Lennon livid as Hibs open door for Dundee fightback
NEIL LENNON has demanded that Hibernian show greater resolve after a watching his team relinquish a two-goal lead in a Jekyll and Hyde performance against Premiership basement boys Dundee.
The Leith outfit looked to be on course to rack up an emphatic victory after taking control inside half an hour courtesy of a Genseric Kusunga own goal and Ryan Porteous’ header.
However, Dundee somehow managed to recover by finding the net within three minutes either side of the break through Kenny Miller and Paul McGowan.
Lennon, whose team ended a three-game scoring drought but are now without a win in five games, admits a lack of quality on the ball and a mental fragility cost the hosts.
‘It’s symptomatic of the spell we’re going through at the minute,’ lamented Lennon.
‘We don’t put teams away and we’ve conceded two poor goals by switching off.
‘Some senior players are not playing at the level they could be and my strikers aren’t functioning either.
‘It’s a culmination of things. It’s frustrating but it’s part of football, and we need to get back to being strong mentally because that’s what we were good at for a long period of time and we’re lacking that now.’
Hibs wasted little time in stamping their authority in the game after taking the lead just 40 seconds in.
Kusunga got his head to Daryl Horgan’s cross as Florian Kamberi lurked but the Dens defender directed the ball into his own net.
Hibs looked in the mood and should have doubled their lead in the 15th minute.
Horgan fed Martin Boyle inside the box but the newly capped Aussie international hit a shot across goal and wide, instead of squaring for the unmarked Kamberi.
Dundee’s forays into the opposition box were few and far between, although Miller brought out a fine save from Adam Bogdan in the 18th minute when the striker found space inside the box to get a header on Glen Kamara’s cross.
Desperate defending from the Dens Park club then denied Jamie Maclaren a goal as timely blocks by Kusunga and Cammy Kerr in quick succession spared Jack Hamilton’s blushes after the goalkeeper spilled a Lewis Stevenson cross.
However, Hibs did add to their tally on the half-hour mark with a powerful header from Porteous from Stevie Mallan’s free-kick.
Dundee looked down and out as Hibs threatened to mete out a thrashing but the visitors reduced the deficit in first half injury-time.
Nathan Ralph dug out a low cross from the left and Miller poked the ball past Bogdan from close range.
Incredibly, Dundee completed the comeback less than two minutes into the second half.
Jesse Curran took the ball off Mark Milligan before finding McGowan and the midfielder curled an effort into the far corner of the net.
The Tayside outfit now looked like a completely different team as the home fans turned on their side.
Both teams pushed for a winner but had to settle for a share of the spoils.
‘I saw plenty of heart when we went behind to St Mirren recently but coming to Easter Road is a different kettle of fish, they have a quality squad and we had to stand up to a lot,’ said Dundee boss Jim McIntyre.
‘I’m delighted with their response.’