THE loud pop on Tayside yesterday was the sound of Hibernian's bubble bursting.
It may have been hard to hear given it was followed quickly by the sound of Dundee spluttering into life. A run of four wins in their last five matches had offered Hibs a tentative lead at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, form which caused the Easter Road side to be used as an example of how unpredictable this season could be. The league table has a rather more prosaic look about it this morning.
If Hibs privately harboured hopes of challenging Celtic at the top of the SPL this season, then they certainly weren't letting on at Dens Park. Celtic had reclaimed the league summit earlier in the afternoon and Hibs didn't deserve to get it back; goals from Kyle Benedictus, Steven Milne and a Kevin McBride penalty dousing a performance from the Edinburgh side that only ever flickered with intent. When Leigh Griffiths scored in the final minute, it served simply to remind everyone that he was still on the pitch.
His belated contribution was made to seem insignificant and did little to puncture the growing belief at Dundee. The win has moved them within a point of St Mirren and they could lift themselves off the bottom of the league table when they next week face the Paisley side.
Dundee will take hope as well as three points away from this result then, but Hibs' performance had acted as an invitation. Early in the first half goalkeeper Ben Williams was twice provoked by acts of unconvincing defending, but perhaps their afternoon was best illustrated when Jorge Claros collided with Eoin Doyle on the edge of the Dundee penalty area, leaving the Honduran requiring treatment. He returned some time later with a new shirt and a bandage on his head to go with it.
When Nicky Riley won a corner after 21 minutes it seemed far less of a calamity, but only for a moment. Riley's corner was only cleared as far as Benedictus and the Dundee centre-half swept a volley into the far corner with aplomb.
"The boys are saying it was a cross," smiled Dundee manager Barry Smith afterwards.
It was a moment of defiance and one befitting a Dundee side that been unwilling to concede league survival. There will be a tendency to perceive their performance yesterday as plucky, but that description would be patronising. Dundee showed a bustling effervescence which refused Hibs a way into the match. Two further goals just 10 minutes into the second half blocked them off entirely.
Dundee moved further ahead just two minutes after the break when Milne forced the ball over the line at the back post after Matt Lockwood's free-kick was redirected across goal. Williams had appealed after pushing the ball back into the penalty area, but there was little contention about Dundee's third. Colin Nish went down in the box after a shove from Alan Maybury, and McBride lashed the penalty past the Hibs goalkeeper.
Griffiths' late strike – the Hibs striker shot in from outside the box – did little to diminish the celebrations. "We got away from why we have done well this season and that's hard work and graft," said Hibs manager Pat Fenlon. "They showed more enthusiasm to win the game than we did."
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