Hibernian bounced back from their midweek Midtyjlland heartbreak to pick up three points on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership with a controlled victory at Dundee.
David Gray’s side took the Danish outfit to extra time on Thursday night in the second leg of their Europa League qualifying tie, only succumbing to a 119th-minute overhead kick that knocked them out.
Kieron Bowie scored with the first shot of the game, albeit it took until the 28th minute to come. Reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box, the youngster lashed low into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, the Scotland striker had a second. Jordan Obita’s shot was saved by Jon McCracken in the Dundee goal, but the ball sat kindly for Bowie to roll into an empty net from 10 yards.
It looked like Hibs were going to cruise it from there, as Steven Pressley – a manager under pressure already given Dundee’s meek exit from the Premier Sports Cup group stages – watched on, frantically scribbling in his notebook.
He couldn’t have masterminded Dundee’s goal, which came from a Hibs slip up.
Jack Iredale lost his footing at the back, allowing Ashley Hay to nip into the box and cut back for Fin Robertson to sweep home.
Although that gave the hosts a lifeline, it always looked more likely that Hibs would score a third.
They should have had it, when Josh Campbell was picked out at the back post from a corner. Totally unmarked, four yards out, his header was straight at the keeper.