Dundee went down to a 2-1 defeat at Dens Park against Hibs in the opening Premiership game of the season. Kieran Bowie scored twice in three minutes in the middle of the first half. Fin Robertson quickly pulled a goal back, but the Dark Blues could not stage a comeback in a second half which fizzled out in disappointing fashion.
There were five changes to the team that started against Montrose. Captain Simon Murray was not fit and was replaced by Ash Hay. Ryan Astley, Ethan Ingram, Paul Digby, and Fin Robertson, who came on as substitutes against last week, retained their places with Plamen Galabov, Drey Wright, Cesar Garza, and Tony Yogane switching to the bench.
Any supporter who turned up midway through the first half would have received a one-word answer to the question “what’s happened?”. Nothing.
Hibs dominated possession without looking dangerous. Dundee looked solid at the back but couldn’t create anything when they had the ball. We didn’t see a single shot that ended up anywhere in the neighbourhood of the goals. Neither side could pass with anything like the pace or accuracy to unsettle the defences.
For Dee supporters the opening tedium was preferable to the horrendous three minutes around the half hour mark. The Dundee defence, which had been competent, disintegrated for long enough to give Hibs a two-goal lead.
First, a clearance by Ryan Astley struck Ethan Ingram and the rebound broke nicely for Kieran BOWIE. It was still a tricky chance, but the Scotland striker buried his low angled shot.
Three minutes later Jordan Obita sneaked in from the left behind the Dee defence onto a pass by Dylan Levitt. Jon McCracken saved but the ball fell for BOWIE who had no trouble scoring.
After poor defending allowed Hibs to take the lead it was equally poor defending that brought Dundee back into the game in the 36th minute. Jack Iredale failed to control a through pass and gifted possession to Ash Hay on the right of the Hibs penalty area. Hay kept his head to set up Fin ROBERTSON to shoot home from 10 yards.
The second half brought no improvement, from either side. Hibs had endless possession but did little with it. Dundee couldn’t get on the ball and offered no threat. All that the Dark Blues could manage in the second half were a few decent crosses that flew through the penalty area.
Hibs were dangerous only at corners. Substitute Josh Campbell found space with a late run beyond the far post and McCracken saved well from his header. A few minutes later McCracken saved from Campbell with his foot following another corner.
Apart from that Dundee’s defence was compact and sound in the second half, which would have been fine if the Dark Blues had been defending a lead. The lack of creativity, pace, and imagination in attack was disappointing. Too many passes went astray gifting easy possession to Hibs.
The errors seemed to sap confidence, and the result was that players made safe passes. Attacks would stall as Dundee kept the ball but gave Hibs ample time to prepare for whatever came next.
At no point in the second half, or even the whole game, could Dundee do anything to make life uncomfortable for the Hibs defence. Fin Robertson’s goal might well have been the result of a complacent loss of concentration by Hibs.
Hibs will rightly be pleased with three points from an away game following a strenuous European tie. They managed the game well enough, especially in the second half, to deserve the win. Hibs were some distance short of their best, but they were calmly professional and too good for Dundee.
The uncomfortable truth today was that Dundee were a better team when they didn’t have the ball. The only positives were in defence, setting aside the brief, but crucial, collapse in the middle of the first half. Luke Graham in particular was comfortable both defending and bringing the ball out of defence. Dundee look as if they can put together a defence of Premiership quality. The jury is still out on the midfield and attack. Today the lack of any cutting edge without Simon Murray was painfully obvious.
Dundee FC 3-5-2
Jon McCracken
Ryan Astley, Clark Robertson (c), Luke Graham
Ethan Ingram (Aaron Donnelly 80), Callum Jones (Drey Wright 80), Paul Digby, Fin Robertson, Imari Samuels (Cesar Garza 85)
Emile Acquah (Tony Yogane 80), Ash Hay
Unused substitutes: Trevor Carson (gk), Billy Koumetio, Plamen Galabpv, Victor Lopez, Finlay Allan.
Goal: Fin Robertson (36).
Booked: Fin Robertson (foul on Cadden), Clark Robertson (foul on Bowie), Ingram (foul on McGrath).
Hibs 4-3-3
Smith
O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, Obita
Chris Cadden, Levitt (Manneh 80), Mulligan (McGrath 57)
Boyle (c) (Youan 85), Bowie, Hoilett (Campbell 57)
Unused subs: Sallinger (gk), Ekpiteta, Klidje, Megwa, MacIntyre.
Goals: Bowie (28, 31).
Booked: Manneh (stopping free kick being taken).
Attendance: 7,825.
Referee: David Dickinson. Assistants: Jonathan Bell, Ross Nelson. VAR: Andrew Dallas. Assistant VAR: Ryan Lee.
Report: James Christie.
