Hibernian

Matty Fairnie
Fan writer

Hibs won the ‘must win’ game against Dundee on Saturday in a manner that was far more convincing than the 2-1 scoreline would have you believe. It was a huge test for both the team and Nick Montgomery, and they passed with flying colours.

Had the result gone the other way, Hibs would have woken up this morning to an eight-point gap to Dundee, and would have little justification to argue that either team were in a false position. As it is, though, that gap is just two points and Montgomery should be using this result to give his side belief that they belong in a top-six position.

Hibs controlled the game from the outset and once they started creating chances, they didn’t stop. Dylan Vente opened the scoring from the spot after Dundee keeper Trevor Carson rather comically wiped out Emiliano Marcondes, and Hibs went into the break with a well deserved lead.

In the second half, Vente looked to have got his and Hibs’ second goal of the game, only to be denied by one of these head-scratching VAR offside calls.

That reprieve gave Dundee the lift they needed, and they found a way back into the game when Luke McCowan’s strike from the edge of the box travelled through a crowded box and into the back of the net.

Hibs have collapsed under such adversity on occasion this season, but they proved their strength of character by regaining the lead almost immediately with a brilliant goal from Myziane Maolida. The forward deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award and his performances recently will give Hibs fans much cause for optimism for the rest of the season.

Final word for Montgomery. This game was crucial for him and the performance he drew from his side was excellent. He looks to have steadied the ship after bringing in players in January, and he can now look forward to Wednesday’s derby with a little less pressure on his shoulders.

Matty Fairnie can be found on the Longbangers podcast, external.

Hibernian's 2-1 win over Dundee narrowed the gap with the sixth-placed visitors to two points on Saturday and Nick Montgomery's side, now unbeaten in three games, will look to build on that in Wednesday's Edinburgh derby.

Hosts Hearts had their 12-match unbeaten run abruptly halted with a 5-0 thumping away to Rangers but have not lost in three derbies - and five at home.

Who would you like to see in Hibs' starting line-up? Pick your side here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, SNS

Nick Montgomery is still finding out how his January recruits are adapting to his style of play, says former Scotland international Jackie McNamara.

Speaking on BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he added that Hibs remain "under a bit of pressure" despite their win over Dundee at the weekend.

"They've had a lot of players come in into the club in January as well and it does take time with a new manager to work with him and show the way he wants to play," he said.

"With his formation, it'll be interesting to see if he sticks to what he'd been doing. I've seen him against Rangers last month in a 4-2-4. It'll be interesting to see if he sticks to that and I know he'd changed it a week after or a couple of weeks after that.

"But again, he's maybe just finding out about these players that have come in, how they're going to adapt to the way he wants to play.

"It wasn't a massive surprise that they got a result there. But this will be an interesting game against Hearts because Hibs will be under a bit of pressure."

Jonathan Sutherland, Sportscene presenter

As Hibs arrested their worrying run of league form, it was a familiar face who spurred them on to victory.

Martin Boyle is consistently the difference maker for the Easter Road side, no matter how many offensive options arrive to challenge his place in the team.

Once again, he was the one to offer real threat against Dundee, while Dylan Vente and Myziane Maolida grabbed the headlines for their goals.

Image source, BBC

Hibernian are confident that opposition from Hibernian Supporters Limited, which owns 15.4% of the Scottish Premiership club, will have no impact on billionaire Bournemouth owner Bill Foley's bid for a minority stake when it is voted on at Tuesday's annual meeting. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, PA Media

Dundee goalkeeper Trevor Carson's botched attempt at collecting a corner results in him conceding a penalty for Hibernian's opener at Easter Road. (Available to UK users only)

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Scotland at Easter Road

Dylan Vente says he hopes his Hibs side can carry the confidence gained from the weekend win over Dundee into Wednesday's Edinburgh derby.

The Dutchman scored the opener from the spot at Easter Road on Saturday afternoon as Nick Montgomery's side picked up their first win in nine games.

“Of course the last few games have not gone our way," he told BBC Scotland. "Today was a huge victory for us. We got some confidence for the next game also. I think for the team it feels good to win this game.”

“I think we made it hard for ourselves because we could have scored one or two more goals and go two or three-zero ahead. Then they equalised. There was a great run by Myziane [Maolida], a great action and a great goal. It was good for us.

"Everybody was really saying to each other we really need to win this game so I’m happy we won this game and move on to the next.”

Hibs head into the derby two points outside the top six, with a trip to Tynecastle in the offing as they search for the their first win over Hearts this term.

Vente added: “It’s a great game for us to get the form back. We have to just trust our own abilities to ourselves. We have good players now in our squad and we have to trust them and hopefully get a result there.”

We asked for your thoughts after Hibs defeated sixth-placed Dundee to boost their hopes of winding up in the top half.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Colin: Hibs played very well and dominated the game. Missed chances and great goalkeeping kept the score down. Then we switch off and let a goal in. If we could be more clinical and tighten up at the back, a top six place would be guaranteed.

Kenny: It’s a win. I would like to be more positive but it was a poor game. We play some good stuff at times but our defending simply isn’t good enough. The manager needs to change the style of play as watching Hibs these days is grim. We have no chance making Europe. I still can’t work out what Montgomery is trying to do with the team.

William: Made hard work of it however got there in the end. Three points which were badly needed. Derby next going to be tough. We are so fragile at the back and need to score at least two to win a game.

Ian: I thought I saw the beginnings of a great team today. Looking good for the future.

John: Decent performance and signs of new players starting to adapt to Scottish football. VAR still a cause for concern. Good to see Bushiri back and putting in a solid performance.

Sandy: The most necessary win in the remaining fixtures before the split was today. We have a shout now for top six . And it starts with beating Hearts on Wednesday. The team played well and looked a real threat today. If we make the top six we can pick off the teams above us to clinch a European slot . I'm the eternal optimist.

Darren: At last we’ve really started to see something from the players that we can build on. There were some really good individual performances yesterday but as a whole we’re starting to look like a side that can really start motoring up the league. Delighted for the manager.

Image source, SNS

• Dylan Vente has scored four goals this season (one in this game), no Hibs player has more in the Scottish Premiership.

• Luke McCowan has scored six goals this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee player in the Scottish Premiership.

• Hibs have a record of W6, D3, L0 when leading at half-time in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Dundee have a record of W1, D2, L5 when trailing at half-time in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Hibs have avoided defeat in their last 13 matches when scoring the opening goal in the Scottish Premiership dating back to 18 March 2023 against Celtic (L1-3).

• Dundee have conceded 10 penalties in the Scottish Premiership this season, more than any other team.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery tells BBC Scotland: "We more than deserved the three points. The stats and performance tell you that. Too many times this season we've been the better team, but haven't always come out with the rewards.

"Today you saw real professional, real team performance. The new boys who've come in are gelling now. We're getting fit. There's competition for places, and everybody today played a part.

"We could have made it easier for ourselves by putting our chances away, but all credit to Carson - he pulled off some great saves and he was outstanding for them.

"I'm just disappointed to concede, we deserved a clean sheet, but we have to better and more clinical.

"[Maolida] is a top class player who we worked hard to bring in during the window. When he gets one-v-one, he's very hard to stop. I don't think anyone else puts that chance away as calmly as he did. We saw a top performance from not just him, but everybody.

"The fans were brilliant today. It's been a difficult couple of months for many reasons. It should be hard for teams to come to Easter Road, and there was a period where we were really strong here. Today is a great foundation for us."

Happier with that, Hibees? Or are the nerves only just settling?

That seemed much better for the majority - who impressed you? And what do you make of Nick Montgomery?

Have your say here.

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

Given the media attention on Aberdeen's managerial change, Hibs' poor form has rather flown under the radar.

That said, Nick Montgomery needed a decent performance to pacify the fans - and they got that against Dundee. Plenty of attacking intent, it was the best the Hibees have played in a wee while.

Not that they had much opposition. Dundee have done well this season, but this was a performance to forget.

The worry for the Hibees was how close they came to chucking it away. They dominated 90% of this game, and Dundee weren't far from snatching a draw.

Image source, SNS

Martin Boyle. Hibs' really missed their talisman during his stint at the Asian Cup, but his trip to the Southern Hemisphere allowed him to recapture his form and bring it back to Leith.

Myziane Maolida thrilled and spilled in equal measure, but ultimately produced a wonderful winner and should be mentioned as a result.

Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Bushiri, Obita, Moriah-Welsh, Marcondes, Newell, Boyle, Maolida, Vente.

Substitutes: Wollacott, Hanlon, Youan, Mayenda, Amos, Stevenson, Le Fondre, Triantis, Jair.

Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Shaughnessy, Donnelly, Beck, McCowan, Cameron, Sylla, Costelloe, Bakayoko, Tiffoney.

Substitutes: McCracken, Dodgson, Astley, Main, Lamie, Mulligan, Robertson, Boateng, Mellon.

Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery is open to Owen Bevan returning to Easter Road next season after his loan deal from Bournemouth was ended by injury. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Being back with his Hibs team-mates is helping Lewis Miller recover from his "heart-breaking" experience with Australia at the Asian Cup, losing at the quarter-final stage. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Dundee must capitalise on restlessness at Hibernian on Saturday, says winger Luke McCowan. (Courier - subscription required), external

Former Hibs manager Jack Ross was a visitor to Celtic's training ground on Friday. (Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip

Mark Atkinson, sports editor of The Scotsman, says it's "now or never" for Hibs' top-six bid when they face Dundee on Saturday.

Listen to the Scottish football podcast here.

Image source, PA Media

Owen Bevan has returned to Bournemouth without playing a single game on loan to Hibernian, but the Scottish Premiership club could be keen to bring the 20-year-old centre-half back to Easter Road this summer.

Bevan, who played 14 times for League One side Cheltenham before his loan there ended in December, joined Hibs on transfer deadline day and was due to link up with Nick Montgomery's squad for the first time on 5 February.

But "following a further injury" during his rehabilitation programme, the Wales Under-21 international is back with the Premier League club until the end of the season.

"He was a good young player I was looking forward to bringing in," head coach Montgomery said.

"He is a player we are definitely keen on bringing to the club. We will monitor the situation and hopefully he can get himself back from that injury towards the end of the season and we will keep an eye on it."

Defence has been Hibs' Achilles heel this season, but Montgomery believes he has plenty of cover now despite the loss of Bevan.

"I think with the squad with the way it is at the minute we have a lot of strength in depth," he added.

"We have Rocky Bushiri coming back and he has had a full week's training, so we are in a good space with the squad."

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin, BBC Sport Scotland

Hibs head coach Nick Montgomery has been speaking to the media ahead of the Edinburgh side's Premiership game at home to Dundee on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• He look at bringing Owen Bevan back to Easter Road in the summer after the on-loan centre-back returned to Bournemouth following an injury.

• Montgomery's focus remains on the next game, but he is aware of the importance of picking up wins.

• He has not looked at how many points it will take to achieve a top-six finish but knows the expectations of being Hibs manager and that they are “still in good position” to achieve a top-six spot.

• Said the Dundee game is "really important".

• Having five of their next eight games at Easter Road is great and Montgomery acknowledged that the home support is key.