Hibernian 2
Dundee 0
Scottish Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

Dundee went out of the Tennent's Scottish Cup after losing two late goals. And although the Dark Blues did hit woodwork late on, it would be churlish to deny that the home side deserved their victory.

They dominated the first half and although Dundee were much more lively after the break, over the ninety minutes the Easter Road youngsters showed much better quality than the Dark Blues.

Indeed if Gary O'Connor's finishing had matched his general play then the Hibees would have had the tie won long before they did, he spurned a handful of excellent chances but put in a power of work to create opportunities for himself.

Hibs were on top in the early stages and O'Connor's first chance came in the ninth minute.

Dispossessing Dees Lee Wilkie just outside the box, he had time to spare as he advanced on goal, but fired his shot against the post. The danger wasn't over as Soutar blocked Derek Riordan's strike from the rebound only for the ball to spin away to Dean Shiels who sent his effort high over the bar.

Dundee hit back and Lovell combined well with Fabian Caballero's whose low, angled drive from the edge of the area zipped past the post with Hibs custodian Simon Brown stranded Dundee had started the match with a 3-5-2 formation that Hibs exploited well, finding lots of space.

in wide areas. On 17 minutes Riordan's excellent cross left found the head of O'Connor eight yards out, but to the relief of the seven hundred away support behind the goal his effort was woefully high.

Only a superb block by Brent Sancho denied Riordan as he tried to pull the trigger in 21 minutes.

Yet, right on the interval, Dundee might have snatched the lead. A long free kick was superbly head- flicked on by Wilkie and Lovell had an opportunity to break the deadlock, beating Brown but failing to get sufficient control and the ball slid well wide.

That Wilkie, Lovell combination nearly came off again five minutes after the interval as the big defender nodded on Robb's free kick from the right, the ball fell beautifully for Lovell, but he appeared to be pulled back and made only weak contact with his effort gratefully gathered by Brown.

Hibs surged back up the and park a superb through ball from Glass put in O'Connor, he went past Wilkie and MacDonald with ease but curled his effort wide as Soutar advanced.

In sixty-seven minutes O'Connor had another chance, but this time Derek Soutar came to the rescue, scrambling his effort away for a corner.

By now many observers were thinking in terms of a replay, but with 14 minutes left Dundee's cup hopes were shattered by some excellent play from Steven Whittaker.

He picked up the ball on the half way line, came through a challenge from Fotheringham and advanced to the edge of the box before feeding Jamie McCluskey. The substitute jinked and turned in the box before feeding the ball back to Whittaker who swept a low 16- yarder into the bottom corner of the net.

Hibs gained confidence from the goal and surged forward at regular intervals as Jim Duffy brought on a fourth striker in John Sutton to try to salvage a replay.

However, it was the Hibees who found the not again three minutes from time, substitute Morrow making sure of victory by firing home an angled drive after finding space when Riordan's cross was deflected into his path. The result wasn't in any doubt now,

but Dundee still chased a consolation goal and came close to getting it after a superb run by Steve Robb. He tricked his way past several defenders before firing a shot across goal, the ball fell for Fotheringham and he lashed in a low cutback that hit Hibs' Gary Smith and deflected onto the woodwork.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme