Soccer
Hibernian beat Dundee to earn second straight win
Hibernian secured a narrow but deserved Premiership victory over Dundee at Dens Park.
Hibs skipper Martin Boyle fired the visitors into the lead in the first half with Callum Wright doubling their advantage after the break.
Dundee netted late on through Joe Westley but the Edinburgh side held on to take all three points with the victory moving the capital club up to fifth in the table with Dundee down to fourth.
The hosts made just one change to the team that beat Dundee United 2-0 in last week’s derby at Tannadice, with on-loan Wycombe forward Bradley Fink handed his starting debut as Alan Forrest dropped to the bench.
The visitors made three alterations to the side that lost in Europe on Thursday with Grant Hanley, Callum Wright and on-loan Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney – also making his debut – coming in for Miguel Chaiwa, Adam Mayor and Warren O’Hora.
Home goalkeeper Owen Goodman was called into action in the 10th minute after Jordan Obita swung a cross into the box but Jason Kerr’s header was comfortably gathered by the keeper.
Dundee’s Joe Bevan then embarked on a powerful run down the right before hitting a cross that took a deflection but Hibs keeper Raphael Sallinger dived to save.
Hibs took the lead in the 25th minute when Hanley played a pass into the feet of Boyle running through on goal and the striker calmly slotted past Goodman. There was a VAR check for a possible offside but the goal stood.
In the 38th minute, Wright played in Boyle but this time, the frontman sent a clipped finish inches wide of Goodman’s right-hand post.
The hosts finally had a big chance of their own when Bevan found Fink inside the Hibs box but the Swiss forward’s curling effort was off target with the visitors still in front at the break.
Shortly after the restart, Dundee came agonisingly close to equalising with a Bevan cross from the right deflected by Drey Wright across the goal with Felix Passlack clearing for a corner.
Hibs then had a great chance to double their advantage when Jamie McGrath found himself with time and space inside the home box but the midfielder’s effort was straight at Goodman, who made a comfortable save.
However, the keeper was helpless to prevent the capital club extending their advantage in the 61st minute. Passlack produced a perfect cut-back to Callum Wright who made no mistake with a clinical low finish into the bottom corner of the net for his second goal of the season.
The hosts grabbed a lifeline in the 83rd minute after they were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out. Hamilton stepped up to hit it and struck the bar with Westley reacting quickest to nod home, but it was too little too late.
