Hibs have lost to a Dundee United side without a win since January as the Hibees torrid run continues.
Lee Johnson's men went close in the first ten minutes through Kevin Nisbet who agonisingly watched his strike go wide. Moments later it was former Hibs man Steven Fletcher who stung his old side with a nice header in to the corner. Hibs could not mount a decent first half comeback and in the second period, United looked the more likely with Fletcher missing a big chance.
Hibs huffed and puffed and eventually blew the house down when substitute Mykola Kukharevych chested down and fired in a top finish to bring the game level. Nisbet then rattled the bar in what would have been a stunning winner. Hibs shot themselves in the foot when Will Fish clattered in to Fletcher and Jamie McGrath converted the spot-kick to deal Hibs a hammer blow.
READ MORE: Kevin Nisbet Hibs future addressed as Lee Johnson makes realistic claim on striker's 'ambitions'
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Nisbet starved
Kevin Nisbet has been key to Hibs this season and is having a purple patch on the pitch.
The same cannot be said, however, for some of his Easter Road teammates.
Johnson mentioned this week he is realistic about the ambitions the Scotland cap will have for his future.
Nisbet missed a top chance early on but was starved for the rest of the first half. In the second half he was denied by the woodwork in what could have been a huge winner.
Four on the bounce
That's four games on the bounce for Hibs without a win, losing to a struggling United side.
Their rivals Hearts are also flailing while Aberdeen and St Mirren take advantage and Livingston and Motherwell lurk to try and sneak in to the top six.
Johnson's men had lost ten goals in the previous three, albeit two of those coming against Rangers and then Celtic.
But to lose to a Jim Goodwin side winless since the ex-Dons gaffer came in is a huge blow to the Hibees.
Edinburgh derby massive - for Lee and Robbie
There is no doubt pressure is the watchword is the capital.
Lee Johnson and Robbie Neilson are feeling the heat with the boo boys of both sets of fans out in force.
That makes next weekend's Edinburgh derby a colossal one. For Hearts it's about showing Aberdeen the fight for third isn't over.
For Johnson a defeat could see the Hibees slip out of the split. That would be a big downslide from the hopes set at the start of the season.
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