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Hibernian moved back to the top of the Scottish Premier League after their first victory over Dundee United in seven attempts.

Leigh Griffiths opened the scoring with a fine volley from Eoin Doyle's deep cross.

And Doyle converted a Paul Cairney cutback to double the home side's lead.

Gary Mackay-Steven took advantage of a mix-up in the Hibs defence to bring the visitors back into the game, but they couldn't find a leveller.

Hibs were handed the first opportunity when United keeper Radoslav Cierzniak handled a passback under pressure from Griffiths inside the box.

However, as is often the case in these situations, the shot from Griffiths was charged down by a wall which moved before the ball was struck and the chance was gone.

Griffiths made no mistake next time though, as he met a cross from Doyle with a fine right-footed volley to score his 12th goal of the season.

The two almost combined to double Hibs' advantage as Griffiths chipped forward with the ball coming off the head of Gavin Gunning on its way through to Doyle, who slotted the ball into the net only to be flagged offside.

United were struggling to find a way through a Hibs midfield which pressed high up the field when out of possession, and manager Peter Houston brought on Mackay-Steven for Mark Millar after only half-an-hour.

The switch did bring more possession for the Taysiders, but they still found a cutting edge hard to come by as the first half petered out.

And Hibs stretched their lead just after the break when Cairney dribbled infield from the left wing and cut the ball back to Doyle, who lashed the ball into the roof of the net.

However, a bad mistake from Hibs keeper Ben Williams handed United a lifeline.

Paul Hanlon was slow with a passback and the keeper compounded the problem by misfiring a clearance straight to Mackay-Steven, who stroked the ball into an empty net.

The Hibs fans were silenced as the visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game but they found their voice again as former Hearts striker Rudi Skacel came on for the visitors.

The Czech headed into the net from an accurate Willo Flood cross but he was adjudged to be offside, much to the delight of the home fans.

United were on top as the game entered its final stages and Skacel's wonderful 25-yard left-footed volley cannoned back off the crossbar with Williams left helpless.

Gunning went close with a free header from a Flood free-kick and Skacel also fired wide from a good position as Hibs held on.

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