Hibernian 1 Dundee 2

October 27th 2001
Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 11,185

Scorers:
Hibernian: Brewster.
Dundee: Rae, Milne.

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotland on Sunday on Sunday 28th October 2001

Dundee add grit to artistry

WHETHER or not Dundee flatter to deceive is a moot point, but one has to admire the chutzpah of the brothers Bonetti and their fraternal patrons the Marrs. Never mind the quantity of points, appreciate the quality of not just the play but the razzamatazz they have brought to Dens Park and the SPL in general.

While many other managers would have been under the cosh in an equivalent
position - fourth from the bottom, and a hat-trick of defeats in their last three fixtures, one of them against Ross County - another flourish in the market from Ivano Bonetti seems to have dissipated any rumblings of discontent in Dundee.

The unavailability of the Fan Zhiyi for yesterday's game was assuaged as far as travelling support was concerned by the presence of new signings Temuri Ketsbaia and Massimo Breghetto. That they also had the audacity to take three points away from Easter Road, stolen two minutes into added-on time, only adds to the current allure.

How Dundee actually do it may be one of the great mysteries of the SPL but why knock it as long as it is appears to be working, financially or otherwise. But Pesetas, Lira and Yuan (NOTE TO SUB Chinašs currency) aside, a more pertinent point yesterday was that this was Bonetti's eighth visit to Edinburgh to play either of the capital clubs and all he had to show for it, until yesterday, was one draw at Hearts. Perhaps this was why he arrived at Easter Road with a more cautious, pragmatic
formation as Dundee set out with a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.

But it must be said there are few strikers more able to bear that heavy mantle than Fabian Caballero in the SPL. His movement, energy, strength and pace was to keep Hibs busy enough in the opening spell and under greater pressure than Hearts' two strikers had managed last Sunday. Behind him in midfield the Georgian Ketsbaia added both ballast and aggression on the left while Gavin Rae, Alessandro Romano and Alberto Garrido were a compact trio in the middle. Meanwhile, Hibs' midfield, which had looked so devastating in first half of the derby, were unable to build up a similar rhythm and were reduced to launching high balls at the Dens defence. Perhaps fortunately, this approach was to draw them level as the first half ran into stoppage time.

Indeed, Hibs could have gone ahead after eight minutes when Tom McManus was unmarked as he rose to meet an Alen Orman cross, but his header was weak and within 10 minutes Dundee deservedly went ahead through Gavin Rae.

Rae picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and burst into the Hibs box past a flatfooted Franck Sauzee. The Frenchman looked bemused - as if Rae was bypassing him in revolving door - and the Dundee midfielder's left-foot shot flew past Nick Colgan. Sauzee may be an icon at Easter Road, but he is increasingly becoming an unsteady one as once again his culpability was evident in another goal given away.

Dundee remained comfortable as Hibs became bogged down by their opponents' five-man midfield and resolute back four. A burst by McManus in 24th minute did open Dundee up but the pace of it had left his veteran partner Craig Brewster in his wake and Brewster was unable to meet the pass across the six-yard box.

A similar run by John O'Neil almost did it again but as the ball broke to McManus, Barry Smith was there to block, as was Alessandro Romano minutes later when another opening appeared for Hibs' young striker.

Meanwhile, both McManus and Caballero were picking up yellow cards from referee Willie Young as they were adjudged to have dived. Both seemed harsh decisions particularly for the Dundee striker as if the decision had gone the other way he could have gained a penalty.

But as the half tapered out Hibs upped the ante, although it did not look as if anything had to give in the Dundee defence. Romano again covered back to support the back four this time charging down a shot from De la Cruz and then Jamie Langfield pushed a Sauzee free kick around the post.

But as so often with Dundee the ultimate damage was to be self-inflicted as they were about to go in one up. A long ball from Paul Fenwick was more speculative than anything else but it drew Langfield into an error of judgment as the goalkeeper came too soon. As Brewster rose to meet the ball it floated over the stranded goalkeeper and tantalisingly towards the line as Smith and Walter del Rio vainly chased after it as it rolled towards goal.

But the psychological ascendancy a goal gives at such a time was short lived, although Hibs almost went ahead five minutes into the second half when Brewster's header at the back post from a De la Cruz cross beat Langfield but del Rio made a crucial and acrobatic clearance on the line.

However, Dundee reasserted themselves, no doubt with a doggedness engendered by their frustration at having gifted Hibs an equaliser. Neither side was able to break the other down although both mangers shuffled their packs with Juan Sara joining Caballero up front as Ketsbaia went off while Hibs' David Zitelli came on for McManus and Frederic Arpinon for Orman.

But what was to be the most memorable feature of this game was the refereeing as Young produced a further two yellow cards for diving against Sara - justifiable - and for the same offence, then four minutes from time, against O'Neil. The Hibs support seemed convinced a penalty should have been awarded, but the caution was the midfielder's second of the afternoon, and so off he trudged.

Matters though got immeasurably worse for the majority of the attendees when visiting substitute Steven Milne thrashed in the winner after Sara flicked on a long ball with the game deep into stoppage-time.

The Teams:

Hibernian: Colgan, Laursen, Sauzee, Fenwick, De La Cruz, Brebner, Muarray, O'Neil, Brewster, Orman, McManus.


Dundee: Langfield, Smith, Rae, Khizanishvili, Beghetto, Romano, Del Rio, Ketsbaia, Garrido, Carranza, Caballero.
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Tale from the Terracing - Fatty's View

It was one of those games - no matter how much effort Hibs put in the ball just didn't seem to run for them.

This, along with a poor performance from ref Willie Young, meant a frustrating afternoon for the Hibs fans who expected so much after last weeks Derby win.

To be fair to Dundee, they played some lovely football in the first half and went ahead with a beautifully worked goal down their right.

Hibs eventually came into the game just before the break when Brewster got a head to along ball. It drifted past the Dundee keeper who had come to the penalty spot to try and get the cross , and Hibs were level.

The second half saw a lot of Hibs pressure, but very few shots on target. John O'Neil was booked for a late tackle and then red carded for diving in the box, for what looked like a reasonable claim for a penalty. - He was the fourth player booked for diving!

Then in the dying minutes, Brewster was one on one with the keeper, only to put the ball wide. This proved costly for Hibs as Dundee raced to the other end and scored an almost identical chance.

The one plus point for Hibs was the return of Freddie Arpinion who looked sharp on the ball and played some lovely passes through to Brewster and Zitelli.

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