HIBS ......... 1 DUNDEE ......... 0

FRASER WILSON AT EASTER ROAD

HIBS are confident of convincing Shaun Maloney to become their new manager.

And if they were looking for a deal clincher to lure the Belgium coach to Leith then the misfiring players that cost Jack Ross his job last week might just have timed their return to form perfectly. This victory, only a second in their last 11 league matches, saw the style and swagger that took the Hibees into third spot last term back in perfect time for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup Final. Some of the old flaws were still there. Not least a lack of killer instinct. Indeed, it took an outrageous Paul McMullan own goal to earn the three important points that moves them to within two points of fourth. But in the end it was a deserved victory. And in the main the sort of display that will strike a chord with the former Celtic and Scotland winger.

Maloney was nowhere to be seen in Leith last night. But if he’d tuned into the club’s TV channel for the win over Dundee he’d have witnessed Martin Boyle, Joe Newell, Jake Doyle-Hayes and sub Christian Doidge excel in a dominant 90 minutes.

You’ve got to wonder where that zest and appetite had been in recent weeks not least six days ago when Ross’ rein was coming to a miserable end in Livingston.

The only worry for Hibs last night could be the sight of Kevin

Nisbet and Chris Cadden limping off with knocks and the clock ticking down to Hampden.

Hibs may have been on a woeful run but if they were looking for any positive prematch omen then Dundee hadn’t won at Easter Road in 20 years –October 2001 to be precise.

Gray brought skipper Paul Hanlon and Paul McGinn back from suspension while DoyleHayes returned in midfield with Alex Gogic, Darren McGregor and Jamie Murphy dropping out.

Charlie Adam was left out of the Dundee squad after picking up a knock at the weekend – and just a day after being charged on