Dundee’s need for points is possibly greater than that of this Friday’s opponents Hibernian and recent efforts suggest the Dens Park club are going to put up a fight in a three-cornered contest which will determine which team is relegated and which is forced to go through the play-offs before confirming their place in next season’s Scottish Premiership.
Dundee Form
The Dark Blues are in the midst of a mini-revival and are unbeaten in five in the league, following up recent draws against Hamilton and Kilmarnock with a vital win against 10-man Livingstone last week. Defeat in that game would have been a hammer blow but second-half goals from Andy Nelson and Scott Wright turned things around. Jim McIntyre has gambled on a host of loan signings to get his team out of trouble, including Scunthorpe duo James Horsfield and Andy Dales, but his team will still need plenty of luck between now and the end of the season if they are to avoid the drop.
Hibernian Form
Hibernian have appointed Paul Heckingbottom as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half year contract. The former Leeds and Barnsley boss has replaced Neil Lennon, who left the club along with assistant Garry Parker by mutual consent in January – Heckingbottom will be assisted by former Scotland international Robbie Stockdale. Lennon was never far from the headlines but the new coach is less controversial and is hoping to bring some stability to the Edinburgh club, though apparently wasn’t first choice. He got off to a winning start against Hamilton Academical, however, and will view a game at Dundee as winnable. The return to fitness of captain David Gray has been a plus and Mark McNulty is back among the goals so a place in the top six at the cut-off is still possible, though they have lost four of their last six in the league.
Dundee v Hibernian Head-to-Heads
Hibs won 3-0 at Dens Park back in September and the teams then drew 2-2 at Easter Road in November but Dundee have not beaten Hibernian since the 2012/13 season and Hibs have scored at least once in the last 17 fixtures between the sides. The away side have won three of the last four meetings at Dens Park, with Dundee failing to score in the last two. Hibs have won on nine of the last 10 occasions in which there has been a positive result.
91st Oscars 2019 – Predictions & Winner Odds
Dundee v Hibernian Current Best Odds
Dundee 7/2, Draw 14/5, Hibernian 16/19 (Odds correct at 11.00am February 21)
Dundee v Hibernian Predictions
Dundee have improved defensively since the turn of the year and, while you still couldn’t describe Dens Park as a fortress, home fans have only seen their team beaten twice in their last eight. But the fact remains that Hibs have accumulated almost twice as many points as their hosts over the season so far and Heckingbottom’s arrival, along with a non-nonsense approach, has given them a boost. Hibs are fancied to put a dent in Dundee’s survival hopes by recording a victory at 16/19 with Unibet. Hibs are 13/5 to win by one goal in the Winning Margins with Boylesports and Hibernian/Hibernian in the Half Time/Full Time forecast is 2/1 with BetVictor.
