Hibs produced another excellent performance at Easter Road with a convincing four-goal victory over Dundee with Rocky Bushiri, Kieron Bowie and Dwight Gayle on the scoresheet.
The 4-0 win in the final match before the William Hill Premiership split extended Hibernian’s unbeaten run in the league to 17 consecutive matches.
Rocky capped his centurion appearance for Hibernian with a goal as second half super subs Kieron Bowie and Dwight Gayle added to the scoreline.
The victory gives the Hibees a two-point cushion in third place going into the split and sees the team equal the Club's post-war record for back-to-back games unbeaten in the top flight.
David Gray named an unchanged starting XI following last weekend’s memorable 2–0 win at Ibrox, keeping faith with the side that had delivered back-to-back clean sheets.
Hibernian: Smith, Miller, Bushiri, Iredale, Chris Cadden (Nicky Cadden 79'), Triantis, Levitt (Moriah-Welsh 74'), Obita, Hoilett (Campbell 64'), Boyle (Gayle 74'), Kuharevich (Bowie 64')
Subs: Bursik, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Manneh, Nicky Cadden, Bowie, Moriah-Welsh, Campbell, Gayle
Dundee: Carson, McGhee (Ingram 70'), Shaughnessy, Robertson, Larkeche (Samuels 45'), Mulligan, Sylla, Robertson, Adewumi (Reilly 80'), Murray, Tiffoney (Palmer-Houlden 60')
Subs: McCracken, Ingram, Samuels, Garza, Reilly, Koumetio, Palmer-Houlden, Portales, Donnelly
Hibs started the game on the front foot, creating a handful of chances in the opening quarter of an hour.
Mykola Kuharevich had an opportunity to open the scoring within the first minute of the match following a deft lay-off by Junior Hoilett, but his effort was lifted over the bar.
Hoilett made a bright start and continued to find himself in danger areas. A cross field pass from Nectar Triantis was brought down by Jordan Obita, who was able to find Hoilett on the left hand side of the box, but his resulting effort was well blocked.
Despite the dominant opening phase, it was Dundee who worked our goalkeeper first. A blind side pass from a central free-kick found Simon Murray with plenty of space in the box. Jordan Smith did well to close the angle however and made a decent save.
Dundee began to settle into the match and earned a corner in the 19th minute - a corner which almost gave us the lead.
Kuharevich was fast to pounce on a loose ball following the delivery and broke away at speed. A smart give-and-go with Hoilett gave Myko a clear opening but his effort crashed off the inside of the post.
The opportunity lifted the spirts in an already noisy Easter Road and we opened the scoring in the 26th minute with Rocky Bushiri stamping his 100th game for the Hibees with a goal.
Martin Boyle sent in a wicked in-swinging ball from a corner kick and it was Rocky who was alert in a crowded six-yard box, making contact with his boot and sending the ball past Trevor Carson in the Dundee goal.
Hibee tails were up and we almost doubled our lead seven minutes later. Chris Cadden did well to keep the ball in play down the right hand side and beat his man before flashing the ball across the face of goal. A teasing cross that evaded everyone in green and white, including a sliding Junior Hoilett.
On the cusp of half-time, Rocky found himself involved in attacking areas once again laying the ball off for Kuharevich, but his edge of the box effort crept agonisingly wide of the target.
Possession
47%Shots
4Shots On Target
2Corners
2Fouls
101
0
Cards
1
0
It was much of the same story at the beginning of the second period; David Gray’s side comfortable in possession with Dundee struggling to pose much of an attacking threat.
Martin Boyle continued to look lively and the Hibee backline was resolute in stopping Dundee goal threat Simon Murray.
Our second almost came from miscommunication by the away side. A long ball sent over the top in the 65th minute caused confusion between Joe Shaughnessy and Trevor Carson, with Shaughnessy’s backwards header looping over the oncoming keeper. The ball looked destined for the back of the net, but it inched wide saving Dundee’s blushes.
Just three minutes later, second half substitute Kieron Bowie doubled our advantage.
Some neat work down the left wing by Lewis Miller and Jordan Obita enabled Miller to cut the ball back to Kieron Bowie. Bowie’s sweeping left footed effort nestled into the top right corner, giving us a well deserved second goal.
We weren’t done there.
Ten minutes later Dwight Gayle, who was also introduced in the second half, found himself at the edge of the box with time and space. Gayle dropped his right shoulder and calmly slotted the ball low and hard to Trevor Carson’s left hand side.
Hibs looked rampant at this stage and added a fourth in the 84th minute.
Nicky Cadden, who replaced his brother Chris, whipped a terrific ball into the box from the left hand side, giving unmarked Bowie a chance to direct his header goal-ward and earn himself his brace.
A jubilant Easter Road ensued and the home side were able to see out the remainder of the match without any trouble.
