Hibernian 0
Dundee 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Dundee got their fourth 1-0 victory on the trot and their first ever Premier League win at Easter Road in a cracker of a game that kept coming to the boil and finally boiled over in the last five minutes.

The drama on and off the field began when Stuart Rafferty raced more than half the length of the field before crossing to John Brown.

Brown's volley was parried into the air by Alan Rough and big John headed the rebound into the net. It was his second winner in four games.

Hibs were stung to tremendous effort and when Gordon Durie went down to a Bobby Glennie challenge, the big Hib was infuriated to see referee Colin Sinclair, from Forfar, turning down penalty appeals.

Gordon chased Mr Sinclair to midfield and was lucky that he was only booked, so vehement was his protest. Ray Stephen was booked for kicking the ball away before the final whistle and afterwards John Blackley, the Hibs manager, had words with Mr Sinclair.

Mr Sinclair said Mr Blackley would be reported to the S.F.A. for remarks made after the game.

That John Brown got the vital goal in the game was fitting. Again and again he showed his determination to score. Two of his efforts in particular, from 30 and 35 yards no less, were mighty close to the target.

Dundee skipper John McCormack also showed the goal-hungry look. In the first half only the experience and courage of Rough thwarted him.

Tosh McKinlay gave his skip- per another opening in the second half. McCormack's first shot rebounded from Rough, his second was blocked and his third hit a defender and went over the bar.

McCormack threw himself face down on the ground and beat the turf in absolute frustration. It's hard to blame him.

Rough was in great form and kept his team in the game.

The unhappiest man in Edin- burgh must have been Hibs midfielder Ally Brazil. In the first half he had the ball in the net only to see Durie given offside.

In each half he had carbon copy misses which will haunt him. Both followed long throws by Durie and back headers by Dens Parker Colin Harris to Brazil at the far post.

First time Ally put the ball over the bar from four yards. and on the second occasion he put it past the post from two yards.

Dundee are a side at their best with the roars of a big crowd ringing in their ears. This they haven't had in their three most recent games and they have lost their sparkle for spells.

In their three games in a week beginning on Saturday the crowds will be there and Dundee will have their spur against Celtic, Dundee United and Aberdeen, all in Dundee. Then they go to Ibrox.

Hibs are playing the survival game and the rawness of relegation nerves is obvious in their play. They lack composure and their fans are as edgy as the players.

John Blackley said his players' display was shocking and was upset about the no- penalty decision.

Match report written by The Courier