Dunfermline 0 Hibernian 0

December 15th 2001
Scottish Premier League
Attendance:

Scorers:
Dunfermline:Nicholson .

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotland on Sunday on Sunday 16th December 2001

Nicholson pounce sinks 10-man Hibs

>AT LEAST Hibs supporters will be able to look back and say that they did not suffer from La Grande Illusion in Franck Sauzee’s debut as manager.

It was even more humbling than his first appearance in a dour draw at Brockville more than two years ago with a ragged defeat in a scrappy tussle at East End Park.

It all began to go wrong after half an hour when Paco Luna was sent off for retaliation. But Sauzee probably already knew that his new job would be a long struggle as this was Hibs seventh game without a win. Perhaps they were a shade unlucky, as this was a gritty performance, but, as so often this season, they lacked a cutting edge in midfield to open up the opposition defence. For Dunfermline it was a welcome win and Barry Nicholson’s goal was a worthy matchwinner.

However, despite the defeat and even before a ball was kicked, one thing was for sure: Sauzee would not be "the worst manager you have ever seen in Scotland". To whom that mantle belongs you the reader can decide, but the Frenchman had effectively disarmed critics of his managerial inexperience with what can only be termed as false modesty when he succeeded Alex McLeish on Friday.

Sauzee knows, as we all do, he won’t attain that accolade. But how good he is remains to be seen. However, a player’s performance has never been an indicator of how he will perform as a manager. Indeed, East End was the foundation on what the greatest managerial career in Scotland was built, that of Jock Stein before he moved on albeit for a brief, shining moment to Easter Road en route to creating history at Parkhead. But, as a player, Stein was a hammer thrower in comparison to Sauzee.

However, Sauzee’s ‘Ooh la-la’ accent belies his steely presence as a player allied to a determination which, if transmitted to the bench, could be just the corrective Hibs need as they have begun to drift aimlessly this season.

Indeed, the lack of cohesion has all become clearer with David Murray admitting in a television interview yesterday that he had effectively tapped McLeish in the summer. Hibs had looked a disorganised unit of late, which further suggests that their former manager’s mind may have been elsewhere. Indeed, it was not Hibs recent form that earned McLeish the call to Ibrox.

They have not won in the league since the Edinburgh derby and the uneveness of their play stretches back to the beginning of this year. Hibs have only won eight out of 31 SPL games in 2001, with their European place being won effectively before last Christmas. Whether Sauzee can reverse last season’s run with a strong surge down the final straight could yet earn him considerable kudos. However, there was not much sign of this yesterday.

A doughty performance at Ibrox in midweek was perhaps to be expected with Hibs rising to the occasion, but bread-and-butter business at East End Park would be a better indicator of the self-motivation of the material he has to work with.

Dunfermline though had a point to prove after being routed by Celtic last Sunday. There was also a question of payback after Hibs had whipped them 5-1 at Easter Road earlier in the season.

But it was the visitors who came out of their traps with greater verve. With full-backs Alen Orman and Ian Murray pushing up strongly, Hibs pumped in a series of crosses that caused some consternation for Marco Ruitenbeek.

Tom McManus almost snapped up a goalkeeping fumble, but after weathering Hibs initial onslaught, Dunfermline began to gain parity.

Ian Ferguson and Barry Nicholson began to close down John O’Neill and Matthias Jack and with Steve Hampshire’s willingness to play deep, Dunfermline were able to link up more effectively their midfield and attack. Hampshire himself was then first to benefit, sending one chance over from 12 yards while Nicholson moving up to rattle a short free-kick from Ferguson straight at Nick Colgan, who beat it down.

Further advantage swung the home side’s way in the 28th minute, albeit it was they themselves who conceded a free-kick. Centre back Scott Thomson, who had looked lumberingly uneasy trying to handle the elusive pace of Paco Luna, steamed in from behind as if one of Fife Council’s grit lorries had taken a side turning into the stadium.

It was quite a shock to the Spaniard’s system, especially as play had stopped as a free-kick had just been awarded for a foul by Lee Bullen on Murray.

The ball was dead, but the Dunfermline player was still intent on some damage. Luna lost control momentarily and swung his boot at Thomson.

Referee Douglas McDonald immediately moved in and produced the red card with Luna obviously distressed and further incensed that Thomson was not even booked.

Hibs were stung into action and Jack and David Zitelli both came close, with the Frenchman curling a shot over Ruitenbreek from outside the box that landed on top of the net.

They even managed to maintain a more aggressive posture at the start of the second half with a deft piece of footwork by Grant Brebner creating space for himself, but his lack of a natural left foot saw Gus MacPherson able to cover back and block his shot.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Calderwood had obviously instructed his players to make Hibs work for everything and drain the energy of the 10 men in green by fair means or foul. Substitute Jason Dair and Ian Ferguson were both somewhat fortunate to receive only yellow as Dair barged Orman off the ball disrupting a break by Zitelli and then Ferguson’s arm similarly took Brebner out the game.

Although Fenwick had an opportunity to put Hibs ahead in 65 minutes, seven minutes later the one goal that would decide the game came. Ferguson’s free-kick was cleared by substitute Eduardo Hurtado, but only to Nicholson, and he drilled it into the corner.

Tale from the Terracing - Fatty's View

The worst display of refereeing I have seen in years cost Hibs dear in this match. Not only did Dougie McDonald send off Luna after he had clearly been tackled viscously from behind, he also failed to book the Dunfermline player.

Othe errors included bringing back a Hibs attack after an off the ball incident saw Orman brought down - he then stood over the ball preventing Hibs taking a free kick - punishing Hibs three times.

All of this conspired to leave new manager Frank Sauzee perplexed and frustrated on the sideline. Even with ten men for the final hour Hibs had looke much the better team and only a late strike through a crowd of players denied them anything.

One thing's for sure though, the players gave their all with some fine performances from Brebner and Zittelli in particular - if Frank can continue to get the best out of the players, I'm sure Hibs will be climbing the league sooner rather than later.

That said - we have to beat St Johnstone next week.

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