Hibernian saved by Tosh

Chick Charnley dug into his box of tricks yesterday to help rescue a point for Hibernian at Dundee United. The much-travelled midfielder, who has scored two spectacular goals already this season, this time turned provider.

United had been reduced to 10 men when Maurice Malpas was sent off in the 67th minute for trampling on Jean-Marc Adjovi-Boco, his second bookable offence. Then, 10 minutes later, Charnley set up the equaliser after Robbie Winters had opened the scoring with a close-range shot in the 22nd minute after Brian Welsh had failed to cut out a Steve Thompson cross.

United's goalkeeper, Sieb Dijkstra, was penalised by the referee, John Rowbotham, for holding on to the ball for more than six seconds. Brian Grant touched the ball to Charnley inside the penalty area, the United defence were expecting a shot but Charnley cleverly played a reverse pass to Paul Tosh, and he drilled the ball beyond Dijkstra and in to the far corner of the net.

Goals: Winters (22) 1-0; Tosh (77) 1-1.

Dundee United: Dijkstra; Bowman, Malpas, Pressley, Perry, Pedersen, Winters (Olafsson, 78), Zetterlund, McSwegan (McLaren, h-t), Dolan, Thompson (Duffy, 68).

Hibernian: Gottskalksson; W Miller, Adjovi-Boco, Charnley, Hughes, Welsh (Grant, 36), Dow, Power (Tosh, 73), Lavety (G Miller, 83), Harper, McGinlay.

Referee: J Rowbotham (Kirkcaldy).

Bookings: Dundee United Malpas. Hibernian Hughes, W Miller, Lavety. Sending- off: Dundee United Malpas.

Man of the match: Charnley.

Attendance: 7,344.