Kieron Bowie double leaves Elvis all shook up

A Kieron Bowie double secured a well deserved opening day victory for Hibs in the City of Discovery this afternoon.

The game ended 2-1 in Hibs favour but in truth the scoreline flattered Steven ‘Elvis’ Pressley’s Dundee given the total domination of the Easter Road side. 

Hibs head coach David Gray made one change to his starting XI that lost in extra time to FC Midtjylland on Thursday with Junior Hoilett replacing Jamie McGrath. Former Dundee midfielder Josh Mulligan started the game but Nicky Cadden who picked up a knock was not in the squad. 

For Dundee, former Hibs striker Simon Murray missed the game with knee injury, as manager Pressley made five changes from the 5-0 win over Montrose. 

As always, Hibs sold out their ticket allocation and the travelling fans gave the players, who wore the new yellow away kit huge encouragement from the kick off. 

.But there was little for either set of fans to cheer in the opening 27 minutes before Hibs took the lead. The Dundee defence were unable to deal with a Jordan Obita cross from the left and the ball fell to Kieron Bowie who made no mistake from eight-yards. 

That goal sparked a rendition of the Hibs away anthem. 

Two minutes later Hibs doubled their lead and once again it was Bowie who scored. A chip from Jack Iredale found Obita. His effort was blocked by the Dundee keeper but the rebound landed at Bowie’s feet and he slid the ball into the net. 

At the other end Jordan Smith was called into action a couple of times and made the necessary saves. 

The hosts pulled one back in the 35^th minute following a mishit clearance from Iredale. Ashley Hay managed to steal the ball, which he squared for Fin Robertson to sweep home. 

Dylan Levitt fired over from long range just before the break. 

In the 55^th minute Mulligan was replaced by McGrath and Hoilett made way for Josh Campbell. 

Moments later Dundee skipper Clark Robertson was booked for hauling back Bowie who would have gone clean through on goal.

Jon McCracken then saved a point-blank header from Campbell as Hibs tried to get a third. 

McCracken then did well to save from Bowie to deny the striker his hat trick. 

Obita went close with an angled drive after Hibs enjoyed a long spell of possession.  

With 10-minutes remaining Pressley made a double substitution which included the introduction of former Hibs winger Drey Wright and Gray replaced Boyle and Levitt with Elie Youan and Alasana Manneh.  

Manneh was booked for a foul on Wright in the closing stages as Hibs easily held on to secure the three points. 

Dundee: McCracken, Ingram, C Robertson, Astley, Digby, Acquah, F Robertson, Hay, Samuels, Graham, Jones. 

Substitutes: Carson, Koumetio, Donnelly, Wright, Garza, Yogane, Galabov, Lopez, Allan. 

Hibs: Smith, Iredale, Bushiri, O’Hora, C Cadden, Mulligan, Levitt, Obita, Hoilett, Bowie, Boyle. 

Substitutes: Sallinger, Ekpiteta, Youan, Alasana, McGrath, Kildje, Megwa, MacIntyre, Campbell.