Dundee 3
Hibernian 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier.

Dens Park witnessed two fine performances on Saturday-one from the home players, who recorded an excellent 3-1 win over Hibs, the other by the ground staff who worked a minor miracle to ensure the game could be played.

Just 24 hours before kick-off the park was waterlogged and a near-constant overnight downpour did little to improve conditions. However, with a little help from their friends, Dundee managed to get the pitch into reasonable shape.

Four motor-mops, one courtesy of Dundee United and the others kindly loaned for the day by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, were put to use to remove the hundreds of gallons of water that had fallen on Dens.

Co-operation between Dundee's football clubs isn't unusual, but the assistance of both United and the R. and A. was greatly appreciated at Dens.

The R. and A.'s championship secretary David Hill said yesterday, "We were pleased to help Dundee out."

Manager Archie Knox, who spent three-and-a-half hours pushing one of the machines on Saturday morning, commented, "There was a great deal of hard work put into making the park playable and although it was in a bit of a mess at the end, it will recover."

The pitch made ready for action it was over to Dundee's players and they responded superbly, banishing memories of the 5-0 defeat at Ibrox and finally ending the scoring drought.

Ray Stephen grabbed the opener in 16 minutes, heading home a Bobby Connor cross Ralph Callachan equalised before half-time, but Stephen restored Dundee's lead in 53 minutes, capitalising on sloppy Hibs defending to curl the ball beyond the stranded Alan Rough.

John Brown completed the scoring six minutes later from the penalty spot after Milne had brought down Colin Hendry.

Hendry, who had taken the place of Graham Harvey in the home line-up, squandered a hat-trick of clear-cut chances, hitting a post, the legs of Rough, then missing an open goal.

"Six times we had players, in the position of only having the keeper to beat and failed, but at least we looked more like scor- ing than recently," said Archie Knox.

Star man for Dundee was Tosh McKinlay who, apart from, his sound defensive work, once more linked up well with Bobby Connor down the left.

Stuart Rafferty, restored to the side in place of Albert Kidd, was another who got through a power of work, while the return of skipper John McCormack (a second half substitute) was a boost.

Injury-hit Hibs faded badly after a promising start, but they received little in the way of encouragement from referee Brian McGinlay.

The Balfron whistler booked Mark Fulton, Ally Brazil and Gordon Chisholm, and disallowed two "goals" for offside.

Hibs boss John Blackley admitted, "We've really been strength of our squad and I'll be thankful to have Gordon Durie and Iain Munro back shortly."

After their fine run through the months of October and November the Easter Road side have taken only two points from their last six games.