Didier Agathe took just 80 seconds to end six days and nights of purgatory at Easter Road. The former Raith man was responsible for an appalling miss in the goalless Edinburgh derby which cost Hibs an opening-day victory against their fiercest rivals. But the Frenchman needed just one minute and 20 seconds to exorcise that ghost when he gave Hibs the lead after out-running Dundee United defender David Partridge.

Agathe further endeared himself to the Easter Road crowd when he added a second after 18 minutes as Hibs cruised to three points against a disappointing Tangerines side. Substitute Tom McManus added the third in injury time after a great ball by John O'Neil. Agathe was grateful to United defender Partridge, who played a poor ball straight to Mathias Jack. The Hibs man lifted the ball for Agathe to chase. The striker outpaced the unfortunate Partridge and slotted the ball under Alan Combe in the United goal. It was the perfect start for a man who must have been unable to face the Edinburgh public after his appalling miss at Tynecastle.

But while Agathe was taking the plaudits for his reactions, Ulrik Laursen was building up a great reputation with his display down the left. He sent over a low cross from Latapy's ball which Combe did well to hold under pressure from Mixu Paatalainen. Laursen was directly responsible for the second Hibs goal when he was brought down on the left-hand edge of the area by Venetis. Franck Sauzee drove the free-kick into the area and Agathe headed downwards to double his and Hibs' tally for the season after 18 minutes. Agathe almost secured his third six minutes later when he connected with a Latapy corner but Combe instinctively saved and Paatalainen could not slot home the rebound. Agathe turned provider after 36 minutes when he helped Latapy's ball into the path of Paatalainen. But the former Bolton man drove wide of Combe's goal. Venetis became the first man in the book two minutes later for a foul on O'Neil as the half petered out. Latapy nearly secured a three-goal lead for the home side seconds after the re-start.

The Trinidad and Tobago international opened up space for O'Neil on the edge of the area with a clever turn but the former St Johnstone man could not get a full connection and Combe comfortably saved. Frenchman Sauzee spotted Combe off his line after 56 minutes but his shot from the halfway line only troubled the Hibs fans behind the goal. Sauzee was closing in on goal moments later but he drilled Latapy's corner wide with a volley from 25 yards. The Caribbean star was beginning to come into his own and he was unfortunate after turning Jamie Buchan on the edge of the area to see his shot curl wide of the post. Latapy stung Combe's hands after 75 minutes with a blistering drive from the edge of the box after turning two United defenders. Laursen wanted a piece of the goalscoring action but did not trouble Combe with a weak strike.

Agathe got a rousing send off when he was substituted with nine minutes remaining. Second-half substitute Tom McManus completed the scoring in injury time. He collected an O'Neil ball and slid it under Combe.

DUNDEE UTD: Combe, McQuillan (Mathie 73), de Vos, Partridge, Easton , Heaney, Aljofree, Venetis (Hannah 48), Paterson, Thompson (Hamilton 77), Buchan. Subs not used: Onstad, McCracken