Hibernian 2
Dundee 1
League (Premier League)

Match Report

A late strike from Nacho Novo was not enough to salvage a point for Dundee after a game in which they allowed Mixu Paatelainen to give Hibs a two goal lead, but then came storming back to dominate the second half.

Giorgi Nemsadze, Zura Khizanishvili and Juan Sara returned to the starting line up with Lee Wilkie suspended, Nacho Novo and Garry Brady dropping to the bench.

Hibs were first to threaten in front of a sparse crowd and in two minutes an O'Neil lay back was fired across the face of goal and wide by Jarko Wiss from 20 yards.

Dundee pushed forward and Steve Lovell had their first attempt with a twenty-yarder that didn't curl as much as he'd have wanted.

Hibs took the lead from a breakaway on 12 minutes, A Dundee attack broke down and the Hibs defence quickly fed a pass out to young Craig James on the left of midfield, he surged forward before releasing an early cross from which Paatelainen rose superbly to head home.

Now the home side were having the greater amount of possession, but rarely looked dangerous and Jonay Hernandez was next to have an attempt on target when his curling free kick brought a save from Nick Colgan midway through the half.

With six minutes to go until the break Hibs finally brought a save from Speroni with an incredible attempt from fifty yards. A loose ball fell to Zambernardi inside the centre-circle and spotting Speroni off his line, he fired off a first time effort that was destined for the top corner until the keeper tipped it over. It was a spectacular effort and fine save, but for a moment or two the Dundee fans were concerned that a collision with the upright in making the stop would end Speroni's involvement in this game. After treatment though, the Argentinean was able to continue.

At the half time break Dundee would be disappointed with their contribution to this match, and although Hibs had been a bit better, the home side hadn't looked like adding to their lead. That changed within two minutes of the restart. Paco' Luna broke free and brought a brave block from Speroni with Mackay scrambling the ball away from the Spanish striker, but only into the path of Paatelainen who went down as the young defender challenged. Referee Hugh Dallas, who was having a fine game pointed to the spot, but the award looked a bit soft. Not that it bothered Paatelainen who waved nominated penalty John O'Neill away before firing the ball past Speroni who was a bit unlucky. having dived the correct way.

Within three minutes Luna had managed to get behind Khizanishvili again, but the Georgian defender retrieved the situation and Dundee were about to take over.

Pushing forward, Dave Mackay won a great header on the right of the attack to pick out Sara, the striker was being involved in all the good aspects of this second half and he superbly turned and flicked the ball to Lovell who fired across the goal and narrowly wide.

On the hour Dundee went seriously gung-ho with Nacho Novo replacing central defender Tom Hutchinson and a 4-2-4 formation, which for much of the time verged on 2-4-4 being adopted. Within two minutes Dundee were one on one with the keeper in the shape of Steve Lovell, but Colgan did brilliantly to deny the striker. A minute later Juan Sara was in as he picked up on a poor pass back, but Colgan was down at his feet to thwart his goal scoring ambitions.

As Dundee piled on the pressure, Caballero's free kick was deflected off the wall and into the path of Nacho Novo who fired into the side netting when there might have been better options.

Hibs couldn't break out of their own half in the ten minutes after Novo's introduction, and with Dundee so much on top; a goal at this stage would surely have led to more.

Hibs did eventually break out though, and in an isolated attack Luna was one on one with Barry Smith, but the former Dens favourite was denied by an absolutely magnificent tackle by the Dundee captain.

Dundee soon had Hibs hemmed in again, but the home side looked as if they would keep a clean sheet as the game entered a five minute injury time period.

Two minutes in overtime, Dave Mackay did well to win a ball on the right and fed Novo who took a touch and fired a rocket shot of the near post and into the net.

This was the tenth goal Hibs have conceded late on this season and the panic was evident from all parts of the stadium, not least those on the pitch. Within seconds Nacho was in again, but the ball wouldn't break kindly and was scrambled behind for a corner.

Cue Julian Speroni, the keeper looking in vain to the bench for approval as he passed lone defender Barry Smith on the halfway line, but continued upfield anyway, and as the corner was swung in he rose at the back post to get contact on the ball, but could only bundle it wide.

A snatched Novo volley that was well off target apart, that was it. Dundee had laid siege to the Hibs goal for much of the second half, but ultimately had given themselves too much to claw back following that lacklustre performance of the first period.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme