Hibs hail new hero and remind why you never leave Easter Road early as debutants conspicious

The concession of two goals in the final 17 minutes, both from corners, suggested it’s in defence where problems remain. But if they could start sticking away a greater proportion of the many chances they are creating, life will be a lot easier...

What Hibs would do for a reliable, penalty box lurking goalscorer. There’s been a lot of incoming transfers but is there somebody fitting that description among them? Well, perhaps we have the answer. Ante Suto stepped off the bench and headed in a glorious late winner to secure a much needed three points in dramatic fashion at Easter Road. “Su-to! Su-to!” the home fans chorused at the end as the number 77 lapped up the applause. Have these supporters found a perhaps unlikely new hero in this 25-year-old deadline day signing from Slaven Belupo in the Croatian top flight? Kieron who?

Two points from two home games against Rangers and United would have seemed a meagre return to anyone who had sat through both games. But the big Croatian-Australian ensured that wasn’t to be case when he added the winner having watched teammate Elie Youan bundle in to seemingly secure a share of the spoils.

Dundee United were sickened by this turn of events, so you can imagine how they felt to be robbed of anything at all. A Ross Graham equaliser after 73 minutes from a Kristijan Trapanovski corner got United on the scoresheet after three league games without a goal. A fine header at the far post from substitute Max Watters with ten minutes left, again from a Trapanovski corner, had the visitors in dreamland. But you should know by now that you don’t walk out of a Hibs game early. Youan was in the right place to draw Hibs level with two minutes left after substitute Nicky Cadden’s free-kick had been cleared off the line by Sam Cleall-Harding. And just to underline how much Hibs have missed Cadden’s quality of delivery during his recent injury lay-off, he curled in another one for Suto to send a looping headed winner over Ashley Maynard-Brewer in the third minute of the seven that were added at the end, much to United manager Jim Goodwin’s probable displeasure.

There was no conflict of interest on this occasion. Unlike on Sunday, when some more extreme Hibs fans might have been torn about what they wanted to happen against Rangers given the situation at the top of the league, there was a shared recognition that a win was an absolute must. Hearts had managed to inflict some damage on themselves the previous evening, so Hibs really had to start thinking about their own predicament. Falkirk are seemingly not going away just over the Easter Road’s side shoulder.

Already buoyed by the 0-0 draw with Rangers in their last outing, a busy transfer deadline day meant there was some anticipation in the air pre-match among the home supporters. Three full debutants were included in the home team’s first XI. It meant a fast turnaround for Munashe Garananga, signed at the 11th hour on Monday on loan from FC Copenhagen.

Felix Passlack, the experienced German full back, also came straight in having watched Sunday’s match v Rangers from the stand while Dale Scarlett, signed on loan last week from Spurs, had enjoyed a more active involvement after coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute.

All three were given the nod here and were conspicuous in an eventful and end-to-end affair that somehow delivered only a single goal in the opening half from a deflected Martin Boyle shot.

Youan shot just past the upright after Scarlett’s lay-off. Cleall-Harding, meanwhile, saw an effort deflected just past for the visitors, who at this point were beginning to make their presence felt. That said, Rocky Bushiri heading over from a Dan Barlaser cross was a let off, as was Garananga narrowly failing to grab a debut goal when heading wide after Jordan Obita’s cross.

At the other end, Raphael Sallinger clawed away a Trapanovski free-kick, then Zac Sapsford headed wide from Will Ferry’s corner. Someone was going to be made to pay for missed chances. It turned out to be United.

A break down the right involving new boys Passlack and Scarlett led to the latter teeing up Boyle, whose shot from the edge of the box was heading down the ‘keeper’s throat before the ball struck Cleall-Harding’s head and looped into the near corner.

Boyle was understandably keen to claim it nevertheless since it’s his first goal since he scored the equaliser against the same opponents at Tannadice in December. The 21-year-old Scarlett looks a very tidy player and he set up Youan shortly after the re-start with a cute, defence-splitting ball. His teammate could only slash the ball wide.

These moments threatened to have consequences. When Boyle headed against the bar from almost underneath the goalframe, it was possible to wonder whether it was going to be one of those nights. Two goals in quick succession from United seemed to confirm it before Youan scored from inches out to set up a dramatic finale that saw Suto announce his arrival in style.