Hibs' Martin Boyle scoresSNS

Martin Boyle scored Hibs' first-half equaliser

At a glance

  • Stephenson's opener for Dundee United is cancelled out by Boyle

  • Hibs have drawn seven of 18 Premiership games; United have drawn nine

  • Hibs remain fifth, United stay in eighth in the table

Dundee United v Hibernian highlights on Sportscene

25/12/2025

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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Dundee United and Hibernian fought out an entertaining Scottish Premiership draw as Luca Stephenson's early strike for the hosts was cancelled out by Martin Boyle.

With both sides scoring in the first half, it looked like the end-to-end affair would match their recent high-scoring meetings.

They had scored an average of four per game in their previous seven match-ups, with Hibs having provided three of those in each of the latest three.

But ultimately neither could add to the score as Hibs remain fifth in the table and United stay eighth.

Not surprisingly, United manager Jim Goodwin had made just one change, sticking with the second-half line-up that came from behind to beat Celtic on Wednesday.

However, Ryan Strain was forced off through injury after just five minutes and replaced on the right of defence with Dario Naamo.

Hibs' first chance came from that area of the park as Nicky Cadden sliced a thundering drive into the side-netting.

However, it was United who took the lead as Will Ferry knocked the ball back into the path of Stephenson and the on-loan Liverpool midfielder prodded home through a sea of legs.

Hibs remained the more dangerous side and, after Kieron Bowie had fired just wide, Boyle powered a drive home at the back post from a corner.

Debutant on-loan Charlton Athletic centre-back Zach Mitchell headed against the crossbar as United goalkeeper Dave Richards was left sporting a cut eye, while United's Will Ferry did likewise at the other end direct from a corner.

United have made a habit of improving after the break in recent weeks and so it was again, but substitute winger Kristijan Trapanovski was denied by goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger and also fired just wide.

At the other end, replacement striker Thibault Klidje's shot was half-stopped by the hand of goalkeeper Richards before being hacked clear.

Graphic

Analysis: Draws hampering both sides

It was no surprise that Goodwin left out Bert Esselink, who was whipped off at half-time against Celtic after being given a torrid time by Daizen Maeda, with the man who replaced him and helped underpin a comeback win, Vicko Sevelj.

Even the early loss of Strain failed to knock United off their stride as they survived some early Hibs chances before taking an early lead.

Hibs head coach David Gray was not so lucky, three of his four changes being enforced, with 20-year-old on-loan Charlton Athletic centre-half Zach Mitchell handed his debut and Kanayo Megwa given a first league start.

They too adapted well to the loss of three players to the Africa Cup of Nations and centre-half Warren O'Hora to illness as they created more of the better chances.

However, as the game fell short of a repeat of the 3-3 thriller at Easter Road in September, it was a case of same old story as both again had to settle for a draw.

A plethora of draws are preventing both sides sitting higher in the table, with United now having shared the points in half of their 18 outings.

Hibs have drawn seven of theirs but will maybe be pleased to have at least avoided a third straight away defeat without scoring.

What they said

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "I can't argue with the end result. I think it's probably a fair outcome for both teams.

"I thought Hibs had the better of the opening 45 minutes and I thought that kind of reversed in the second half.

"The second half, I was delighted with the performance, especially off the back of Wednesday night [against Celtic] - there's not a lot of time to recover and we could have done with the game being tomorrow to give us that extra day."

Hibs head coach David Gray: "I can't stand here and say we fully deserved to get three points. We shaded it in terms of big chances created - and clear-cut chances created - but it was a scrappy game.

"It certainly doesn't help when you go one goal down after a decent start. The positive to take from that is the players reacted well. A point away from home is never a disaster, but a wee bit frustrated."

What's next?

United visit Aberdeen next Saturday (17:45 GMT), while Hibs host Hearts in the derby earlier that day (12:30).

Player of the match

L. Stephenson
8.06
21 L. Stephenson
8.06
9 Z. Sapsford
7.63
11 W. Ferry
7.56
5 V. Ševelj
7.29
14 C. Sibbald
7.19
7 K. Trapanovski
7.07
23 K. Keresztes
7.06
6 R. Graham
7.00
25 D. Richards
6.93
3 B. Esselink
6.69
17 A. Fatah
6.53
22 D. Naamo
6.50
36 M. Watters
6.43
37 S. Cleall-Harding
6.25
77 N. Möller
5.50
2 R. Strain
5.38
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