Dunfermline 1 Hibernian 1

September 23rd 2000
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:8,257

Scorers:
Hibernian: Latapy
Dunfermline: Moss

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotland on Sunday on Sunday 24th September 2000

Fifers’ fibre gets reward

Dunfermline are a team with a healthy disrespect for reputations. Having competed bravely with Celtic on Monday, they faced up to the second-placed side, Hibs, yesterday, and if they were impressed by the Edinburgh side’s’ results and performances coming to the game, it didn’t show. If Celtic failed to panic this squad then, Hibs, skilful and resolute but minus the aura of invincibility of the Old Firm, were unlikely to do so.

Gone are the Dunfermline of old - a team who were able to defend but reluctant to venture forward in sorties of more than one or two. This brighter, braver, new-look side spread the ball along the deck, prodding and poking, creating space for their runners, with such as Barry Nicholson delivering telling balls for the heads of David Moss and Stevie Crawford. Their endeavour and enterprise merited early reward, and may have got it had it not been for the divine Franck Sauzee.

So much has already been written about this man, but his reading of the game and his ability to marshal his troops is the main reason Hibs have proved so mean at the back this season. More often than Moss and Crawford will care to remember, the Frenchman denied them by dipping a toe in when needed, intercepting balls, and while he is able to turn defence into attack with one intelligent pass, he is also wise and wily enough to know when it is best just to send the ball into the back row of the stand and reorganise.

But he didn’t have it all his way yesterday. Dunfermline’s work-rate was phenominal as they drove forward in waves, the earliest effort coming in less than five minutes courtesy of Nicholson’s hard work. The cutting edge is what has been missing from the hosts’ game this season. Although blessed with a number of creative and positive players, the final ball has been letting them down, the end effort just off target or directed straight at the goalkeeper. They entered into this game having failed to score more than one goal in a single match, and it was a statistic that will have comforted Alex McLeish as his players were given little time to settle, finding themselves under tremendous pressure in the opening spell. He knew that if his men could weather the storm and deliver their own counter, there was little chance of them leaving with less than a point.

However, Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood has assembled a side capable of defending stoutly, a team who quite rightly are feared on their own patch. The onus is on the entire team to stop the opposition, and yesterday the defending started with Moss and Crawford, the former covering every blade of grass on the pitch.

The defence were surplus to requirements in the opening skirmishes, the midfield, inspired by Ian Ferguson, quelling any Hibs attack, and pinning the visitors back. Moss, Lee Bullen and Crawford threatened, with the main danger springing up on the right wing, where the movement and interpassing, as well as the ceaseless running of Nicholson, had Ulrich Laursen and Paul Fenwick chasing shadows.

Hibs did finally come to terms with the pace of the game and it is telling that the best effort came from Sauzee, who had temporarily vacated his sweeper position to drive in a rasping free-kick, which, although powerful, was directed staight at Marco Ruitenbeek.

While Hibs had come to terms with the tempo, the rest of us struggled to. End to end action, this match was fast, furious and full-bloodied. It just never let up.

Not a week goes past these days without some Hibs injustice over a penalty decision and this Saturday was no different. When Nicholson shouldered Mathias Jack off the ball in the box you could almost read Alex McLeish’s thoughts as no decision was forthcoming.

In truth it was not a cast-iron claim and it was forgotten about minutes later when Andrius Skerla tumbled Mixu Paatalainen at the byeline and, this time, the man in the middle pointed to the spot. All things come to those who wait, particularly Hibs supporters. Russell Latapy, who had been smothered thus far by Dunfermline, was finally on his own in front of goal and he did not disappoint slotting the ball past Ruitenbeek.

A goal up, Hibs began to make life tougher for Dunfermline, who seemed momentarily stunned that their early effort had counted for nothing and although they still pressed forward, they did not appear quite as threatening and had to weather the odd scare of their own, with the height and physical presence of Hibs’ Finnish forward in particular causing unease.

"I don’t think we had the best first half," said Calderwood after the match, indicating just how high standards have been set in Dunfermline’s first seasonn back in the SPL.

He must have reminded his men of his expectations at half-time as they emerged revitalised and it was Moss, who had been industrious throughout the first-half, who deservedly grabbed the equaliser with a glancing header. "We showed great character to come back," said Calderwood, "and I think we deserved at least a point. It would have been an injustice if we hadn’t taken something out of the game, especially after the game against Celtic."

Hibs may still be challenging but if they want to sustain it, they will have to learn a few lessons in endeavour from Dunfermline

The Teams:

Hibernian:
Colgan; G Smith, Fenwick, Laursen, Sauzee, Jack, J O’Neil, Latapy, Lovell, Lehmann, Paatelainen.

Dunfermline:
.

Tale from the Terracing - Fatty's View

It is a measure of how the expectation of Hibs fans has risen this season that some of them booed the team off after this performance. Admitadley this was not their best performance of the season, but they had picked up an away point and had controlled the game for long periods.

If only they had scored one of the countless opportunities they created in the second half. The Dunfermline keeper having a fine game, making crucial saves from, Latapy, O'Neil and Zitteli.

It was good to see Laursen back at left back - at least the Hibs fans thought so until the 48th minute. It was then that his lack of match practice began to show as he was robbed of the ball and the resulting Dunfermline cross provided their goal. I'm sure the Hibs fans won't hold a grudge over this one as it will surely be a one-off.

Before the match, Dunfermline's mascot, 'Sammy the Tammy', made a brilliant dive from outside the box, before looking very puzzled as to how a penalty could be given. This brought a laugh and a round of applause from both sets of supporters. However, Dunfermline could have no complaints over the penalty awarded to hibs mid way through the first half. Big Mixu rose like a (rather overwight) Salmon at the back post but was clearly pushed before he could nod the ball into the net. Russell Latapy stepped up to calmly put Hibs ahead.

Next week will provide another tricky away tie to St Johnstone and surely Hibs must win this to prevent (further) speculation that their 'bubble has burst'.

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