Why Hibs and Dundee United will both be kicking themselves after Easter Road draw

The result edged Dundee United closer to the top six and, thanks to Aberdeen losing a late goal at Dens Park, it also kept Hibs in position to join them when the split comes next week.

But both will be kicking themselves that a victory and the accompanying extra two points eluded them.

Three points would have cemented the Tannadice side’s top half status and they got off to the ideal start, grabbing the opener in the tenth minute, but, after a ponderous response, Hibs finally found their cutting edge ahead of the interval to level the score.

It was just their fourth goal in nine league outings, a return that points to the club’s difficulty in moving clear of all the other top six challengers. With just one win in their last 12 Premiership games, it means they have to wager everything on a positive result at Tynecastle next weekend.

With Ryan Porteous serving the first game of his four-match ban, Hibs had been forced into a defensive reshuffle and one of four changes to the starting line-up, Harry Clarke came in for his debut. The January acquisition had been sidelined by a training ground injury, with his gaffer missing his pace, power, assists and goal threat out of defence. But utilised in a left wing-back role, the 21-year-old Arsenal loanee did not take long to make his presence felt, showing dynamism to get into position to receive Chris Cadden’s ball into the middle and then composure to turn and drill the ball beyond Benjamin Siegrist.

It was a 45th minute response to United’s opener, which the newcomer probably felt he could have done more to prevent. Unable to cut out Tony Watt’s cross into the area, that allowed Ryan Edwards to head the ball back across goal for Ross Graham to rise and finish.

If that goal