Jonnyboy
22-08-2021, 04:57 PM
Away games for me allow more time for reflection on my journey home as well as the opportunity to hear the manager’s comments. In general, I feel a point was probably fair enough but the manner of the loss of our second goal left me feeling like we’d lost rather than drawn. It was a poor goal to lose but more on that later.
In the lead up to the game there was much speculation regarding the fact that some of our regular starters might be missing, with Covid 19 hinted at as being one of the reasons. The bulk of the speculation surrounded Kevin Nisbet with claims being made that he was about to leave for Celtic with Leigh Griffiths making the reverse journey along the M8. Thankfully, Jack Ross has now dismissed that speculation completely and has confirmed that Nisbet’s absence today was due to illness. Whether or not Covid was a factor we lost the services of Nisbet and Newell from the starting eleven with Gogic and new loan signing James Scott taking their places. There was still no Paul Hanlon, and I am assured his absence was totally down to the protocol surrounding concussion.
On a bright and sunny day, there was a decent travelling support, making plenty of noise behind the goals in the Bob Shankly stand but it was the home fans who were most encouraged with their players as Dundee came out of the traps and played a high energy game designed to close down any Hibs man in possession. As early as the sixth minute, a thunderous drive from Charlie Adam brought out a fine save from Matt Macey whilst Jamie Murphy had a decent run and shot at the other end.
Hibs were toiling to get going and slack play led to them conceding the opening goal around the ten minute mark. McGinn conceded a throw in roughly level with the Hibs eighteen yard line and Charlie Adam hurled his effort into the box. The initial delivery was only partially cleared but the ball was recycled by Adam who picked out former Hibs man Jason Cummings who fired a shot home from close range.
The home side continued to dictate the flow of play and Hibs were struggling to get the ball to Boyle and to a lesser degree Murphy which meant that James Scott received little by way of meaningful ball. A clattering tackle by Charlie Adam on Doyle-Hayes looked a yellow card offence to me but referee Alan Muir thought otherwise and didn’t even speak to the Dundee man.
With all of twenty five minutes on the clock, Hibs began to get a decent foothold in the game and after a Murphy effort was blocked the same player sent in a fine cross which Scott glanced just wide of the far post. A couple of minutes later, Josh Doig made a lung bursting run through several Dundee players before being blocked out as he made to shoot from around ten yards. Another Murphy pass picked out Scott and the new man brought out a decent save by Legzdins in the home goal. The pressure was building and around five minutes from the break, Murphy was bundled over in the box and Alan Muir pointed to the spot. Despite attempts to put him off, Boyle duly buried the ball in the corner with Legzdins beaten all ends up. A neutral might argue that Hibs were lucky to be level but in truth, though they had been struggling in the first twenty five minutes they soon came into the game and finished the half quite strongly, although a late Ashcroft header looked on target until Macey saved down low near his post.
Four minutes into the second half, Paul McMullan was booked for a late challenge on Macey. The keeper was on the ground having collected the ball and McMullan caught him on the head with a late lunge. Next, Paul McGinn was replaced at right back by Lewis Stevenson, the departing McGinn later reported to have vomited several times during the game. Minutes later, Charlie Adam was finally booked after having until then escaped punishment for a series of fouls. Cummings then had a weak shot saved before Scott got too much on a pass from Magennis and fired an effort over the bar.
The hosts were not offering much now in terms of attempts on goal which will have disappointed their fans as the build up play was often neat and tidy. Scott and Boyle both had efforts blocked but on the hour mark, Hibs took the lead. In what looked to me like a training ground move, McGregor ran forward in the eighteen yard box as a Magennis corner was delivered. The Dundee defence went with McGregor, leaving a huge gap in the centre of their goal which Porteous raced into before smashing a half volley in to the top of the net. Dundee tried to react immediately, and Ashcroft had a decent headed effort saved by Macey and moments later that same Dundee player was booked for a crude challenge on Boyle.
Dundee were struggling but still hanging on but with fifteen minutes left, Murphy should have secured the win after Boyle raced down the right and squared to Murphy whose had the whole of the goal to aim at but fired his shot straight at the Dundee keeper. That seemed to fire the hosts up and with seven minutes left, they equalised but it was a shocker of a goal to concede. Firstly, Alan Muir awarded a throw in to Dundee when Stevenson had clearly kicked the ball off a Dundee defender. They took the throw quickly allowing McMullan to loop a cross to the back post. Doig and Gogic failed to see the danger and McGowan, one of the smallest players on the park was able to head home from close range.
With little time left, both sides tried their utmost to grab a winning goal and two minutes into added time, Stevenson picked out Boyle who raced away down the right before firing a shot that was deflected onto a post and out for a corner. The ball came into the box from that corner and fell at the feet of Gogic who, with the whole goal open in front of him shot tamely into the arms of an otherwise beaten Legzdins. I couldn’t believe what I’d just seen to be honest.
The players (a number of them underperformed and that’s reflected in my thoughts)
Macey – Had a number of good and crucial saves and earns my man of the match award.
McGinn – Clearly out of sorts, he was struggling from the first whistle.
Porteous – Ryan was generally pretty solid today and took his goal very well.
McGregor – Fantastic in the air as usual but struggled with playing at left centre back when the ball was on the ground.
Doig – I’ve no idea of the reasons why but this was probably his poorest performance to date.
Doyle-Hayes – Not so prominent today though his work rate was fine, it was just his distribution that fell below par.
Gogic – I’m starting to worry that Gogic is just a one season wonder. He’s been poor this season and was again today, perhaps with the exception of the last ten minutes.
Boyle – Starved of the ball for the first twenty five minutes or so, he came on to a game and set Murphy up wonderfully but without the end product from Jamie. His penalty was struck firmly and sweetly into the bottom corner.
Magennis – Kyle has been showing fine form of late, but I felt today he was just a bit off it.
Murphy – Started the game well and earned the penalty but his shocking miss at that open goal moment was costly.
Scott – I was amazed he lasted eighty odd minutes and although he was isolated a lot during the opening twenty five minutes, I thought he went on to give a very encouraging performance.
Stevenson – It’s not the first time Lewis has been asked to play at right back and just as he did on those previous occasions he defended stoutly and well.
Wright – Came off the bench moments before Dundee drew level but there is no blame attached to him for that. He played well and when we were under the cosh a bit, he carried the ball to safety once or twice.
Gullan – Jamie didn’t really get the chance to do much.
Jack Ross – Heard and agree with all he said after the game.
Referee – Alan Muir was far too lenient with Charlie Adam as well as infuriating both sets of fans with his inconsistencies.
Footnote – In past reports I’ve often suggested that Joe Newell ghosts through games, but I honestly believe that his absence today negatively affected the performances of Magennis and Doyle-Hayes.
In the lead up to the game there was much speculation regarding the fact that some of our regular starters might be missing, with Covid 19 hinted at as being one of the reasons. The bulk of the speculation surrounded Kevin Nisbet with claims being made that he was about to leave for Celtic with Leigh Griffiths making the reverse journey along the M8. Thankfully, Jack Ross has now dismissed that speculation completely and has confirmed that Nisbet’s absence today was due to illness. Whether or not Covid was a factor we lost the services of Nisbet and Newell from the starting eleven with Gogic and new loan signing James Scott taking their places. There was still no Paul Hanlon, and I am assured his absence was totally down to the protocol surrounding concussion.
On a bright and sunny day, there was a decent travelling support, making plenty of noise behind the goals in the Bob Shankly stand but it was the home fans who were most encouraged with their players as Dundee came out of the traps and played a high energy game designed to close down any Hibs man in possession. As early as the sixth minute, a thunderous drive from Charlie Adam brought out a fine save from Matt Macey whilst Jamie Murphy had a decent run and shot at the other end.
Hibs were toiling to get going and slack play led to them conceding the opening goal around the ten minute mark. McGinn conceded a throw in roughly level with the Hibs eighteen yard line and Charlie Adam hurled his effort into the box. The initial delivery was only partially cleared but the ball was recycled by Adam who picked out former Hibs man Jason Cummings who fired a shot home from close range.
The home side continued to dictate the flow of play and Hibs were struggling to get the ball to Boyle and to a lesser degree Murphy which meant that James Scott received little by way of meaningful ball. A clattering tackle by Charlie Adam on Doyle-Hayes looked a yellow card offence to me but referee Alan Muir thought otherwise and didn’t even speak to the Dundee man.
With all of twenty five minutes on the clock, Hibs began to get a decent foothold in the game and after a Murphy effort was blocked the same player sent in a fine cross which Scott glanced just wide of the far post. A couple of minutes later, Josh Doig made a lung bursting run through several Dundee players before being blocked out as he made to shoot from around ten yards. Another Murphy pass picked out Scott and the new man brought out a decent save by Legzdins in the home goal. The pressure was building and around five minutes from the break, Murphy was bundled over in the box and Alan Muir pointed to the spot. Despite attempts to put him off, Boyle duly buried the ball in the corner with Legzdins beaten all ends up. A neutral might argue that Hibs were lucky to be level but in truth, though they had been struggling in the first twenty five minutes they soon came into the game and finished the half quite strongly, although a late Ashcroft header looked on target until Macey saved down low near his post.
Four minutes into the second half, Paul McMullan was booked for a late challenge on Macey. The keeper was on the ground having collected the ball and McMullan caught him on the head with a late lunge. Next, Paul McGinn was replaced at right back by Lewis Stevenson, the departing McGinn later reported to have vomited several times during the game. Minutes later, Charlie Adam was finally booked after having until then escaped punishment for a series of fouls. Cummings then had a weak shot saved before Scott got too much on a pass from Magennis and fired an effort over the bar.
The hosts were not offering much now in terms of attempts on goal which will have disappointed their fans as the build up play was often neat and tidy. Scott and Boyle both had efforts blocked but on the hour mark, Hibs took the lead. In what looked to me like a training ground move, McGregor ran forward in the eighteen yard box as a Magennis corner was delivered. The Dundee defence went with McGregor, leaving a huge gap in the centre of their goal which Porteous raced into before smashing a half volley in to the top of the net. Dundee tried to react immediately, and Ashcroft had a decent headed effort saved by Macey and moments later that same Dundee player was booked for a crude challenge on Boyle.
Dundee were struggling but still hanging on but with fifteen minutes left, Murphy should have secured the win after Boyle raced down the right and squared to Murphy whose had the whole of the goal to aim at but fired his shot straight at the Dundee keeper. That seemed to fire the hosts up and with seven minutes left, they equalised but it was a shocker of a goal to concede. Firstly, Alan Muir awarded a throw in to Dundee when Stevenson had clearly kicked the ball off a Dundee defender. They took the throw quickly allowing McMullan to loop a cross to the back post. Doig and Gogic failed to see the danger and McGowan, one of the smallest players on the park was able to head home from close range.
With little time left, both sides tried their utmost to grab a winning goal and two minutes into added time, Stevenson picked out Boyle who raced away down the right before firing a shot that was deflected onto a post and out for a corner. The ball came into the box from that corner and fell at the feet of Gogic who, with the whole goal open in front of him shot tamely into the arms of an otherwise beaten Legzdins. I couldn’t believe what I’d just seen to be honest.
The players (a number of them underperformed and that’s reflected in my thoughts)
Macey – Had a number of good and crucial saves and earns my man of the match award.
McGinn – Clearly out of sorts, he was struggling from the first whistle.
Porteous – Ryan was generally pretty solid today and took his goal very well.
McGregor – Fantastic in the air as usual but struggled with playing at left centre back when the ball was on the ground.
Doig – I’ve no idea of the reasons why but this was probably his poorest performance to date.
Doyle-Hayes – Not so prominent today though his work rate was fine, it was just his distribution that fell below par.
Gogic – I’m starting to worry that Gogic is just a one season wonder. He’s been poor this season and was again today, perhaps with the exception of the last ten minutes.
Boyle – Starved of the ball for the first twenty five minutes or so, he came on to a game and set Murphy up wonderfully but without the end product from Jamie. His penalty was struck firmly and sweetly into the bottom corner.
Magennis – Kyle has been showing fine form of late, but I felt today he was just a bit off it.
Murphy – Started the game well and earned the penalty but his shocking miss at that open goal moment was costly.
Scott – I was amazed he lasted eighty odd minutes and although he was isolated a lot during the opening twenty five minutes, I thought he went on to give a very encouraging performance.
Stevenson – It’s not the first time Lewis has been asked to play at right back and just as he did on those previous occasions he defended stoutly and well.
Wright – Came off the bench moments before Dundee drew level but there is no blame attached to him for that. He played well and when we were under the cosh a bit, he carried the ball to safety once or twice.
Gullan – Jamie didn’t really get the chance to do much.
Jack Ross – Heard and agree with all he said after the game.
Referee – Alan Muir was far too lenient with Charlie Adam as well as infuriating both sets of fans with his inconsistencies.
Footnote – In past reports I’ve often suggested that Joe Newell ghosts through games, but I honestly believe that his absence today negatively affected the performances of Magennis and Doyle-Hayes.