Hibernian's Commanding Win Over Dundee
Hibernian shook off any hint of a European hangover with a controlled, if occasionally wasteful, win that left Dundee chasing shadows for long spells and their manager searching for answers.
Hibs in command, but chances go begging
Any fears that David Gray’s side might be leggy after their midweek exertions vanished almost immediately. Hibs took hold of the ball and refused to give it back, pinning Dundee in and working the ball into dangerous areas with calm authority.
The problem, for a while, was the finish.
Nathan Lowe climbed well but couldn’t generate the power he needed on an early header. Martin Boyle buzzed around the box, twice letting fly without reward before finally striking with the kind of precision that had been missing.
This time he timed his run perfectly, holding the line as Grant Hanley picked him out. One touch, one composed finish. The move matched the dominance; the goal matched the mood.
He should have doubled it before the break. Boyle burst clear again, chose to go for the delicate chip, and watched the ball skip wide when ruthlessness was required. It summed up Hibs’ only real flaw on the day.
Dominance finally reflected on the scoreboard
The second half brought the goal that better told the story. Hibs tightened their grip, and the pressure told. The second strike underlined how firmly they had Dundee where they wanted them, with Jamie McGrath and Felix Passlack threatening to turn a strong away performance into a rout.
The visitors looked like they might run away with it before the late strike from Westley briefly unsettled the scoreline, but not the result. By then, Hibs had already done enough.
Gray will know that “enough” might not be sufficient on Thursday. Hearts are coming to town, last season’s Scottish Premiership runners-up, and the Hibs head coach will demand the same attacking intent – but with sharper edges in front of goal.
Dundee disjointed and blunt
For Steven Pressley, the first half was grim viewing. Beyond Bradley Fink dragging a shot wide, Dundee offered almost nothing. They were flat, disconnected and second best in every area that mattered.
Pressley didn’t hide from that reality.
“Over the course, there's no doubt Hibernian deserved to win,” he admitted. “We looked a little bit disjointed. We weren't really cohesive in the way we wanted to press the game or cohesive in our build-up play.
“Hibernian came, they surprised us with a few things that they did. I didn't manage to find the right solutions. We have to take the medicine and respond.”
The response, to Dundee’s credit, did flicker into life after the break. Joe Bevan began to see more of the ball and instantly gave them a different dimension. One wicked delivery flashed right across the face of goal, forcing Passlack into a hurried clearance. At 2-0 down, Hamilton finally forced Raphael Sallinger into meaningful work.
But the spark never quite became a fire. The attacking verve that had carried Dundee through recent wins over Aberdeen and Dundee United never truly reappeared.
The sight of injured captain Simon Murray watching on from the stand told its own story. His absence drains energy and bite from Dundee’s front line, and Pressley has already made it clear that attack – along with central defence – is an area he wants to address before Thursday’s transfer deadline.
Another home test, against Tayside rivals St Johnstone on Wednesday night, will reveal just how quickly he can find those solutions.
Gray’s Hibs show their steel
If Pressley was left to “take the medicine”, Gray could reflect on a job done with authority.
“That's certainly the right way to bounce back,” the Hibs head coach said. “As a group, I thought we were outstanding and fully deserved the win.
“For 80 minutes, complete control, probably should've scored another goal to kill the game out completely. They get the goal right at the very end. The players found the answer to make sure we seen it out.”
Control, a cutting edge when it mattered, and the resilience to see it through late on. With Hearts looming and the season’s early tone still being set, the question now is simple: can Hibs turn this kind of dominance into a habit when the stakes rise again on Thursday night?
