Hibs, Dundee, and a hatful of goals: Seven high-scoring encounters between the Betfred Cup opponents

Hibs’ 4-1 victory over Dundee in the Betfred Cup on Sunday was just the latest high-scoring encounter between the two teams in the last twenty-odd years.

Garry O'Connor of Hibs and Dundee's Neil Barrett vie for the ball during one of the high-scoring encounters

Despite the occasional difference in divisions, there have been no fewer than seven meetings between the Hibees and the Dark Blues since late 1999 that have produced at least four goals, not counting Sunday’s meeting.

Here’s a quick reminder of those seven matches – and after being drawn against each other again in the last-16 of the Betfred Cup, will we be treated to another goalfest at the end of the month?

Dundee 3, Hibs 4: August 8, 1999

A little over 6,000 people were at Dens Park for the second game of the 1999/2000 season with the Easter Road side hoping to build on their opening-day draw with Motherwell. German striker Dirk Lehmann opened the scoring on 32 minutes, but an own goal by Hibs defender Paul Lovering levelled matters ten minutes after half-time. Shaun McSkimming put the hosts in front just before the hour mark, only for Franck Sauzee to equalise minutes later. An Eddie Annand penalty put Dundee in front again on 73 minutes but late goals from Sauzee and youngster Kenny Miller ensured the points would be heading back to the Capital.

Hibs 5, Dundee 2: October 23, 1999

Hibs went into this game with just one league win to their name – the previous meeting with Dundee at Dens Park.

Roberto Matute fired Dundee into a sixth-minute lead, with Kenny Miller levelling on the half-hour mark. Russell Latapy then scored the first of a brace five minutes before half-time, with Franck Sauzee extending Hibs’ lead on 63 minutes. Willie Falconer reduced the deficit ten minutes later but Latapy's second and a Dirk Lehmann strike at the death ensured a 5-2 victory for Hibs.

Hibs 5, Dundee 1: August 12, 2000

Striker Didier Agathe had scored twice in a 3-0 win against Dundee United after missing a sitter at Tynecastle so when the Terrors’ city rivals came to town, the onus was on the Frenchman to do the business once more. Fabian Caballero scored in the opening ten minutes before being red-carded for violent conduct in first-half injury time. Agathe had already notched another brace either side of a missed penalty from Russell Latapy before the Argentine forward followed team-mate Patrizio Billio in for an early bath before the half-time whistle.

The two-man advantage was evident in the final ten minutes as substitute Dirk Lehmann scored on 81 minutes and 82 minutes before Stuart Lovell completed the rout with five minutes to spare.

Hibs 4, Dundee 4: August 28, 2004

Tony Mowbray’s young side hadn’t had the best of starts to the 2004/05 campaign, going down 1-0 at home to Kilmarnock on the opening day of the season before a 2-1 triumph away to Motherwell. A trip to Ibrox had resulted in a 4-1 reversal so the visit of Dundee gave Hibs the perfect chance to get back on the victory trail on league duty after defeating Alloa in the CIS Cup in midweek.

Although John Sutton fired the visitors into a sixth-minute lead, Dean Shiels and Derek Riordan turned the game on its head by half-time. A quickfire double from Garry O’Connor put Hibs 4-1 up early in the second period and the game looked over. But substitute Garry Brady reduced the deficit on 65 minutes and fellow replacement Glen Atle Larsen gave Jim Duffy’s side a glimmer of hope ten minutes from the end, with Jonay Hernandez netting the equaliser in injury time to cap a remarkable comeback.

Dundee 1, Hibs 4: November 20, 2004

Hibs this time managed to hold on to a three-goal lead. Guillame Beuzelin’s 17th-minute header sent the Easter Road side on their way and Derek Riordan’s curling effort two minutes before the break gave the visitors a two-goal lead. Steve Lovell reduce arrears with around half an hour remaining but Alen Orman on 72 minutes and Dean Shiels two minutes from time ensured there would be no repeat of the collapse of August.

Hibs 4, Dundee 0: February 19, 2005

By the time Dundee returned to Edinburgh, Hibs had won 12 of their 21 games but were without a win to their name in February but the 10,938 souls at Easter Road were treated to a scintillating display from Tony Mowbray’s side. Garry O’Connor put the hosts in front on 27 minutes with Steven Whittaker doubling Hibs’ advantage shortly after the interval. Steven Fletcher added a third on 76 minutes and O’Connor notched his second immediately after. Ironically Hibs lost their next three matches, scoring once and conceding nine before three straight victories.

Dundee 2, Hibs 4: February 22, 2019

Hibs travelled to Dens Park for this Friday-night encounter under recently-appointed manager Paul Heckingbottom. Florian Kamberi grabbed the opener on 26 minutes with Paul McGowan cancelling it out ten minutes later. Marc McNulty restored Hibs’ lead six minutes before half-time, and added his second and the team’s third on 63 minutes. A long-range effort from Stevie Mallan three minutes later increased his side’s lead and even when Martin Woods got one back with ten minutes left to play, the visitors looked comfortable and held on for the win.