Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Deacon in frame for cup-tie start
GENSERIC Kusunga made his first bow in a Dundee top but it was Roarie Deacon who caught the eye in last night’s Development League win over Hibs at Links Park, Montrose.
The English wide man grabbed a double as the Dark Blues put the league leaders to the sword, although it took an injurytime strike from John Smith to seal the 3-2 win.
Deacon’s performance has put him in line for a start when Dundee face Motherwell at home in the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round on Saturday, especially with loan signing Simon Murray cup-tied.
H o w e v e r, b o s s N e i l McCann is likely to make a few changes following Saturday’s dismal showing in the loss to Ross County.
Another first-team man to feature last night was Lewis Spence, who was on from the start as Dundee came flying out of the traps and took t he l ead after six minutes when Deacon turned inside the box and fired a low shot past Maciej Dabrowski at the near post.
Hibs equalised when Lewis Allan beat Dundee keeper Jeremy Malherbe to a cross, and headed the ball into the net.
However, the Dark Blues launched an attack from the kick-off and Deacon curled the ball into the corner from 15 yards.
Dundee started the second half in the driving seat but, with the game in injury time, Hibs threw caution to the wind and were rewarded when substitute Gregor Woods squeezed a header past Malherbe, whose touch on the ball wasn’t enough to keep it out.
There was still one twist left, though, as Dundee went for broke. Deacon managed t o get t o t he by-line and his cutback was forced over the line by Smith for the winner.