Jim Goodwin angry with Dundee United’s disallowed goal in defeat to Hibs

Jim Goodwin insisted Dundee United had a perfectly good goal chalked off before Hibernian scored twice in stoppage time to claim a 3-1 win at Tannadice.

The hosts took the lead through Ross Graham before Mykola Kuharevich equalised for the visitors.

United then had a Sam Dalby effort ruled out for handball following a lengthy VAR check, with Kieron Bowie and Junior Hoilett netting late on to secure the win for the visitors.

However, United boss Goodwin was fuming over his side’s disallowed goal.

He said: “I need to be really careful with my choice of words, based on some of the big decisions that have gone against us in such an important and significant game.

“There was so much at stake for both clubs. The second half we played for large spells in Hibs territory. We were pushing for a winner and we thought we’d scored a perfectly-good goal.

“It takes three and a half, four minutes for the guys in the VAR studio to come to the decision that Sam Dalby has headed the ball onto his hand.

“From all the angles that I’ve seen with my analyst and from the broadcast angles, I can’t see it for the life of me.

“It’s just not clear, decisive and obvious. That’s a big decision that’s gone against us.

“And prior to the second Hibs goal, we should have had a corner.

“I’m 70 yards away from it and I can tell from the trajectory of the ball that Lewis Fiorini has kicked it off the Hibs player.

“How the officials can’t give the decision to give us a set play.. it leads to their goal.

“Of course, you can look at how we defend it. It’s a great goal from the young lad Bowie but we should have had a corner. That’s the crux of it.”

The win moved the capital club up to fourth in the Premiership table, leapfrogging the hosts, and extended their unbeaten run to 12 league games.

Hibs boss David Gray was delighted with the win, especially considering what his players had put into last Saturday’s victory over Celtic and he says it sets things up nicely for the weekend derby with Hearts.

Gray said: “It was always going to be a really tough game coming up here after the amount of effort that went into the game against Celtic.

“To go and replicate that level of performance was always going to be tough but I think massive credit to the players for finding a way to win the game when we weren’t at our best.

“So, delighted for everyone and obviously sets it up for the weekend.”