Hibs 2-0 Dundee United: Nish double helps grab Europa League spot

A glory double from striker Colin Nish finally clinched Hibs place in next season's Europa League, enabling the Easter Road outfit to leapfrog rivals Motherwell to claim fourth spot in the SPL table despite the Fir Park side's storming comeback to win a point against Rangers at Ibrox.

It capped a memorable few days for the life-long Hibs fan following his hat-trick in that epic 12-goal thriller at Fir Park in midweek, his brace taking his tally for the season to a round dozen.

Nish put Hibs on the way to their first win in eight games as he drilled a low shot beyond United goalkeeper Dusan Pernis in the 12th minute and sealed victory as he nodded home Steven Thicot's inviting cross an hour later as Hibs dumped the Scottish Cup finalists for the first time this season.

John Hughes made just one change to the side which surrendered a four-goal lead at Fir Park in midweek, Sol Bamba returning from a three-match suspension to partner skipper Chris Hogg in central defence with Paul Hanlon dropping to the bench.

For his part, United boss Peter Houston, with one eye on next weekend's Active Nation Scottish Cup final, chose to rest a number of players, Andy Webster, Prince Buaben, Francisco Sandaza and Danny Cadamrteri missing altogether as did the suspended Morgaro Gomis and the injured Darren Dods while David Goodwillie, Craig Conwa and Jon Daly took a seat on the bench.

Hibs were presented with a glorious chance to open the scoring within the opening two minutes as United skipper Garry Kenneth misjudged the flight of the ball which dropped into the path of Anthony Stokes who was able to do no better than direct a tame shot into the arms of goalkeeper Pernis.

But the Easter Road side were celebrating ten minutes later when David Wotherspoon pushed Stokes' deep cross back into the path of Liam Miller who wasted no time in whipping a low ball into the danger area where he found Nish lurking.

The big striker needed no second invitation, taking the ball first time and hitting it low into the net under the body of Pernis who would have felt he should have done better.

Wotherspoon came to Hibs rescue in the 17th minute, knocking Kenneth's netbound header from Danny Swanson's corner off his own line before Nish robbed Pavel Mihadjuks deep in United territory, his pass giving Stokes another good look at goal but once more the Republic of Ireland hitman only found Pernis.

Wotherspoon came up with a tremendous interception to prevent Kevin Smith capitalising on David Robertson's cross before Damian Caslinuovo sent a diving header wide as United sought an equaliser.

But a poor pass from Swanson which was picked off gave Hibs yet another opportunity to hit on the counter attack but Stokes left both Derek Riordan and Nish raging as he delayed his pass and then managed to miss both of his team-mates who had gound good space within the United penalty area.

Hibs, however, almost made it two just three minutes into the second half as Nish fed John Rankin who fired in a powerful shot from 20 yards which beat Pernis but came crashing back off the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

Caslinuovo had a glorious chance to equalise for United in the 61st minute as Jennison Myrie-Williams picked him out with an inch-perfect cross but the big striker could only nod the ball into the grateful arms of Graeme Smith in the Hibs goal.

Riordan, who had enjoyed a rather quiet match, sprung to life in the 70th minute, striding forward to unleash a powerful shot which Pernis did well to push away. But a second goal did arrive for Hibs two minutes later, Steven Thicot swinging in a cross from the right which eluded Kenneth to find Nish dropping to his knees behind the United defender to send a header into the net for his fifth goal in two games.

Dundee United: Pernis, Watson, Mihadjuks (S Robertson 46), Kenneth, Dillon, Swanson (Cameron 55), D Robertson, K Smith (Dow 61), Myrie-Williams, Shala, Caslinuovo. Subs not used: Banks, Conway, Daly, Goodwillie.

Hibs: G Smith, Thicot (Hanlon 78), Hogg, Bamba, Murray, Wotherspoon, Miller (McBride, 45+2), Rankin, Stokes (Gow 62), Nish, Riordan. Subs not used: Ma-Kalambay, Benjelloun, Cregg, Stevenson.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.