This was about as comfortable a victory as you will see all season with Hibernian in total control for virtually the entire match against a punchless Dundee United, who on this form are going to struggle badly this year.

The difference between the two teams was stark and I have to say that not one single player for Dundee United stood out. They had eleven hard working, fit, well organised players but not one of them was capable of doing anything other than the ordinary. Hibs, on the other hand, had several players that caught the eye. Sauzee strolled through the match at sweeper, Agathe helped himself to a brace of goals and gave the United defence a torrid afternoon, O'Neil was everywhere on the park and then there was Russell Latapy. Despite hardly getting out of second gear by his standards, Latapy was pure magic. His ability to beat a man, retain the ball and just do things that no-one expects was a joy to watch.

McLeish's faith in Agathe, allowing him a second start after his bad miss last week, was repaid inside two minutes. A long ball forward found the Frenchman with two or three yards to catch up on United defender Partridge. This he managed with ease, dispossessed him and cooly stroked the ball past Alan Combe. The crowd celebrated and I am sure the big striker heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Dundee United were pinned back in their own half almost immediately as Hibs went in search of a second. The Hibs midfield worked really well as a unit this week with O'Neil and Latapy now on the same wavelength and Jack looking very comfortable in the 'enforcer' role. With Smith and Laursen pushing up at every opportunity, United did little but cover space in this period of the game.

A second goal was firmly on the cards and duly arrived after about 20 minutes. Sauzee took a free-kick from the left and Agathe rose unchallenged to glance a header past Combe for his second.

Hibs had many chances to kill the game completely. Agathe had another header cleared off the line and a right foot shot from Paatelainen narrowly missed the top corner. The best chance however fell to Latapy from a poor clearance from Combe. With the goalkeeper way out of position and the ball at his feet you felt he must shoot. Latapy chose to home in first and was eventually disposessed.

Into the second half with Hibs still chasing the third goal that would kill the match off. Sauzee had a series of great efforts in this half to the delight of the home support. First he tried to score directly from a free kick in his own half, spotting Combe off his line and firing the ball over the panicked keeper but unfortunately this one cleared the bar. Then he tried a volley direct from a Latapy corner kick which again cleared the crossbar. The third effort was a freekick which curled agonisingly just past the far post with Combe beaten.

Whilst you never thought United were capable of fighting their way back into this game, they did have a couple of chances in the second half, the best of these falling to substitute, Hannah, who missed with a close in header from a de Vos knockdown.

Latapy and O'Neil both had good efforts for Hibs before substitute, Lehmann, missed a great opportunity. Bursting free and homing in on the United keeper with plenty of time, he managed to only pass weakly into the diving keeper's arms.

As well as Lehmann, who replaced Paatelainen, Hibs also gave run-outs to Murray, who replaced Laursen, and McManus who took over from Agathe. And McManus it was that completed the scoring in the last minute, latching on to an O'Neil through ball and finishing as cooly as you like. It is very early days to start comparing McManus with the departed Miller and they are very different players, but the promise is certainly there.

So, lots of good performances for Hibs, with the major plaudits this week to Agathe for his goals and Latapy for his magic.

Hibs Team 3-5-2

Colgan
G.Smith, Sauzee, Fenwick
T.Smith, Latapy, Jack, O'Neil, Laursen (Murray)
Agathe (McManus), Paatelainen (Lehmann)

Subs not used : Westwater, Lovell