Hibernian 1
Dundee 0
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Dundee finished off their SPL campaign with a 1-0 defeat in a drab end of season game at cold and sodden Easter Road. David Wotherspoon's goal twelve minutes from time gave Hibs the points.

Iain Davidson and Ryan Conroy dropped out of last week's team and were replaced by Matt Lockwood and Mark Kerr. Lewis Toshney moved out to play right wing back with Gary Irvine switching too central midfield and Jim McAlister shifting out to the left wing back spot.

The changes provided plenty of cover for the defence, but the three defensive midfielders never looked like creating any danger when Dundee had the ball. The Dark Blues were seldom in the Hibs penalty area during a poor first half, and didn't come anywhere near threatening Ben Williams goal.

Hibs, with more of the ball, were comfortably on top but seemed to have their minds on next week's cup final. Jordon Forster headed carelesslly over the bar from a corner but the best chance of the first half was surprisingly wasted by on-form striker Leigh Griffiths. Declan Gallagher had lost the ball when he charged and upfield. Alex Harris chipped the ball into a yawning gap in the heart of the Dundee defence. Griffiths had time to take the ball down and should have left Simonsen with no chance from 15 yards, but the Dee keeper saved well.

Simonsen was in fine form for the Dark Blues and had a more comfortable save from Harris before pulling off a brilliant reflex save from Griffiths, which was made irrelevant when the referee decided that Benedictus had been fouled.

It was no surprise when John Brown decided early in the second half that Dundee needed more drive and threat in midfield. Ryan Conroy came on to replace Mark Kerr and McAlister moved into the middle.

However, it was Hibs who really should have taken the lead when a long ball from McGivern sent Griffiths clear. It was a straightforward chance, but Griffiths shot wide. Moments later Stevenson found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area but shot too high.

At the other end Ryan Conroy volleyed narrowly wide from Harkins cross as Dundee started to look more convincing on the ball. McAlister's running and eagerness to try penetrating runs gave a much needed lift to Dundee.

Lewis Toshney and Declan Gallagher were then replaced by Riley and Finnigan. This left Dundee with a three man defence of Irvine, Lockwood and Benedictus and a very positive formation. Unfortunately this didn't translate into any real danger in the Hibs' penalty area.

It was starting to look as if Hibs were running out of ideas when they clinched the game with a simple goal. Deep on the left Stevenson drove an angled ball into the penalty area. David WOTHERSPOON had been on the field for only four minutes and ran onto the cross to head it across Simonsen and inside the far post from 15 yards.

Immediately afterwards Hibs nearly grabbed a second, but Simonsen foiled Doyle in a scramble by the post.

Dundee tried to get back into the game, but the nearest they came was when a Harkins cross was deflected to John Baird who volleyed too high from 15 yards.

Hibs deserved the win against a Dark Blue team who lacked a creative spark today and were never sharp enough in their passing and running to pose serious problems for Hibs. Everything about the match, the Dark Blues performance and the mood of the supporters enjoying a day out in Edinburgh screamed that this was an end of season affair. On a cold, wet and miserable day it's just a pity the football was as dreich as the weather.

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website