Match ends, Dumbarton 2, Hibernian 1.
DumbartonDumbarton2HibernianHibernian1
Willie Gibson curled in a fantastic free-kick to give Dumbarton an opening day win over Hibs in the Championship.
The Sons took an early lead when Gregor Buchanan finished off a low drilled free-kick from Gibson.
The visitors were level on 14 minutes when Dominique Malonga chased down a long ball and fired past Mark Brown.
Garry Fleming hit the post and had a header well saved by Hibs keeper Mark Oxley before Gibson found the top corner with a great strike.
Alan Stubbs' side dominated play as they chased an equaliser but the part-timers held on to upset the odds.
It was a dream start to Stephen Aitken's Dumbarton managerial career with an impressive performance by his men against much fancied promotion hopefuls.
With speculation still surrounding the future of Scott Allan, the midfielder made his first start of the season.
But it was the central defender of the home side Buchanan who made the early dramatic impact.
Liam Fontaine needlessly fouled Steven Craig wide on the left and from the resultant free-kick Buchanan was able to divert in Gibson's low delivery.
Allan responded for Hibs as he linked with his skipper David Gray before firing in a shot from 20 yards which Brown saved well.
Soon after, Malonga outpaced Andy Graham to latch onto a long ball before dispatching his shot powerfully past Brown.
Dumbarton should have regained the lead when captain Fleming breached the Hibs defence only to see his low shot clip the base of Oxley's left hand post and go wide.
Allan was always trying to create openings for the visitors and he succeeded in finding Scott Martin with a lovely reverse pass. The teenager collected it 16 yards out but Brown blocked the shot with his feet.
Fleming then came close again with a fine header which was superbly saved by Oxley.
Allan had the last effort of the first half and after a flowing move, including a neat dummy by Malonga, set up the midfielder. His shot from just outside the box was parried by Brown onto the chest of the advancing Jason Cummings and the ball flew wide.
The Sons may have finished seventh in the table last season but on this performance they will certainly have ambitions of finishing higher.
The home side moved back in front early in the second half with Gibson's 25-yard curling free-kick beating Oxley at his left hand post.
An excellent save from Brown denied Malonga a second equaliser but strangely none of the officials spotted the keeper's impressive effort and a goal kick was awarded.
As Hibs piled on the pressure, a Fontaine header flew high over from an Allan cross and a Lewis Stevenson volley was well handled by Brown.
Substitute Sam Stanton was next to try his luck with a header but his effort was too high to trouble Brown.
In stoppage-time Fontaine almost grabbed an equaliser but the Sons held out to claim the win their battling performance deserved.
Dumbarton manager Stephen Aitken: "It was a big test for us. I don't think that there's any doubt that Hibs will finish in the top two.
"The players all worked their socks off and we had that wee bit of quality from Willie Gibson to get us the result.
"We rode our luck at times but I thought it was a well deserved win."
Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs: "We've been poor at two set-pieces and that's what cost us the game.
"We were in enough good areas and we haven't found that pass. Saying that, we had a few chances but we couldn't put them away.
"I'm not going to let the players use what's happened over the last couple of weeks as an excuse."
Line-ups
Dumbarton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Brown
- 2Taggart
- 4Graham
- 5Buchanan
- 3Docherty
- 7CawleySubstituted forKirkpatrickat 68'minutes
- 8Gallagher
- 17RoutledgeBooked at 72mins
- 13Gibson
- 9FlemingSubstituted forSmithat 86'minutes
- 12CraigSubstituted forLindsayat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Miller
- 10Kirkpatrick
- 11Smith
- 15McCallum
- 16Waters
- 18Lindsay
- 19Ewings
Hibernian
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1Oxley
- 2Gray
- 4Hanlon
- 5Fontaine
- 16StevensonBooked at 28mins
- 6BartleySubstituted forBoyleat 85'minutes
- 8Fyvie
- 10AllanBooked at 79mins
- 48MartinSubstituted forMcGinnat 56'minutes
- 7Malonga
- 35CummingsSubstituted forStantonat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Stanton
- 17Boyle
- 18McGinn
- 21Carmichael
- 31Reguero
- 33Harris
- 42Dunsmore
- Referee:
- Don Robertson
- Attendance:
- 1,552
Match Stats
Home TeamDumbartonAway TeamHibernian
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home2
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dumbarton 2, Hibernian 1.
Post update
(Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Liam Fontaine (Hibernian).
Post update
Attempt missed. Martin Boyle (Hibernian) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Dumbarton. Gordon Smith replaces Garry Fleming.
Substitution
Substitution, Hibernian. Martin Boyle replaces Marvyn Bartley.
Post update
Attempt missed. Samuel Stanton (Hibernian) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Post update
Corner, Hibernian. Conceded by Gregor Buchanan.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Dominique Malonga (Hibernian) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Booking
Scott Allan (Hibernian) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Jamie Lindsay (Dumbarton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Scott Allan (Hibernian).
Substitution
Substitution, Dumbarton. Jamie Lindsay replaces Steven Craig.
Post update
Foul by William Gibson (Dumbarton).
Post update
Scott Allan (Hibernian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Jon Routledge (Dumbarton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Jon Routledge (Dumbarton).
Post update
Scott Allan (Hibernian) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lewis Stevenson (Hibernian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
