The Dark Blues went down to a 2-1 defeat against Hibs at Dens Park this afternoon. Martin Boyle put Hibs ahead midway through the first half and Callum Wright made it 2-0 after an hour. Joe Westley pulled a late goal back to give the Dee hope, but Hibs held on for a deserved win. Hibs showed greater control and composure over the 92 minutes and Dundee were off the pace till a late charge for an equaliser that would hardly have been merited.
The only change to the Dee team that won last week’s derby was Bradley Fink coming in for his first start with Alan Forrest moving onto the bench. Matai Akinmboni, this week’s loan signing from Bournemouth, was named as a substitute.
The game was even and open in the early stages. Both teams looked capable of putting together a scoring move. There were dangerous crosses, but neither side was able to turn some promising approach play into clear chances.
Hibs gradually began to take control and create real danger. Nathan Lowe got clear on the left and Owen Bevan did well to turn his cross out for a corner. Martin Boyle wasn’t far off target with a shot from 18 yards.
After 25 minutes Hibs took the lead through a loss of concentration in the Dee defence. Lowe was yards offside when Grant Hanlon sent a long pass forward. Lowe pulled up when he realised he was offside and the defenders stopped too. With everyone else static BOYLE took full advantage to run from deep, take possession, and calmly shoot past Owen Goodman.
Dundee struggled to respond. Bradley Fink and Joe Westley were isolated and saw little of the ball as Hibs dominated possession.
The Dark Blues were lucky not to concede a second goal when Callum Wright responded quickly to a breakdown in midfield to send Boyle clear. This time the Hibs striker, with time to pick his spot, clipped his shot outside the post.
The Dees’ best moment of the first half came when Ethan Hamilton and Joe Bevan combined to give Fink space to run at the defence and shoot but he curled his effort narrowly wide.
Dundee started the second half with more energy and urgency. They came agonisingly close to equalising within 30 seconds of the restart. Bevan beat Obita and his deflected low cross flew across the goal line and was cleared by Passlack before Westley or Fink could knock the ball over the line. A minute later Fink turned skillfully in the penalty area but his shot was blocked.
In Hibs first attack of the second half Jamis McGrath found space to shoot, but Goodman saved well from his fierce angled shot.
Bevan continued to threaten on the right and he looked the most likely route back into the game for Dundee. However, Hibs extended their lead after 60 minutes when Boyle’s cross from the right was deflected into the path of Callum WRIGHT, who shot into the corner of the net from 12 yards.
Alan Forrest and Fin Robertson came on for Charlie Reilly and Bradley Fink. However, Hibs took full control and strangled the game to kill off hopes of a Dee fightback. Hibs possession game proved highly effective at frustrating Dundee, who often lost shape and composure chasing the ball. Hibs were able to find space well and threatened to add to their lead.
Goodman pulled off another good save from McGrath. At the end of Hibs’ best move of the game Josh Mulligan completely mishit his attempted volley. In a rare Dee attack Salinger had to turn a dangerous cross by Forrest away with a foot.
With quarter of an hour to go Dundee sent on Zan Besir and Bobby Wales for Ryan Finnigan and Joe Bevan. The change gave the Dark Blues fresh impetus and at last they were able to put Hibs under pressure.
Besir hit a piledriver from 20 yards, but it was too close to Salinger who was able to parry. Finally the Dark Blues managed to pull a goal back after 83 minutes. Hamilton was fouled as he shaped to shoot. From the resulting free kick, 30 yards out, Hamilton hit a fierce curling shot over the wall and against the crossbar. Joe WESTLEY reacted quickly to force the dropping ball over the line.
The goal gave the players hope and they piled forward to try and find an equaliser. It wasn’t to be, however. Hibs were able to contain the Dee attacks, and they looked at least as likely to score again on the break. A Dundee equaliser would have been welcome, but it would have been verging on theft of a point.
Hibs were worthy winners today. Dundee were never able to put their own game together, and only in the last quarter were they consistently able to give Hibs problems. The Dark Blues couldn’t cope with Hibs’ possession game and weren’t able to force errors with their pressing. While Hibs kept the ball well Dundee gave it away too easily too often and didn’t win their share of second ball challenges.
There was a slight element of luck about both Hibs’ goals, but the Dark Blues rode their luck on several other occasions and Hibs unquestionably deserved their win. Dundee have played well in the league this season but that wasn’t the case today. The young Dark Blue players will have to learn from this experience.
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Owen Goodman
Drey Wright, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan, Idris Odutayo
Ryan Finnigan (Zan Besir 75), Ethan Hamilton (c)
Joe Bevan (Bobby Wales 75), Joe Westley, Charlie Reilly (Fin Robertson 61)
Bradley Fink (Alan Forrest 61)
Unused substitutes: Kieran OโHara (gk), Brad Halliday, Matai Akinmboni, Callum Jones, Ethan Crombie.
Goal: Joe Westley (83).
Booked: Wright (foul on Lowe).
Hibernian 4-3-3
Salinger
Passlack, Hanley, Kerr, Obita
Mulligan, Devaney (Newell 81), Wright (Chaiwa 81)
Boyle (Klidje 77), Lowe (Suto 77), McGrath
Unused subs: Smith (gk), Megwa, Molotnikov, Abdulai, Iredale.
Goals: Boyle (25), Wright (60).
Booked: Passlack (foul on Reilly).
Attendance: 6,534.
Referee: John Beaton. Assistants: Alastair Taylor, Sean Duff. VAR: Steven McLean. Assistant VAR: Gary Hilland. 4th Official: Jordan Curran.
Report: James Christie.
