Dundee United 0-2 Hibernian: Jack Ross’ side reach Scottish Cup final

Hibernian reached the Scottish Cup final for the first time since their historic 2016 triumph with a deserved victory over Dundee United.

Christian Doidge was offside when he found the net after the break but the goal stood to double Hibs’ lead.

Lawrence Shankland was denied by Matt Macey as United tried unsuccessfully to mount a comeback.

St Mirren and St Johnstone contest Sunday’s semi-final, with the final scheduled for 22 May at Hampden with no fans in attendance.

Having ended a 114-year wait to win the trophy for the third time in 2016, Hibs now have the chance to win the famous Scottish Cup trophy for a second time in five years.

Melker Hallberg thundered a shot wide and Hibs team-mate Nisbet’s effort on the turn suffered a similar fate as Ross’ side tried to take control of the tie early on.

And they did just that after Liam Smith’s slack header out of the United defence was pounced upon by Jackson Irvine.

The Australian slipped the ball to Nisbet, who passed it precisely into the net from the edge of the box.

There was no immediate Dundee United backlash and Martin Boyle screamed in vain for a penalty when his cross appeared to be blocked by Mark Reynolds’ arm early in the second period.

Micky Mellon sent on Adrian Sporle in place of Nicky Clark in an attempt to revive United’s fortunes but they were soon two down, in controversial circumstances.

Neat interplay between Nisbet and Boyle put Doidge through and he finished well past Deniz Mehmet. However, replays showed the striker was clearly offside.

This time United did respond and Shankland met Marc McNulty’s cross to draw a save from Macey, quickly followed by a McNulty shot wide.

And Jamie Robson missed the best chance that came the Tayside club’s way, volleying past the right-hand post from Smith’s deep cross.

In throwing men forward, Mellon’s team were left light at the back and Irvine’s delicious through ball set Boyle in on goal, Smith and Deniz doing enough to force the ball wide.

A Nisbet free-kick struck the bar before the striker was replaced by Jamie Murphy as a precautionary measure, having picked up an ankle knock.

Murphy’s bending shot was superbly saved by Deniz as Hibs ran the clock down and a Shankland effort was deflected into Macey’s hands deep into stoppage time.

Man of the match – Jackson Irvine

What did we learn?

Be it nerves or the slippy conditions, there was a hesitancy in the final third from Dundee United, best exemplified by Shankland electing to pass rather than shoot in an early advance.

Hibernian’s formation and in particular Jackson Irvine’s free role prevented United obtaining the sort of dominance they had enjoyed in their quarter-final victory over Aberdeen.

Ross had spoken about the soreness of two recent semi-final defeats and Hibs played like a team determined not to be on the end of another Hampden heartbreak.

And with Boyle, Nisbet and Doidge all into double figures this season, Hibs will take a fair bit of stopping in the final.

What did they say?

Dundee United manager Micky Mellon: “We didn’t really turn up with the sort of personality that we’re used to. It looked like we were a wee bit standoffish, certainly in the first half.

“We came out second half and sort of half-an-hour onwards we looked a wee bit more like ourselves. A really poor decision goes against us.”

Hibernian head coach Jack Ross: “I would’ve taken any sort of win but I thought I got a win that was fitting of the levels this season.

“Really delighted for the players and staff. They’ve been outstanding for me all season. I believed the players would prove they were good.”

What’s next?

Both sides play their penultimate Scottish Premiership fixtures of the season on Wednesday, with Dundee United at home to Motherwell (18:00 BST) and Hibernian away to Aberdeen (19:45).