Chinese international Fan Zhiyi sent Hibernian manager Franck Sauzee tumbling
to another defeat at Dundee.
The Dens Park central defender scored the only goal of the game to secure a
crucial win for under-fire manager Ivano Bonetti.
But Hibs were further punished when midfielder Freddie Arpinon was dismissed
for spitting at Temuri Ketsbaia after a late challenge by the Georgian
international.
Both sides had been desperate for points after poor recent records and
Ketsbaia had the first effort in the game with a 25-yard shot but Hibs
goalkeeper Nick Colgan had little trouble with it and gathered comfortably.
There was little between the sides in the early stages although Tom McManus
came close with an eighth-minute header from eight yards out which Julian
Speroni, making his Premier League debut, did well to hold.
As the first half continued, the pace of the game dropped and both sides were
guilty of making unforced errors and surrendering possession too easily.
Despite being urged on by their impatient fans, Dundee simply could not make
any in-roads on the Hibs goal.
Arpinon was showing some nice touches but receiving little support from his
team-mates, much to the Frenchman's frustration.
Then, in the 21st minute, Ketsbaia made a surging run towards the visitors'
penalty area - beating three defenders on his way - but eventually the Georgian
ran out of room and the danger was cleared.
It was clear to see why both sides were struggling at the wrong end of the
table as the game became ragged.
Ketsbaia was not afraid to have a go but twice blasted the ball high over the
crossbar from well outside the box.
In the 36th minute Dundee midfielder Gavin Beith, making his debut, attacked
the Hibs box from midfield but was stopped by a well-timed Paul Fenwick tackle.
The second half began with some much-needed entertainment for the fans of both
teams, who had endured a lifeless opening 45 minutes.
Three minutes after the re-start Hibs substitute Francisco Luna, who replaced
McManus in the first period, launched a volley from the edge of the Dundee box
which went only inches past Speroni's right-hand post.
There seemed to be no contact but referee David Somers pointed for a corner,
much to the home side's annoyance, but the set-piece came to nothing.
At the other end, Caballero set up Ketsbaia but the Georgian's low drive
cannoned off the inside of the post before being cleared for a corner by Hibs
defender Ian Murray.
In the 63rd minute Dundee brought on Frenchman Khalid Kemas for Steven Milne
in an attempt to provide a much-needed goal threat and within two minutes the
substitution was vindicated as Dundee pressed for the breakthrough.
Kemas picked the ball up on the left, near the goalline, and when his cross
came into the box, Dundee defender Fan Zhiyi was unmarked and had the easiest of
tasks to net from close range.
But, before the game could re-start, there was more drama as Arpinon was
red-carded by referee David Somers for spitting at Ketsbaia after a challenge by
the Georgian international.
However, the 10 men remaining on the field for the Edinburgh could do little
to prevent manager Sauzee crashing to another defeat.
Teams
Dundee: Speroni, Smith, Del Rio, Zhiyi, Beghetto, Artero, Beith, Romano, Ketsbaia, Milne (Kemes 64),
Caballero (Garrido 90).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, MacKay, Sara.
Booked: Zhiyi, Beghetto.
Goals: Zhiyi 66.
Hibernian: Colgan, De la Cruz (Zitelli 78), Laursen, Murray, Fenwick, Brebner, Arpinon, O'Neil (Jack 75), Smith, McManus (Luna 25), O'Connor.
Subs Not Used: Caig, Townsley.
Sent Off: Arpinon (68).
Booked: Luna, O'Neil.
Att: 7,326
Ref: D Somers (Scotland).
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