Two sides at opposite ends of the Scottish Premiership table are set to come together at the Easter Road Stadium on Sunday afternoon when Hibernian host Dundee United.
The hosts are 11th in the standings with just seven points from 10 games, while the visitors sit in fifth with 15 points from their opening 10 outings.
Match preview
![Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/david-gray.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Hibernian Manager David Gray during the Premier Sports Cup Group C match at Easter Road, Edinburgh UK against Peterhead on July 27, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Hibernian have endured a difficult opening to the 2024-25 season, sitting 11th in the Scottish Premiership table with just seven points after 10 games, from one win, four draws and five losses.
After narrowly progressing through their Scottish League Cup group, finishing joint on points with Queen's Park after winning three and losing one, Hibs started their league season with back-to-back losses to St Mirren and Celtic.
They managed to recover briefly with back-to-back draws against Dundee and Kilmarnock, followed by their first win over St Johnstone, but then suffered three consecutive defeats to Rangers, Motherwell, and Dundee Utd.
David Gray's outfit once again stopped their losing run with back-to-back draws, 1-1 with Hearts and 0-0 with Ross County, and they will now be searching for just a second league win of the campaign, aiming to move away from the bottom of the table.
Their opponents will be the favourites heading into this game though, with Dundee Utd sitting fifth in the table, while they have also already defeated Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership this season, scoring two stoppage-time goals to come from 2-1 down to win 3-2.
Four wins, three draws and three defeats mark a superb opening to the term for the newly-promoted Tangerines, who secured their place in the top flight with a Scottish Championship title last campaign.
Jim Goodwin's men have suffered a dip in form in recent outing, however, with Dundee Utd losing each of their last two games, against Aberdeen and Motherwell, leaving them aiming to bounce back with a win.
The visitors have been at their best on the road so far this season, securing eight points from five away games, while they have not lost in their last four visits to the Easter Road Stadium.
Team News
![Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/jim-goodwin.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Jim Goodwin (Manager) of Dundee United during the 2024/25 Pre Season Friendly match between Dundee United and Luton Town at CalForth Construction Arena, Tannadice Park, Scotland on 26 July 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
Hibs will be without the services of Kieron Bowie, who is expected to remain on the sidelines until the new year after picking up a hamstring injury in early September.
Elsewhere, having secured two consecutive draws coming into this game, Gray may opt for a similar lineup here as they look to extend their unbeaten run to three matches.
As for the visitors, Craig Sibbald and Ross Graham are both ruled out of this one after sustaining injuries throughout October, though both are likely to return in the upcoming weeks.
With Dundee Utd heading into this encounter having lost each of their last two outings, Goodwin may make a number of changes to his starting team as he looks for a positive reaction from his men.
Sam Dalby is one player that could keep his place in the starting 11, with the striker netting two goals in his last three appearances for the Tangerines.
Hibernian possible starting lineup:
Bursik; Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita; Boyle, Triantis, Newell, Youan; Hoilett, Kukharevych
Dundee United possible starting lineup:
Walton; Adegboyega, Gallagher, Holt; Stephenson, Sevelj, Strain, Ferry; Thomson, Dalby, Van der Sande
We say: Hibernian 1-2 Dundee United
While the hosts appear to be in superior form heading into this game, the visitors have enjoyed the much better start to the season, including already winning against Hibs earlier in the term, leading us to believe Dundee Utd will triumph here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
