Hibernian rescued a point in a 2-2 draw against Dundee United at Easter Road after going two goals down in the second half.A David Robertson brace gave the visitors a commanding lead but the hosts showed great character to earn a draw.

Substitutes Abdessalam Benjelloun and Mickael Antoine-Curier, from the penalty spot, levelled the score.

Hibs made a bright start to a fixture that brought together two sides who were locked on the same points with Rangers in second place prior to kick-off.

Steven Fletcher came close to giving the home team the lead within the first minute after managing to get beyond the United rearguard.

Lewis Stevenson received a Rob Jones pass before feeding Fletcher. The Scotland Under-21 cap brushed off the challenge of Sean Dillon before drilling a shot across goal and just wide.

John Collins' side enjoyed the better of possession during the early exchanges and were keen to utilise the pace of Alan O'Brien on the left wing.

The former Newcastle player was giving United defender Dillon a hard time and he set up Fletcher in the 13th minute but the striker's spectacular attempt at a volley went well wide.

United registered their first shot on target in the 15th minute through Morgaro Gomis' deflected effort.

Minutes after O'Brien wasted a good opportunity and United goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski made a great save in the 20th minute from Merouane Zemmama's free-kick.

The post then came to United's rescue five minutes before the break as Fletcher could not get enough contact on Jones' knockdown to divert the ball in from a tight angle.

Fletcher, whose agent claimed in midweek his client is seeking a move away from Easter Road following complications in contract talks, was guilty of missing a great chance two minutes after the restart.

Kevin McCann's deflected shot fell kindly for Fletcher inside the box but he pulled his effort well wide with only Szamotulski to beat.

With the game entering the final quarter, Hibs made a statement of intent with the withdrawal of midfielder Ross Chisholm for striker Benjelloun.

It was United that stormed into the lead in the 65th minute, however, when Robertson got on the end of Dillon's teasing cross to head the ball past Ma-Kalambay from eight yards.

Former Chelsea stopper Ma-Kalambay could then do nothing to prevent Robertson notching his second in a near-identical move to the first goal.

This time Willo Flood provided the cross and Robertson again found the net from close range in the 73rd minute.

Hibs dragged themselves back into the match three minutes later when substitute Benjelloun showed great skill in the box before drilling the ball past Szamotulski.

There was further drama in the 79th minute when David Murphy won a penalty after being felled by Dillon inside the box.

Referee William Collum sent the defender off before substitute Antoine-Curier dispatched the spot-kick.

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