellow card on 23 minutes for a reckless challenge on Dixon that the striker did not need to make - but three minutes later Hibernian were in front. Merouane Zemmama robbed Dods of possession almost on the half way line before racing into the penalty area, with Riordan free in the centre the Moroccan international used the decoy, drew Weaver from his line before cutting inside the desperate tackle of Webster before smashing the ball into the roof of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

David Wotherspoon almost doubled the Leith men's advantage on 34 minutes when he got himself on the end of Riordan's quickly taken free kick, taking the ball beyond Kovacevic on the left he was left with a clear sight of goal only Weaver to save superbly with his legs. Hibernian were flying at this stage and it should have been 2-0 seconds later when Zemmama once more left Dixon in his wake before picking out the late run of Stokes at the near post. The striker with his back to goal only had Weaver to beat but failed to make a clean connection and that allowed the goalkeeper to gather without fuss.

Almost all of the goal scoring opportunities were falling to John Hughes' side and they had another as half time approached. Riordan's corner was played right on top of Weaver with Bamba jumping highest, the defender's knock down needed only the slightest of touches to turn it in but somehow the United goal survived and the ball was thumped to safety. Liam Miller sent a shot wide of goal from 25 yards before Stokes was taken down by Webster just outside of the visitor's penalty area. Stokes took the free kick but it was blocked by a United wall that never appeared to have retreated the required 10 yards. Almost immediately Hibernian were awarded a free kick just a couple of a yards away, and from Zemmama's cross the ball was glanced just over the top by Stokes.

At the half time break Hibernian were worthy leaders but they had enough chances to win more than just this game. John Hughes would have been delighted with the performance in the first 45 minutes but he will no doubt have been stressing to his players that nothing was won yet.

Half Time: Hibernian 1 Dundee United 0

There were no changes during the interval and Dundee United started brightly, the Tannadice side clearly aiming to get more involved in an attacking sense. After winning a corner kick in the opening moments the ball was played deep to the unmarked Dods at the back post and his header across goal was hooked behind by Webster. Moments later a fantastic shot from Buaben from distance had Stack scrambling across his goal, the ball thankfully finishing the wrong side of the post and to safety. Craig Levein's side kept up the pressure and a header from Dods found Gomis arriving late into the penalty area but Stack had his angles right and saved at his near post.

Dundee United made the first change of the afternoon on 59 minutes when Cadamarteri was replaced by Goodwillie - a player with a habit of scoring against Hibernian over the years. The substitute was immediately involved with a turn and shot that was spilled by Stack, the goalkeeper did well to push the loose ball clear but took a knock for his troubles. At the other end Dixon came off worst in a 50/50 challenge with Wotherspoon that resulted in the Dundee United defender leaving the field on a stretcher - he was replaced by Dillon.

Hibernian should have scored on 65 minutes when Miller's cross found Riordan unmarked in front of goal and just six yards out, but somehow the striker managed to scoop the ball over the top when it seemed easier to score. Riordan was again involved shortly after when Weaver had to be at his best to push away a curling free kick that looked set to nestle in the far bottom corner of his net. The visitors however had been the better side in the second half and deservedly levelled on 71 minutes when Webster unleashed a stunning 25 yards strike that gave Stack no chance as it struck the far post on it's way into the net.

On 78 minutes a free kick from Zemmama fizzed across the face of goal and just out of the reach of Stokes as Hibernian attempted to restore their lead. With 5 minutes remaining Myrie-Williams replaced Conway but not long after the visitors were down to ten men when Buaben was given a straight red card for an off the ball incident that was spotted by the referee's assistant. McBride fired a shot wide deep into injury time as Hibernian pushed hard for a winner, but on reflection a draw was perhaps the fairest result - although Hibernian were left to rue the missed first half chances that would have put the game beyond their visitors.

Hibernian: Stack, Hogg, Bamba, Murray, McBride, Wotherspoon, Miller, Riordan, Stokes, Benjelloun, Zemmama. Subs: Ma-Kalambay, Thicot, Cregg, Stevenson, Nish, Galbraith, Rankin.

Dundee United: Weaver, Webster, Dods, Conway, Robertson, Cadamarteri, Buaben, Gomis, Kovacevic, Dixon, Casalinuovo. Subs: Banks, Dillon, Myrie-Williams, Kenneth, Robertson, Goodwillie, Shala.

Referee: Mike Tumilty

Report: Richard Payne