Report: Hibs 1 – Dundee United 1
Dundee United gave their Championship title chances a shot in the arm after William Edjenguele earned them a 1-1 draw with Hibernian at Easter Road.
Hibs dominated the first half and James Keatings opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break after a touch of class from Andrew Shinnie ended United's stubborn resistance.
But United improved and centre-back Edjenguele headed an equaliser midway through the second half.
The draw keeps Queen of the South top of the table by a point from Hibs with United six behind the leaders.
Keatings curled an early free-kick off the post as Hibs took control, but United were proving resolute with Lewis Toshney sitting in front of the back four and providing an extra layer of protection from the home team's midfield diamond.
Edjenguele was dominating his penalty area and it took Hibs until midway through the half before they carved an opening, Shinnie stabbing well wide after John McGinn's burst of pace and skill.
United were struggling to get forward in numbers and most of their first-half breaks fell down when Scott Fraser and lone striker Simon Murray were on the wrong wavelength.
They did combine to good effect just before the opener but Murray shot straight at Ofir Marciano after turning Jordon Forster inside the box.
Hibernian's patience soon paid off. Shinnie had the vision and disguise to slip a reverse pass into the path of Keatings, who had just sneaked off Mark Durnan. The former Hearts striker guided the ball inside the far post.
Nick van der Velden had a shot deflected wide after great skill in the Hibs box but soon gifted Dylan McGeouch a chance at the other end. Cammy Bell saved.
Former Blackpool full-back Neal Eardley came on for his Hibs debut at half-time after David Gray failed to shake off a knock.
United got more men forward and Murray threatened from a couple of headers, but Hibs had a great chance to double their lead when McGinn released left-back Paul Hanlon, who dragged his shot wide.
Toshney limped off heavily and United brought on all three subs - Charlie Telfer, Cammy Smith and Tope Obadeyi - before the final quarter.
They were rewarded for their enterprise when Edjenguele met Fraser's outswinging corner and guided a header into the top corner from 12 yards.
Hibs changed their approach in the 76th minute, bringing on winger Martin Boyle and target man Brian Graham, but could not threaten until injury-time when Bell saved well from Keatings and then foiled Darren McGregor from the resulting corner.