Dundee 3
Hibernian 4
League (Premier League)

Match Report

It will be of little consolation to Dundee this morning as they find themselves still without a point two games into their second season in the SPL, but this match which marked the opening of the newlook Dens Park following its £2.9 million redevelopment was fit to grace any occasion, writes Graeme Dey,

Along with top flight new boys Hibs, the Dark Blues conspired to serve up a live TV cracker which could not have been further removed from 12 months ago when their debut on Sky, against St Johnstone, was an embarrassing non-event.

A breathtaking second half, graced by six goals, will live long in the memories of all who witnessed it but especially the 800 fans of Hibs who had won just once in 15 previous visits, spanning 14 years, to the ground.

For Dundee manager Jocky Scott, though, there was only annoyance over a poor first half showing, the sur rendering of a potentially winning position and the fact that his side have now conceded six goals in only 180 minutes of competitive action.

The Dark Blues had come from behind to cancel out Dirk Lehmann's opening counter courtesy of a Paul Lovering own goal then almost immediately were given the lead by Shaun Mcskimming

Former Marseille midfielder Franck Sauzee levelled, only for Eddie Annand to make it 3-2 from the penalty spot with 18 minutes remaining.

However, this amazing match had further twists in store as Sauzee claimed his second of the night be fore, in the second minute of stoppage time, substitute Kenny Miller con jured up a sensational winner for the Visitors

"That's another big disappointment - for us," groaned Scott.

"The first halt was non-existent from our point of view. We were far too negative and allowed Hibs to dictate.

"We showed a bit more spirit in the but to be ahead twice and lose the game by conceding two goals in the last six minutes is criminal.

"Even allowing for the fact both Sauzee's goals were deflected, our defending was had.

"Our back lot sat far too deep and we aren't clever enough in the middle of the park to shut things out."

That Dundee spent most of the first half on the back foot owed as much to their inability to get a grip in midfield or to retain posession to any serious extent.

The upshot of those shortcomings was that they found themselves a goal down at the break and fortunate not to be further in arrears.

The opener arrived after 32 minutes as Hibs broke down the right through Russell Latapy.

The little Trinidadian completely opened up Dundee's rearguard with a magnificent pass to Lehmann, who flicked the ball past Barry Smith with the outside of his left foot then raced into the box where he stroked it beyond Robert Douglas and in off the base of a post with his right.

Dundee-to no-one's great surprise-emerged for the second period with Grady on for Dutch debutant Frank van Eijs.

The Dark Blues were desperately in need of an injection of livelieness and Van Eijs, after a bright start, had faded badly and gone close to getting himself sent off for making clear his displeasure at being booked by referee Hugh Dallas for bringing down Matthias Jack from the back.

Nobody, though, could have anticipated the manner in which the match was to come to life as three goals in the space of five minutes sent both sets of fans off on an emotional roller coaster ride.

A long punt down the Dens slope from Douglas kicked off the drama, causing, as it did, utter chaos inside the visitors' box where Lovering, in trying to clear, crashed the ball against teammate Shaun Dennis off whose body it rebounded, striking Lovering and bouncing past Ollie Gottskalksson.

Stunned Hibs still had not regained their senses as Stephen Boyack sprinted down the right and cut back a ball which was dummied by Falconer, missed by Grady but stuck away by the on-rushing McSkimming at the back post.

The Dundee support, who had grown so critical of their team as the first half unfolded, were suddenly in raptures but the celebrations were to be short-lived.

With an hour gone Boyack was ad judged to have fouled Latapy just outside the area and, aided by a deflection off the head of Smith, Sauzee sent the free-kick high past Douglas and into the keeper's top left hand corner.

What followed was as rip-roaring a final quarter as entertainment seek ers could wish for.

The Dark Blues regained the initiative on 72 minutes as Lovering foolishly handled as Annand tried to lift the ball over him and the Dundee striker side-footed home the resultant spot-kick, sending Gottskalksson the wrong way.

But, with six minutes remaining, a Latapy corner fell to Sauzee 20 yards out and he volleyed for goal, the ball finishing in the net thanks to it cannoning off the inside of Lee Maddison's leg, the deflection completely wrong-footing Douglas.

And in the second minute of over time, with Dens defender Steven Tweed handicapped by injury, substitute Miller, back to goal, was able to gather a Lovering throw-in and hook the ball beyond the despairing dive of Douglas.

It was a superb finish, although of the four goals his side had given up it was the clincher which most irked Jocky Scott.

"For us to allow the ball to bounce in our box and let the player get a clear strike without a challenge is diabolical," he fumed.

In addition to Van Eijs, Lehmann (elbowing Smith) and Boyack (foul on Lehmann) were booked.

Match report written by The Courier