SPL Weekend 30th/31st July

[crowie]

Just a quick comment or two on a couple of Saturdays games.

From earlier post I was on Hibs to beat Dunfermline which ended up 1-1. I was away at the folks for a bit on Saturday which meant I was driving home listening to the footy on the radio. Had the Hibs game on and heard the whole 2nd half.

Dunfermline took a shock lead in 12 mins through Shields and I think from that point Hibs had went at them. They weren't helped by the idiot Scott Brown picking up 2 first half yellows. I was resigned to a dead bet from the start of the 2nd half but on listening to the game Hibs were VERY unlucky not to come away with all 3 points. Considering they were the side with 10 men they attacked for nearly all the 2nd half.

Dunfermline started with 3 at the back but made a couple of subs 2nd half and their wide midfield players were playing as virtual full backs (Shields is indeed a normal full back). The commentator actually said at one point that Pars were leaving themselves light in midfield by playing a back 5.

The fact that Hibs could outplay them so well with a player light suggests they could well continue as they performed last season. O'Conners equaliser was always coming, Helliwell in the Pars goal had some great saves and Caldwell had a shot blocked 2 yards out in the last minute.

Its always annoying to lose a bet but the fact that Hibs played so well when one man down confirms it was still the right bet to take. I am sure on many other occasions Hibs would have got a 2nd goal that their attackign play deserved.

Hibs left the pitch to a standing ovation from a support who obviously appreciated the effort they put in despite playing the entire half with 10 men.

The 2nd half commentary suggest Hibs will continue to be a good side this season while Dunfermline will again struggle, especially when up against equal numbers.


The other game I got a report on was Dundee Utd v Aberdeen. Sounded a cracking game and the radio commentator said truely a game of 2 halves. Utd got of to a good start, Lee Miller continuing doing what he did so well last season for Hearts, sticking goals away. Utd dominated the first half but after HT Aberdeen seemed to be by far the better side with, according to the reports, only sporadic attacks from Utd. Overall on the balance of play in 90 minutes a draw seemed to be a fair result.

Sounds like Utd may be actually getting their act together and Aberdeen also continuing to do well this season after last seasons improvement.