Hibernian 3 United 0

A torrid night for Dundee United saw them exit the League Cup at the hands of a resurgent Hibernian. By Michael Blackley There is to be no repeat of last year’s run to the League Cup final, after goals from David Gray, Jason Cummings and Lewis Stevenson sent the Championship side through to the semi finals. In truth, United could have lost by several more goals had it not been for an outstanding performance by young goalkeeper Michal Szromnik. Szromnik kept his place between the sticks as Mixu Paatelainen stuck with the same side which dug in to beat Ross County at the weekend. And it was to prove an exceptionally busy evening for Szromnik, who was a busy man from the start as Hibs, buoyed by their weekend victory over Championship leaders Rangers, dominated from the first whistle and put United on the rack. Lively striker Jason Cummings posted a notice of intent within 60 seconds, when his shot from distance fizzed wide, then turned creator to set up Liam Henderson, who fired a dangerous effort just past the post.  Szromnik was then called into action for the first time when he had to stretch to reach a Cummings effort from distance. A Lewis Stevenson low shot nearly squirmed below Szromnik, before United created a first opportunity when Billy Mckay turned on the edge of the box then poked an effort just wide. It was only to be a temporary reprieve and Hibs soon threatened again when John McGinn flighted a free kick into the box and Szromnik just did enough to get it away under pressure from Liam Fontaine. The Hibs chances continued, with Szromnik again saving the day with a fine one-handed save from a powerful long-range effort from John McGinn. Durnan then slid in to deny Cummings with a fantastic last-ditch tackle, then a wicked James Keatings volley just missed. After 19 minutes of intense pressure, United finally succumbed when Hibs took the lead from an unlikely source as full back David Gray blistered an effort from outside the box into the corner of the net, leaving Szromnik with little chance. It wasn’t long before the keeper was again called into action, parrying a Malonga long-range effort beyond the post. Hibs then  demonstrated how successful their fast counter attacking football can be when a deflected Taggart shot was booted away by goalkeeper Mark Oxley. The ball seemed certain to go out for a United throw only for Dominic Malonga to somehow reach it then speed to the other side of the pitch and release a shot which Szromnik did well to keep out. At the other end, United won their first corner when Dillon raced forward but was tackled. Although Scott Fraser’s corner was cleared, Kuhl managed to win the ball back and release the young midfielder, who beat his man before firing a shot just over. Hibs had another strong spell towards the end of the half as United needed to call on some desperate defending to stay in the game. Hibs nearly scored with the third in a series of corners, when McGinn’s curving dead-ball cross was so dangerous that Szromnik needed to athletically save to deny a goal.  The former St Mirren midfielder then narrowly missed with a long-range McGinn drive. At the end of a half played out mainly in their defensive third, United managed to test Mark Oxley for the first time when Taggart pulled away and his effort from a tight angle was held by the keeper after a dangerous deflection. Within seconds of the restart, Hibs nearly doubled their lead when they attacked straight from the kick off, with the resultant shot smacking off the post. United tried to get back in the game and won a corner when a Rankin cross was deflected behind. Fraser’s corner was delicately chipped to the back post and nearly deceived everyone, only to be desperately headed away off the line. Hibs looked certain to go two goals clear when Cummings pounced on a superb through ball only for a late flag to rule him offside just as he looked sure to score. The hosts attacked again and a James Keatings effort seemed to have sent Szromnik the wrong way, but the young keeper still managed to somehow divert the ball beyond the post for a corner. On the hour mark, United looked desperately unlucky to lose a penalty when a corner appeared to strike John Rankin’s arm without him knowing much about it, only for referee Willie Collum to point to the spot. After lengthy protests by the United players, Jason Cummings sent Szromnik the wrong way to put the home side 2-0 up. Cummings continued to look dangerous and Szromnik saved well after the young striker cut inside from the right and curled in an effort which looked destined for the top corner. With 20 minutes to go, Paatelainen tried to change things by bringing on striker Simon Murray for midfielder Kuhl. Within seconds, the energetic attacker released McKay with a good through ball only for the Northern Irish marksman to just fail to get on the end of it. With 13 minutes to go, United so nearly got back in the game when Fraser played an exquisite through ball to Murray, who stabbed in a shot which Oxley somehow managed to push behind. United had started to play some decent football and Fraser showed nice footwork to find his way into the box only for the eventual shot to be deflected away. However, in the closing stages Hibs again turned up the heat on United’s hard-pressed defence. Former United striker Farid El Alagui, on as a late substitute, then failed to take an opportunity to rub salt in his former employer’s wounds when he was teed up right in front of goal only to slip at the vital moment. Hibs continued to attack though and Dillon desperately blocked a shot that look destined for the net, before Szromnik saved brilliantly from a shot by substitute Martin Boyle. With the game drawing to a close, Hibs scored a third with the last kick of the game as a Lewis Stevenson shot deflected off Fraser and spun into the net to complete a miserable night for United. Full time: Hibernian 3 United 0: Mixu Paatelainen will have been left in no doubt of the size of the task he faces after seeing his side totally outplayed for virtually the full 90 minutes. He won’t have been disappointed with the hunger and desire of the players. However, they failed to create many serious chances and couldn’t contain an energetic and attacking side. Man of the match: Michal Szromnik.  The young goalkeeper performed heroics at times just to keep the score down and was not at fault for any of the Hibs goals. Hibs: Oxley; Gray, Stevenson, Hanlon, Fontaine; Fyvie, McGinn (McGregor, 67), Stevenson, Keatings (Boyle, 82); Malonga (El Alagui, 85), Cummings. Subs not used: Reguero, Feruz, Carmichael, McGregor, Eckersley. United: Szromnik; Souttar, Dillon, Durnan, McGowan; Kuhl (Murray, 70), Fraser, Rankin, Spittal; Taggart, McKay. Subs not used: Zwick,Telfer, Connolly, Donaldson, Bodul, Robson