Saturday, 11 August, 2001

 

Hibs dump dismal Dons

 

Hibernian 2-0 Aberdeen

 

Franck Sauzee fires Hibs in front from the penalty spot

 

 

Hibs recorded their first three points of the season with a comfortable triumph over Aberdeen at Easter Road.

 

Franck Sauzee slotted home an early penalty and Tam McManus added another goal in the 45th minute in a match dominated by Alex McLeish's side.

 

Hibs were guilty of missing numerous good chances and Aberdeen goalkeeper David Preece produced some fine saves.

 

With three games of the season played, the visitors are still pointless and goalless. Ebbe Skovdahl's men offered little in the way of attacking football and gave away possession far too easily.

 

For the home side Alen Orman replaced right wing-back Ulises de la Cruz, who was away on international duty with Ecuador, while Gary Smith and Paco Luna were relegated to the bench. Paul Fenwick and McManus were the players to benefit.

 

Calum Bett earned a starting place for the Dons and Hicham Zerouali was among the substitutes having recovered from a broken leg sustained almost a year ago.

 

Hibs were given a dream start when John O'Neil was upended in the penalty box by Thomas Solberg in the 4th minute.

 

Sauzee drove the spot kick down the middle to put his side in front.

 

Craig Brewster and Derek Whyte tussle

 

Craig Brewster blew a glorious chance in the 11th minute when he completely missed the ball right in front of goal following a great run and cross from McManus.

 

Soon after, Preece had to race from his line to block the advancing Grant Brebner as Hibs pressed for another goal.

 

The Dons keeper then had to look smart to smother an errant defensive header from Derek Whyte.

 

An excellent turn and shot from O'Neil in the 36th minute produced another good save from the busy Preece.

 

Another chance for Hibs was wasted when McManus knocked the ball wide after pouncing on a slack headed back pass from Whyte.

 

McManus was rewarded for an industrious display right on the stroke of half time when he slammed the ball high into the net, having been released by a defence splitting pass from Brewster.

 

Zerouali was thrown on at the start of the second half as the Dons went in search of their first goal of the season.

 

The lively McManus went close with an angled drive before being replaced by David Zitelli.

 

With 15 minutes remaining Darren Young saw his drilled shot tipped wide by Nick Colgan as the visitors made a rare sortie towards the Hibs goal.

 

A great turn on the edge of the box gave Brewster room to shot but his goal-bound effort was blocked by the body of Whyte.

 

The impressive Orman should have put Hibs further ahead but was wide of the mark with a free header from a corner.

 

Orman was later denied by the feet of Preece after some neat footwork inside the penalty area.

 

Hibernian: Colgan, Fenwick, Sauzee, Laursen, Orman, Brebner, Jack, O'Neil, Murray, McManus, Brewster.

 

Subs: Caig, Townsley, Zitelli, Luna, Smith.

 

Aberdeen: Preece, McNaughton, McGuire, Whyte, Bett, Bisconti, Darren Young, Solberg, Thornley, Derek Young, Winters.

 

Subs: Esson, McAllister, Zerouali, Mackie, Tiernan.

 

Referee: J Rowbotham

 

Preece: Playing for Silkeborg IF in the Danish 1st division

McNaughton: Cardiff in the English Championship

McGuire: Caley

Whyte: Retired

Bett: Retired

Bisconti: Panthrakikos F.C. Greek Superleague

Young: Dundee

Solberg: Last heard of playing for Moss. Retired?

Thornley: Wilmslow Albion in the East Cheshire Sunday Football League Division Two. 

Young: Aberdeen

Winters: SK Brann. Norwegian Superleague

Esson: Clubless, released by Hereford

McAllister: Bristol city

Zero: Deceased 

Mackie: Aberdeen 

Tiernan: dumbarton

 

Hibs finished 10th

 

Aberdeen finished 4th.

My first ever away game on my birthday I think. And to put a winning match report up.

 

Saturday, 18 November, 2000, 19:33 GMT

Dons dump off-form Hibs

 

 

Arild Stavrum was on target at Easter Road

Hibernian 0-2 Aberdeen

 

Second half strikes from Arild Stavrum and Andreas Mayer were responsible for destroying Hibs' unbeaten run at Easter Road.

 

The home side looked lethargic throughout and have now slumped eight points behind runaway SPL leaders Celtic.

 

Talk of Hibernian's bubble bursting may be slightly premature, but this lacklustre defeat suggests a worrying degree of deflation.

 

The visitors were worthy victors, having demonstrated a superior appetite for the game and producing the best attacking moves.

 

The goals came in the final third of the game, with Aberdeen taking the lead just after the hour.

 

Robbie Winters' measured cross was easily swept into the net from close range by Stavrum

 

The visitors wrapped up the unexpected win when substitute Myer fired home in the 89th minute.

 

Injured duo

 

Hibernian replaced the injured duo Stuart Lovell and Mixu Paatelainen with Ian Murray and Dirk Lehmann.

 

Aberdeen boss Ebbe Skovdahl handed on-loan striker Alex Di Rocco his first start with fit-again Eoin Jess content with a place on the bench.

 

Hibs defender Gary Smith gave the home fans a fright in the third minute when he lost possession to Di Rocco.

 

But the Frenchman was eventually bundled off the ball by countryman Franck Sauzee.

 

 

Robbie Winters caused Hibs problems

The Dons missed a glorious chance to take an 11th minute lead when Kevin McNaughton flighted a superb pass over the Hibs defence into the path of Arild Stavrum.

 

But the striker's powerful volley was tipped over in style by Hibs goalkeeper Nick Colgan.

 

Aberdeen were enjoying the bulk of possession and missed a couple of great chances.

 

Diving tackle

 

Di Rocco spun round in the box only to see his goal-bound effort blocked by a brilliant diving tackle by Smith.

 

Robbie Winters threaded the ball through to Cato Guntveit only for the Norwegian to chip the ball harmlessly over the bar with just Colgan to beat in the 18th minute.

 

Di Rocco also went close with a powerful header from the edge of the box.

 

In contrast, Hibs had offered absolutely nothing in an attacking sense and were a huge disappointment in the opening stages.

 

Hibs finally began to threaten and Lehmann should have opened the scoring when David Zitelli's cross found him unmarked.

 

The German volleyed wildly over from 15 yards.

 

Russell Latapy poked a low effort just wide from the edge of the box as the home side began to show what they could do at last.

 

Lucky escape

 

Dons goalkeeper Ryan Esson had a lucky escape in the 36th minute when he fluffed his clearance straight to Murray.

 

The youngster hesitated and was quickly closed down by a cluster of desperate Dons defenders.

 

Esson again came close to costing Aberdeen a goal when he picked up Derek Whyte's back-pass.

 

Sauzee's indirect free-kick in the box was blocked.

 

Hibs skipper Sauzee forced a fine save from Esson when he held the ex-Marseilles star's long range free-kick.

 

 

Dirk Lehmann wasted good chances

Matthias Jack came close with a stinging 53rd-minute volley from the edge of the box that whizzed inches over.

 

Ian Murray should have done better in the 58th minute but he could only clip the ball over the bar from close range following a Latapy flick on.

 

Rasping drive

 

Robbie Winter produced a fine save from Colgan when he clipped his rasping 25-yard drive round the post.

 

After Stavrum's 61st-minute opener, Hibs huffed and puffed but could not find the fluid passing form which has served them so well this season.

 

Before Myer made sure of the win Lehmann should have equalised when he was released one-on-one with Esson.

 

But the clumsy striker thumped the ball straight at the onrushing keeper.

 

Hibernian: Colgan, Laursen, Sauzee, Fenwick, G. Smith, Murray, Latapy, O'Neil, Jack, Lehmann, Zitelli.

 

Subs: Franks, Andrews, T. Smith, McManus, Sar.

 

Aberdeen: Esson, Whyte, Solberg, Rowson, McNaughton, Guntveit, Clark, D. Young, Winters, Stavrum, Di Rocco.

 

Subs: Preece, McAllister, Mayer, Jess, Perry.

 

Referee: W Young

I remember that game so well - the atmosphere was unbelievable remember sitting right behind the goal when mayer scored.

I remember that game so well - the atmosphere was unbelievable remember sitting right behind the goal when mayer scored.

 

Shame it's not like that anymore.

In my book I wrote about how unreal the atmosphere was that game in which Stavrum and Mayer scored.

seems as good a place as any to put this

 

David Preece is now writing articles

 

http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/zlatan-ibrahimovic-the-best-player-ive-ever-played-against/

David Preece is now writing articles

 

 

Also just signed on a non contract basis for Lincoln City