Hibs v Dundee: Why Easter Road side needs a win in final Betfred Cup group game

Hibs host Dundee this afternoon in the Easter Road side’s final Betfred Cup group match.
Jack Ross will be targeting victory against Dundee to avoid a tough first tie in the knock-out stagesJack Ross will be targeting victory against Dundee to avoid a tough first tie in the knock-out stages
Jack Ross will be targeting victory against Dundee to avoid a tough first tie in the knock-out stages

The Capital club has three wins from three having posted victories against Brora Rangers at home, and Cove Rangers and Forfar Athletic on the road.

Despite a stuttering start to their league campaign the Dark Blues have also posted three wins from three, scoring eight goals and conceding none. As things stand, James McPake’s side top Group D with Hibs in second place on goal difference, having scored just six goals and conceded two in their three matches to date.

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The group winner will progress as one of the seeded teams, avoiding the likes of Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts, Motherwell, and Rangers in the first knock-out round stage.

However, with both teams on nine points ahead of today’s meeting, both are likely to progress to the knock-out stage.

Currently Hibs are in position to qualify as one of the best runners-up along with Falkirk, Arbroath, and Alloa Athletic but put simply, victory against Dundee would ensure they avoid a tricky test against either Old Firm side or bogey team Aberdeen, or city rivals Hearts who triumphed in the most recent cup meeting between the two teams.

Jack Ross will be without a handful of first-teamers through a mixture of injury and international duty including goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, long-serving defender Lewis Stevenson and midfielder Alex Gogic, but won’t have the same selection issues that reduced him to the bare bones for the trip to Forfar last month.

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