Hibernian 3 Dundee 0

January 2nd 2001
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:

Scorers:
Hibernian: Paatelainen, Fenwick, O'Neil.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotsman on Wednesday 3rd January 2001

Hibs get reward for show of style

The theory that Hibs would turn out to be Scottish football’s equivalent this season of a comet in the night sky looks ever more ridiculous with each passing week.

Passing the ball as well as any side in the SPL and already looking a surefire bet to play in Europe next season, Hibs head for the Costa del Sol next week after completing the first half of the season in some style yesterday with a convincing win over Dundee.

Goals from Mixu Paatelainen, Paul Fenwick and John O’Neil ensured that the Edinburgh men would remain closest to Celtic as the championship goes into hibernation until the end of the month.

Established as the second best side in the SPL over recent months, thanks largely to a convincing home record, Hibs demonstrated a gift in this match for making the most of things. Playing thoughtful, measured football, they showed that patience and discipline are important assets.

Although much is made of the cool manner in which Alex McLeish’s men apply pressure to opposing teams, the side’s unflappable resolve at the back is just as impressive. This was yet another occasion when Hibs kept a clean sheet and defended with formidable élan.

One of the incidental pleasures of the afternoon was watching France’s Franck Sauzee and Argentina’s Claudio Caniggia go about their business. Both men may no longer operate at quite the pace which made them global stars, but the skill level remains as high as ever.

Their paths crossed at different stages of the afternoon and perhaps the abiding image of the contest came when Sauzee floored Caniggia and helped the forward to his feet. As the South American was about to walk away, the defender gave his locks a playful rustle.

When it came to the finer points of the game, Hibs won this match because their collective energy was greater than the contribution made by their various component parts.

Dundee, on the other hand, were more notable for the performances of a few individuals rather than how the team played as a unit. They came up with nothing, for example, which flowed as sweetly as Hibs’ first goal.

There’s a mesmerising quality about Hibs’ passing which can lull the opposition into a trance. The home side must have strung together three or four touches before Russell Latapy took possession and thrust the ball out to the left wing, where Ulrik Laursen broke past Walter Del Rio.

The Dane’s cross into the penalty box was inviting enough, but Ivano Bonetti was entitled to expect his centre-backs to clear the danger. Unfortunately for Dundee, Steven Tweed got in front of Paatelainen and mistimed his jump. When the ball sailed over the head of the former Hibs man, it was left to the Finn to direct a powerful header past Marco Roccati.

Unearthing a jewel as early as the seventh minute suggested Hibs might go on to find buried treasure. In fact, the first-half of an enjoyable contest was fairly evenly contested with Dundee coming close to grabbing an equaliser after 11 minutes.

Gary Smith’s loss of concentration allowed Caniggia to drift towards the box before lashing an 18-yard shot which Nick Colgan stopped, but couldn’t hold. Juan Sara was first to reach the lose ball but the alert Fenwick made a sliding challenge which blocked the danger.

With Beto Carranza willing to break from midfield and support Cannigia and Sara, there was no faulting Dundee’s positive intentions. Hibs, however, had more bodies in the middle of the park, as well as a preponderance of ideas. As he was at the goal, Laursen was usually the player asked to get beyond Dundee’s defence. His 37th minute cross found David Zitelli in space on the edge of the box but the Frenchman’s shot was high and wide.

Hibs only had to wait another four minutes, mark you, to wrap up the points. Although a lame claim for a penalty was brushed aside when O’Neil hit the ground, the subsequent corner kick caused panic in Dundee’s six yard box. Latapy curled the cross deep to the back post where Zitelli’s snap-shot took a fortunate break off Fenwick’s leg and slipped over the line.

To their credit, Dundee didn’t see the match as a lost cause and continued to pose Hibs a few problems after the interval.

Luck, though, did not favour the visitors. Hibs were three ahead after 69 minutes when Latapy squeezed the ball in front of O’Neil, and the midfield man responded with a crisp shot from the 18-yard line which took a deflection off Barry Smith. Already moving to his right to cover the ball, goalkeeper Roccati had no chance of executing a change in direction.

Both sides threw on a flurry of substitutes during the closing minutes, when Hibs might have added a fourth through Dirk Lehmann had Jamie Langfield not got a finger to the ball. In the end, as they had been all afternoon, Hibs were in the driving seat

The Teams:

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

Dundee: Rocatti, Smith, Tweed, Del Rio, Bonetti, McSkimming, Rae, Nemsadze, Carransa, Sara, Caniggia

Tale from the Terracing - Fatty's View

A marked improvement on Hibs play today, however, Russell Latapy and David Zitelli had quiet games compared to their usual standard.

Both teams started this game looking to go forward at every opportunity. Dundee were confident and comfortable with the ball and Caniggia looked to be in the mood, even if he did tend to fall over very easily. They managed to do to Hibs what Hibs have been doing to everyone else - chase the ball, they also put more pressure on the defence when they were trying to play the ball out.

However, Hibs quickly found their feet and scored an early goal to ease the nerves. A great cross from Laursen found Paatelainen on his own and his header was perfect as it nestled in the corner of the net. The game then proceeded to go from end to end without producing too many clear cut goal scoring opportunities.

Just before half time Hibs looked to have settled the game when Paul Fenwick bundled the ball into the net from about six inches (my distance) following a Russell Latapy corner.

The second half saw Hibs take full control of the game and Frank Sauzee, John O'Neil and Matty Jack had the game under complete control. O'Neil even got on the scoresheet with a heavily deflected effort that finished the game as a contest.

In the end, Dundee really only offered a threat through Caniggia and the three points never looked like leaving Easter Road.

It should also be remembered that this was the last game in front of the old Main Stand - will Easter Road ever be the same? Let's hope that this is the dawn of a new era as the power base in Scottish Football switches back to Edinburgh where it belongs.

Into the winter break we go with 54 points - thank you Hibs it's been a great season so far.

Happy New Year to all our readers.

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