Dundee Gain A Creditable Point

Last updated : 02 May 2002 By Dave Webster
The mystery of Dundee F.C. was shown again in the match against Hibs at Easter Road. A week before Dundee looked at times to be totally disinterested in a derby match that meant much more to the fans than the players.

One week later they battled and fought against Hibs and played in the spirit that they should be displaying every week.

Dundee and Celtic are now the only teams to have dropped only two points to Hibs this season and as Celtic only played them 3 times Dundee's record against the Edinburgh side of 3 wins and a draw is the best in the SPL.

Although on pressure and chances created Hibs can argue they should have won this game it's goals that count and Dundee have now scored 7 goals against Hibs with 4 against.

For those who say the end of the season produces meaningless matches a look at the statistics shows that Hibs were determined to beat Dundee for the first time this season. 17 fouls against Dundee players in the first 45 minutes with O'Connor, Arpinon and O'Neill being the biggest culprits, produced only one booking. Thankfully the fouling dried up in the second period with the final tally of 20-8 in Hibs favour. Mind you, it shows why the Tayzurri get angered at Referee's when Dundee get the same number of bookings, one, from only 8 fouls committed in the entire match.

Hibs pressed straight from kick off and take the lead in the 15th minute. Julian Speroni gets all in a fankle when a dangerous Brewster cross from the right is totally misjudged and when he gets a hand to the ball he only succeeds in putting it in the path of Townsley who has only to tap it home to put Hibs one up.

Fabian Caballero Scored An Amazing Goal
But against the run of play Dundee equalise in the 32nd minute with a spectacular effort from
FABIAN CABALLERO.

Picking the ball up 30 yards out and looking far from threatening, the Argentine maestro shows what we've missed with his lack of fitness this season.

Jinking in and out of players with a brilliance too often posted missing, he then despatches a glorious drive into the far corner of the net. If that isn't goal of the month, or maybe the season show me a better one.

In the second half Speroni makes another error when his kick out is woefully short and when the ball is headed on to Gary O'Connor the talented youngster fairly blasts the ball into the far corner from a very acute angle to give his side what they must have thought was the winning goal.

But with 3 minutes left Fabian Caballero with more magic reaches the bye line and pulls the perfect cross back for the unmarked STEVIE MILNE to head home to the delight of the Dundee fans at the game. Young Stevie has scored 7 times this season, a personal best for him in the SPL, and one that must give him great confidence for next season.

Make no mistake, Dundee are about to offload players on a large scale. Not their fault, the TV deal breakdown has led to most teams having to do the same. The future rests on the shoulders of young up and coming players or some of the talented foreign players who will be here for another season or two yet.

We may have seen the last of some of these magical maestros, underachievers though they might have been. Let's hope our young Scots players have learned from the masters and will be better equipped to fill their shoes once they move on.

One thing's for sure. I'll be at Motherwell next week to show my appreciation of some we may never see in Dark Blue again. Entertainment is high on my list, and these guys have never failed to try to give us that and more. Sara, Rae, etc., etc., will perhaps play their last game for us. I think it's important to make the effort to give them a fitting send off.