Dundee went down to a 2-0 defeat against Hibs at Easter Road this afternoon. Kieran Bowie gave Hibs the lead after half an hour and Jamie McGrath added the second after half time. The Dark Blues endured an uncomfortable first half, but improved after half time. Hibs were always in control, however. Although their victory was never in doubt they had to rely on two superb saves by keeper Raphael Sallinger to prevent the Dark Blues pulling a goal back.
The Dark Blues switched to a 4-2-31 formation today. Ryan Astley, Billy Koumetio and Emile Acquah dropped onto the bench and were replaced by Clark Robertson, Yan Dhanda, and Simon Murray.
Dundee began the game positively, getting forward a few times, but without creating any chances. However, as soon as Hibs started to attack the signs were ominous.
A neat Hibs passing move through the middle and into the penalty area opened up the Dee defence. Jamie McGrath should have done better with the final shot, a weak effort from only eight yards and Jon McCracken had enough time to save comfortably.
The Dark Blues’ defence was disrupted when Imari Samuels took a head knock. He was replaced by Ryan Astley who went to right back with Drey Wright moving to the left.
While Dundee were down to 10 men Hibs should have taken the lead. Taking advantage of the lack of a left back they worked the ball into space on their right for Josh Mulligan to cross. Facing an open goal Kieron Bowie headed over at the far post from only six yards out.
McCracken pulled off a good save from Daniel Barlaser’s low 22 yarder as Hibs continued to look dangerous with every attack.
The home side were adept at switching play quickly to find players in space on the wings. Barlaser started the move that gave Hibs the lead on the half hour. He swung a pass out to Nicky Cadden on the left. The low cross was taken by Kieran BOWIE at the near post and he turned to send a low shot past McCracken. It was an excellent striker’s goal, showing impressive control and lightning fast reactions.
Hibs remained firmly in charge for the rest of the first half. When Dundee did have possession they could never move the ball with enough pace or accuracy to trouble Hibs. Moves petered out with sideways passing until possession was lost. The stats at half time made grim reading. The Dark Blues hadn’t registered a single shot, on or off target.
The Dee perked up after the break and started to move the ball more quickly and Tony Yogane started to cause Hibs problems with skillful running on the left. Sadly, there was never any end product to the Dundee moves, however.
After skinning Rocky Bushiri Yogane went down in the penalty area under pressure from the defender, but the result was a yellow card for simulation rather than a penalty kick. The decision not to award a penalty was not particularly controversial but the booking seemed rather harsh.
For all Dundee’s improvement and more effective attacking Hibs were still by far the more dangeous side and looked likely to score with every attack.
Jamie McGrath could hardly have gone closer with a chip from 20 yards that came back off the crossbar. However, he did score the second goal a couple of minutes later, just before the hour.
Josh Mulligan drove into the penalty area from the left and Bowie laid a pass back for McGRATH to score with a precise low shot from 12 yards inside McCracken’s right hand post.
Dundee pushed forward trying to save the game and were inevitably more open at the back. Surprisingly, there were no more goals, and we can blame Hibs for that. They were too casual in attack, and had to call on keeper Raphael Sallinger to make two remarkable saves.
Cameron Congreve put over a tempting cross from the right. Yogane met it beyond the far post with a firm volley across the keeper. Sallinger showed astonishing reactions to twist and paw the ball off the line.
Within a minute Hibs were swarming around the Dee goalmouth. A third goal seemed inevitable as McGrath tried to walk the ball into the net. Eventually he ran into a dead end and was crowded out – a strange little episode that summed up Hibs’ performance.
After 80 minutes Sallinger surpassed his earlier save. Congreve’s free kick from the right found Clark Robertson in front of goal. The defender connected well with his shot but somehow Sallinger managed to touch it over the bar from close range when a goal looked certain.
Hibs continued to threaten with every attack, but continually failed to create the clear chances that should have been the result of fine approach play. They did manufacture a series of half chances, but never found the composure to convert them into goals.
Dundee had one final chance when Yan Dhanda chased a pass through the middle into the penalty area. Sallinger came out to challenge and the ball rebounded to substitute Charlie Reilly on the edge of the penalty area. With the keeper out of position, and a couple of defenders covering, Reilly lifted his shot over the bar.
Over the full match there is no question that Hibs fully deserved the three points. They could easily have run away with the game, and it was a relief to hear the half time whistle with the Dark Blues only a single goal behind.
Dundee were nowhere near the required level in the first half. After half time the Dee were more effective, and were unfortunate not to score at least once. Only top class goalkeeping preserved Hibs’ clean sheet.
However, Hibs were always in charge, despite their somewhat casual play. The more Dundee tried to chase a goal the more space Hibs had to attack. A Dee goal could just have prompted Hibs to move up to a higher gear. Dundee didn’t have the attacking fire-power to pull back two goals against a side like Hibs without conceding again, and the game was lost in a first half in which they struggled badly.
Hibernian 3-1-4-2
Sallinger
Bushiri, Hanley, Iredale
Barlaser (Levitt 78)
Chris Cadden (Megwa 90), Mulligan, McGrath, Nicky Cadden (Obita 70)
Boyle (Klidjé 70), Bowie (Youann 78)
Unused subs: Smith (gk), O’Hora, Newell, Hoilett.
Goals: Bowie (30), McGrath (59) .
Booked: Hanley (foul on Murray), Bushiri (foul on Yogane).
Dundee 4-2-3-1
Jon McCracken
Drey Wright, Clark Robertson, Luke Graham, Imari Samuels (Ryan Astley 18)
Paul Digby (Callum Jones 68), Ethan Hamilton
Cameron Congreve (Charlie Reilly 84), Yan Dhanda, Tony Yogane
Simon Murray (c)
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Billy Koumetio, Emile Acquah, Fin Robertson, Ash Hay, Joe Westley.
Booked: Yogane (simulation).
Attendance: 17,714.
Referee: Steven McLean. Assistants: Graeme Stewart, Ross Anderson. VAR: Grant Irvine. Assistant VAR: Graeme Leslie.
Report: James Christie.
