Hibernian 1-0 Dundee
- Published
David Wotherspoon's brilliant header ensured Hibernian ended their Scottish Premier League season with three points against Dundee at Easter Road.
The hosts dominated the first half and visiting goalkeeper Steve Simonsen was on good form to deny Leigh Griffiths.
After the break Griffiths shot wide before Dundee's Ryan Conroy sent an excellent volley just past the post.
Lewis Stevenson crossed for substitute Wotherspoon to convert a thumping 16-yard header with 10 minutes left.
For Hibs, this match was more about ensuring key squad members remained uninjured ahead of their Scottish Cup final date with Celtic on 26 May.
But a win which secured seventh place in the SPL provided an added bonus for the Leith side, who wondered if the game would go ahead when torrential rain fell an hour before kick-off.
Bottom club Dundee had spells of attacking promise in the second half but would probably agree the home side deserved their victory.
Given his likely recall by parent club Wolves, it could be Griffiths's last game at Easter Road for some time and the striker showed he wanted to mark it with a goal early on, but his volley from the edge of the box flew wide.
However, one player Hibs fans hope will be around for a while yet is young winger Alex Harris, who reinforced his growing reputation by gliding past Dundee left-back Matt Lockwood before winning a corner.
Griffiths delivered the set-piece excellently and 19-year-old centre-back Jordon Forster rose to narrowly head over.
Always central to the hosts' attacking play, Griffiths was close to taking his season's goal tally to 29 when his angled drive drew a good save from Dundee goalkeeper Simonsen.
And the frontman immediately got another chance only to see his effort appear to hit the arm of a Dundee defender, although referee Brian Colvin was not interested in claims for a penalty.
Dundee looked most threatening through Gary Harkins and won a couple of corners to give their defence a rest, but Harris was soon shooting into the arms of Simonsen after some neat footwork.
After the break the visitors began positively; John Baird finding Lewis Toshney in the unfamiliar territory of Hibs's penalty box where the on-loan Celtic player poked over the crossbar.
A wonderful Paul Hanlon pass over the Dark Blues's defence allowed Griffiths to chest and volley wide before Stevenson sliced high and wide from Harris's pass.
Then Dundee almost ended their SPL campaign in style.
Harkins's deep cross was taken left-footed on the volley by Conroy from 12 yards and the ball flashed back across Ben Williams's goal, missing the post by inches.
Home fans were pleased to see Griffiths depart the action unhurt ahead of the Scottish Cup final as he was replaced by Chesterfield-bound Eoin Doyle.
And, just when it seemed like the game would peter out and end goalless, another Hibs substitute scores a fine header.
Wotherspoon bulleted in Stevenson's cross from 16 yards, the ball arrowing right into the bottom left corner of the net with Simonsen helpless.
- Published18 May 2013
- Published18 May 2013
- Published18 May 2013
- Published18 May 2013