Derek Riordan scored from the penalty spot to give Hibernian a share of the points against Dundee - but the Easter Road side were unfortunate not to win the game.

Dundee took a first-half lead through Mark Fotheringham but Riordan drew them level from the spot and the Dens Park side were forced to weather a storm of Hibs chances until the final whistle allowed them to head back to Tayside with a point.

Dundee may still have plenty of financial worries off the pitch to contend with but they were slowly but surely returning to form on it.

After losing 15 players as a result of being placed in the hands of the administrators and flirting with the relegation zone at one point, Jim Duffy's men gave the impression they were back to top form with a derby win over Dundee United last week.

That game saw defender Lee Wilkie pick up a knee injury which ruled him out for the visit to Easter Road and Hibs were quick to exploit that weakness in defence early on.

The home side came close when Scott Brown fed the ball through to Riordan in the 18-yard box but goalkeeper Julian Speroni punched clear before he could pull the trigger. The ball broke to Kevin Thomson only for him to fire just wide of the post.

They were threatening again when Riordan's pass was met by Garry O'Connor six yards out but Speroni managed to deny him and then Brown from finding the back of the net.

The first change of the game came after just 26 minutes when injured Hibs defender Gary Smith was replaced by new signing Gary Caldwell.

Seconds later, O'Connor's cross-shot smacked off the crossbar as Hibs piled on the pressure again.

Dundee had a decent chance to take the lead when Fotheringham unleashed a powerful left-footed drive from 35 yards but was denied by Hibs goalkeeper Daniel Andersson, who did well to block the shot.

But Andersson was left helpless after 44 minutes when Fotheringham met a pass from Dave Mackay before slotting home to give the Dens Park side the lead.

Jarkko Wiss had been injured in the first half and he was replaced by Kevin Nicol at half-time as Hibs boss Bobby Williamson was forced to make his second change of the game through injury.

Dundee were clearly boosted by their opener late in the first half and went in search of their second a few minutes after the restart when Nacho Novo set up Steven Milne for the shot but he fired well wide.

Riordan had looked menacing in the first half and he had another go with a shot from just inside the area but Speroni smothered the effort at the near post.

Dundee could have added to their lead when Novo and Milne tried to exchange a one-two in front of goal but the threat was snuffed out by Mathias Doumbe.

Riordan finally got his name on the scoresheet when he levelled from the penalty spot after Brown had been hauled down in the box by Dundee defender Barry Smith after 69 minutes.

The Hibs striker could have given the Easter Road side the lead a few minutes later when he met an O'Connor cross and should have found the back of the net but Speroni raced off his line to block the effort.

It was not to be Riordan's day when he found the back of the net again with just 10 minutes to go - but the assistant referee had already raised his flag for offside.

Teams:

Hibernian Andersson, Smith (Caldwell 27), Murdock, Doumbe, Whittaker, Scott Brown, Reid (Dobbie 90), Wiss (Nicol 45), Thomson, O'Connor, Riordan.

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, McCluskey.

Goals: Riordan 69 pen.

Dundee Speroni, Mackay, Smith, Mair, Sancho, Barrett (Robb 67), Brady, Fotheringham, Hernandez Santos, Milne (Lovell 76), Novo (Jablonski 90).

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Hutchinson.

Booked: Novo, Barrett, Fotheringham.

Goals: Fotheringham 44.

Att: 8,023

Ref: S Conroy (Scotland).