Hibs deservedly took all three points after a highly professional performance against Dundee at Dens Park this afternoon.
David Gray made three changes to his starting XI with Jacob Devaney, Grant Hanley and Callum Wright replacing Miquel Chaiwa who dropped to the bench and Warren O’Hora and Adam Mayor who both missed the game after picking up knocks against KAA Gent.
Young striker Owen Elding also missed out due to injury.
Steven Pressley made one change after last week’s derby victory, handing Swiss forward Bradley Fink, signed from Wycombe Wanderers, a first start. He replaced former Hearts winger Alan Forrest.
Matai Akinmboni, the defender on loan from Bournemouth, was listed among the substitutes.
First chance of the game fell to Martin Boyle but his strike from just outside the area was well wide.
Then Jason Kerr had a free header from a Jordan Obita cross, but the Dundee keeper Owen Goodman saved his effort.
As Hibs dominated possession, Boyle once again tried a long range effort but was off target.
Former Hibs player Drey Wright was lucky to escape a yellow card after pulling back Jamie McGrath.
Nathan Lowe did well down the left side before sending a dangerous cross into the six-yard box but Bevan cleared for a corner.
Then in the 24th minute Hibs took a deserved lead.
A through ball from Hanley was cleverly left by Lowe who was in an offside position and Boyle ran through one on one with the keeper before slotting the ball past Goodman.
The goal was given after a VAR check to the delight of the travelling supporters who were house in the Bob Shankly Stand, named after Bill’s brother who managed both sides in the 60s.
In the 37th minute Boyle passed up a great chance to double Hibs lead when he latched onto Wright’s through ball but this time he tried to dink the ball over Goodman, only to see it bounce narrowly wide.
At the other end in a rare Dundee attack Fink was found by Joe Bevan in the inside right channel but the striker’s shot curved narrowly wide of the far post.
And that was the last action of a first half which was controlled by the visitors.
But within 30-seconds of the restart Dundee almost equalised when Joe Bevan’s cross was deflected right across the face of the Hibs goal and Felix Passlack was on hand to clear.
Moments later, Fink’s shot was blocked into the path of Charlie Reilly, but the midfielder gets his bearings all wrong with the volley.
At the other end Boyle dummied a cross from the right when he may have been better taking the shot on himself but the danger was cleared.
Boyle was then twice fouled but referee John Beaton waved play on both times.
In the 57th minute Passlack was shown a yellow card for a foul on Reilly.
Three minutes later Hibs doubled their lead. Devaney did well to find Passlack and his cut back was fired into the net by Wright from 15-yards.
Alan Forrest and Finn Roberston immediately replaced Fink and Reilly before McGrath brought out a great save from Goodman.
Wright was shown a yellow card for stopping a Lowe break away on the half way line.
Devaney and Passlack combined once again but this time the cross was met by Josh Mulligan who fired wide.
Several minutes of Hibs possession ended with a Wright shot which was well saved.
With 15-minutes remaining Bobby Wales and Zan Besir replaced Joe Bevan and Ryan Finnigan for Dundee.
Gray responded with a double substitution of his own with Boyle and Lowe replaced by Thibaut Klidge and Ante Suto.
Goodman produced a superb save to deny Passlack but didn’t get the credit as the referee awarded a goal-lick.
At the other end Raphael Sallinger saved well from Ethan Hamilton.
With 10-minutes remaining Devaney and Wright were replaced by Chaiwa and Joe Newell.
Newell was in action right away by conceding a free-kick 25-yards out and that led to the hosts pulling one back.
Hamilton’s free-kick rebounded off the bar and Joe Westley forced the loose ball in with his head.
The goal brought the home fans to life and Dundee pressed forward looking for an equaliser.
But after a nervy finish, Hibs held on for the victory and a valuable three points.
Dundee: Goodman, D Wright, Astley, O Bevan, Odutayo, , Finnigan, Reilly, Hamilton, J Bevan, Westley, Fink
Substitutes: O’Hara, Halliday, Akinmboni, Wales, Robertson, Forrest, Besir, Jones, Crombie.
Hibs: Sallinger, Passlack, Kerr, Hanley, Obita, McGrath, Mulligan, Wright, Devaney, Boyle, Lowe.
Substitutes: Smith, Newell, Chaiwa, Iredale, Klidje, Molotnikov, Suto, Megwa, Abdulai.
