By Sean Saranczuk
April 7 2002

Dundee United win another 3 points in the spl over hibs Dundee United stretched their lead over 10th-placed Hibs with 2-1 victory in an unremarkable bottom-six SPL clash.

In a game which was essentially meaningless, the Tannadice side reversed the scoreline of a fortnight ago when the two sides last met.

There was little for the purist to admire as much of the game was free of any quality football and although the Edinburgh men mounted a late comeback after going two goals down, the home side held on for a deserved victory.

With seconds of the half remaining United took the lead when Tassos Venetis picked up a loose ball 25 yards out, turned quickly and drove an unstoppable volley past Tony Caig.

Two minutes into the second half Venetis had the ball in the net for a second time after a deflected ball landed at his feet eight yards from goal, but it was ruled offside.

United doubled their lead in the 54th minute with a scrappy goal by striker Derek Lilley.

When a Stephen O'Donnell cross came over from the right Charlie Miller had a shot from the edge of the box which broke to Lilley, in a suspiciously offside position, who tucked the ball into the corner of the net.

The two-goal lead was scarcely reflective of the game but the neutral observer would have welcomed them for alleviating the tedium if nothing else.

In the 64th minute Garry O'Connor pulled a goal back for the visitors from just inside the box when he slipped home a loose ball with ease, giving the diving Paul Gallacher no chance.

Hibs fought furiously for the equaliser and a Gallacher error from an O'Connor cross had Jim Lauchlan back scrambling to clear off the line.

The home side were looking nervous now and things worsened when Hasney Aljofree was stretchered from the park after a collision, to be replaced by Stephen McConalogue.

The visitors continued to press but were nearly caught in the 84th minute when Steven Thompson's shot from close range was scrambled away by Caig.