If Marink Reedijk was under any illusions about just how fed up these Hibs supporters have become, he certainly knows all about it now.
The Belgian’s highly anticipated debut in the dugout came to a sobering end against a backdrop of boos from the direction of the away end following the full-time whistle. Not the start he would have been hoping for.
His appointment has undoubtedly captured the imagination of the Easter Road faithful. Understandably so, having grown tired of the brand of football on show under his predecessor David Gray.
The 34-year-old has built a reputation on the continent for being an attack-minded coach. He enjoyed historic success at Beveren last season, guiding the club into Belgium’s top tier without losing a single game, and with some style too.
He obviously won’t repeat the trick at Hibs. Not even Pep Guardiola would be able to pull that off. But getting this team playing half-decent football worth turning up to watch would be a reasonable start. On this evidence, it’s going to take a helluva lot of patience and time to get there.
One-nil flattered his side. Defensively, they were all over the shop. But his immediate focus must surely be on improving things at the other end. It was woeful stuff throughout here.
New Hibs manager Marink Reedijk cuts a worried figure on the touchline as his side struggle
Every time there was a hint of promise, his side’s inability to do the basics cost them. It was frustrating for the neutral. Goodness knows what was going through the manager’s head.
All that good work done in La Manga over the break appeared to go right out the window. Much work ahead, for sure.
The early signs were encouraging for Hibs as the players immediately settled into a tempo which United simply couldn’t match. Some of the one-touch football was lovely to watch.
Josh Mulligan should have fired his side ahead on nine minutes at the end of a free-flowing move. Cameron Wright raced down the left-hand side before gliding across the park to feed Felix Passlack on the opposite flank.
The German’s first-time ball was on a plate for the onrushing Mulligan, but his tame effort took a nick on its way wide.
Thibault Klidje was next to try his luck, playing a neat one-two with Owen Elding at halfway before letting fly from 20 yards. It didn’t have enough on it to trouble Jack Walton in the United goal.
This was another opportunity for Klidje to show why Hibs were so keen to break their transfer record last summer to bring him to Easter Road. Following a maiden campaign which featured just four goals in 19 appearances – and a somewhat bizarre loan move to Randers in January – the 25-year-old has plenty of convincing to do.
Daniel Bennie’s first half goal was enough to seal the three points for the Tannadice men
He was lively enough here, although whether he is best-suited to the left wing is debatable.
Playing ahead of him, Ante Suto had a stinker. Nothing came off for the big man whatsoever. A fresh-air swipe when unmarked at the back post midway through the first half summed up his afternoon perfectly.
Daniel Bennie should have done much better after being played through by Lyall Cameron on 14 minutes, but he couldn’t beat Raphael Sallinger from a tight angle.
Jesse Randall suffered the same fate from an almost identical position at the end of another delightful Cameron pass shortly after, with Bert Esselink then sclaffing a header straight at the keeper from close range.
Scoring goals has been an issue for Goodwin’s men all season. Creating chances, on the other hand, has been anything but.
And you would suspect they will continue to do so as long as Cameron is in the team. The former Dundee youngster – currently on loan from Rangers – ran the show in the middle of the park.
Miguel Chaiwa took matters into his own hands on the half-hour mark after seemingly getting sick of the sight of the back of his opponent’s shirt, opting to wrap an arm round Cameron’s neck and hauling him to the ground. Not particularly subtle, but fairly effective and rewarded with a yellow card.
Ante Suto takes a fresh air swipe and his efforts were emblematic of a misfiring frontline
The hosts took the lead their impressive first-half display deserved five minutes later, and it was no surprise to see Cameron once again at the heart of it.
It started with a purposeful run to the byline and dangerous ball across the six-yard box which wasn’t tucked away. United recycled it back over to the 24-year-old, and this time his dink into the area was bundled home by Bennie at the near post, even if he didn’t know too much about it.
The hosts went about trying to kill the contest straight from the restart, with Bennie’s sliding effort well blocked after meeting a Randall cutback. Randall then stung the gloves of Sallinger after once again being given far too much space in the Hibs box. It was a running theme for Reedijk’s side.
Rabbi Matondo – signed on a free over the international break – came on for his debut on 54 minutes and almost got his Hibs career off to a dream start, running the length of the pitch and into the United box. Unfortunately for him, Michael Forbes got back in time to get a toe to the winger’s strike.
It will be interesting to see how Matondo fares on his return to Scotland. The Welshman often flattered to deceive during a largely forgettable four-year spell at Ibrox previously. Part of the problem was that he couldn’t stay off the treatment table.
He has the pace and energy to be a difference-maker in Edinburgh if he can find some consistency.
Bennie wasted a golden opportunity to halt Hibs’ growing momentum as the game entered the final quarter, blootering over the top after Idjessi Metsoko’s lay-off. He obviously didn’t appreciate just how much time he had to pick his spot.
United have won two games in succession and are sitting in fifth place in the Premiership
The hosts thought they had been awarded a penalty in the closing stages after outstanding work from sub Abdoulaye Yoro, who won possession on the edge of his own box before sending Neil Farrugia scampering.
Jacob Devaney – only on the pitch a matter of minutes – lazily pushed his man to the ground instead of putting in a tackle, with referee Don Robertson pointing to the spot before a quick look at the VAR screen confirmed the contact came outside the area.
Sadly for Devaney, his initial yellow was subsequently upgraded to a red. Think Jack Hendry against Switzerland and you get the idea.
United could have hit double figures had they shown even the slightest hint of composure in the final third. In the end, their opponents’ lack of any quality meant they didn’t need to.
