Keeper is Bain of Stokes day
● Dundee No 1 pulls off string of saves to defy Hibs striker as Dark Blues win first point
Dundee nudged their way off the bottom of the Premiership by claiming their first point of the season in a spirited draw with Hibernian with goalkeeper Scott Bain their stand-out performer.
A string of fine saves, most from Anthony Stokes in what at times seemed like a match within a match, eased the pressure on Neil Mccann after his team had made their worst start to a season since 1998.
Stokes did beat Bain in the first half, drawing his team level after they had continued their habit this season of losing the first goal.
Hibs had more chances to win it but the grit shown by the young Dundee backline – average age 20 – was another factor in the club getting off the mark.
After three straight defeats – two in games they reckoned to be highly winnable – Dundee simply had to get something and maybe Scott Allan, pictured, had to start taking his chances. Though not specifically recruited to score goals, the on-loan Celtic midfielder had found himself with great chances in the club’ s previous two games only to miss glaringly.
His battle with John Mcginn, the man who replaced him in Hibee affections, promised to be fascinating. By his standards the Scotland cap has had a quiet start to the campaign, the Leith support counting down the days until the transfer window shuts, hoping the club will be able to keep repelling bids such as the one from Nottingham Forest.
With a smile, Mccann said before this match he expected “needle” on the touchline between two combustible characters – even joking that he and Neil Lennon would rate as an undercard bout below Floyd Mayweather v Conor Mcgregor. Both had to win but for slightly different reasons: Hibs to confirm that all the nice things said about them before defeat by Hamilton Accies hadn’t been overly-optimistic and Dundee to simply get going.
Lennon had been critical of himself for allowing the intensity to drop after that famous win at Ibrox and made changes. Back came captain David Gray and midfield enforcer Marvin Bartley. On-loan Manchester City winger Brandon Barker was handed his first start and Vykintas Slivka, who many were disappointed to see drop back down to the bench for Hamilton after he’d scored the crucial third goal at Ibrox, was also in the line-up.
Dundee had paulmc go wan coming in for Marcus Haber and the former began on his own up front as Barker was offered the first sight of goal, cutting in from the left for a 20-yard shot which Bain turned away down at a post.
Whittaker had shown the versatility which Lennon liked by switching flanks to take over from Lewis Stevenson on the left but in the ninth minute the recalled Scotland man stuck out a foot in the box and Roarie Deacon
“Hibs fans would remember Scott Allan’s perfectly arced backpost crosses from his time at Easter Road. From one of them Holt headed straight into Marciano’s arms”
accepted the invitation to fall over it. There was no complaint about the penalty from Whittaker and no chance offered Ofir Marciano from the spot, Kevin Holt converting.
Mcginn was being well marked but a foray by him produced another chance for Barker and another rasping shot, Bain tipping over. If Hibs were to get back into this game it looked like Barker would be important, the winger’s next involvement being a run from halfway in which he ate up the turf.
For Dundee, Allan was fairly quiet on his left-side beat until the playmaker clashed off the ball with Slivka.legitimatebattlingelsewherewas preserving the home side’s advantage. Allan’s every touch was booed even louder by the away support after that incident but Hibs fans would remember his perfectly arced backpost crosses from his time at Easter Road. From one of them Holt headed straight into Marciano’s arms.
Next,allantriedtonutmegmcginn, the Hibs man turning round in time to retrieve the ball. During an injury
hold-up, five Hibs men were sumoned by Lennon for as fairly urgent meeting.having by little Stokes, Lennon impact. onefor A a of muffedfairly them, urgentshot was by him set up a chance for Murray but Bain again saved. Then, six minutes from the break, the mercurial front grabbed the equaliser. Whittaker advanced, advanced took a return from Bark Barkder and crossed invitingly to the near post. Stokes flicked it with the outside of his right foot, Kerr Waddell appear touch it on the way into the net. So far, the Lennon-mccann niggle hadn’t materialised although two crunching challenges in the middle of the park got them glaring at each other. Bartley was next to threaten for Hibs – he has never scored for the club-before a booking for Stokes for clashing with Bain sparked a hectic few minutes with Dundee claiming two more penalties in vain and both dugouts indulging in a bout of fingerpointing.
The game was now crazily, gloriously open. Mcginn was robbed by Mcgowan but Allan couldn’t thread his pass. Back came Hibs and Mcginn, whose through ball sent Barker scampering towards Bain, the keeper blocking him – and there was still time for him to thwart Stokes twice more before the end.