Derek Riordan's 18th goal of the season gave Hibernian a narrow win over Dundee in their Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Easter Road.

An open first-half saw both sides having chances to open the scoring but, three minutes before the break, the Scotland Under-21 international was handily placed to re-direct a Kevin Nicol shot into the net from close range for the only goal of the game.

Riordan now remains on course to equal former Easter Road striker Steve Cowan's tally of 19 in season 1985/86 but the Hibs fans will be more pleased with the way their side defended their lead in the second period, despite concerted pressure from the Taysiders.

The visitors went into the game in confident mood after a four-game unbeaten run and should have opened the scoring after only two minutes.

A clever Steven Milne header inside the Hibs area found Nacho Novo, who made himself a yard of space before firing an angled shot in from eight yards out, which Easter Road keeper Daniel Andersson did well to beat away.

Gradually, however, the home side worked their way into the game with the aggressive Scott Brown inspiring his team-mates with his impressive work-rate on the right.

In the 16th minute, Hibs almost took the lead after a fine cross from the right by Brown found Tom McManus unmarked only the 10 yards from goal.

The striker's first-time volley was well struck but Dens keeper Julian Speroni brilliantly threw himself to his right to parry the ball to safety.

The Leith side were on top now but midfielder Gary Caldwell's close range header from a McManus cross lacked the power to worry Speroni.

On the half-hour mark, a clever chip from Hibs midfielder Grant Brebner, making his first appearance since breaking his arm in January, found McManus inside the Dundee penalty area but the striker's turn and shot from 12 yards was weak with Speroni gathering easily.

But Dundee came close again at the other end two minutes later when Milne found Novo again but the Spaniard's toe-poke from just inside the box beat Andersson only to rebound off the post before being cleared.

In the 42nd minute, the deadlock was eventually broken when the home side took the lead with an opportunist goal from Riordan.

Following a corner from McManus, the ball bounced around the Dundee penalty area but, when Kevin Nicol's shot from the edge of the box seemed to be on its way to goal, Riordan stuck a leg out to give Speroni no chance.

Riordan scurried around the Dundee defence looking for another chance early in the second period.

In the 51st minute, the Hibs striker broke free of the visitors' defence but his left-footed shot from 14 yards was weak and easily saved by Speroni.

McManus did get the ball past Speroni with a close range header only to be ruled offside.

Dundee were struggling to create anything resembling a clear-cut opportunity, but, on the hour mark, Andersson looked sharp at his near post to hold a Milne shot.

Then, Milne's neat flick from a Jonay Hernandez cross went only inches wide of the far post with Andersson beaten.

In the first minute of injury-time, Hibs substitute Stephen Dobbie, on earlier for McManus, crashed a 16-yard strike off the crossbar with Speroni well beaten before the Dens keeper pulled off a fantastic double save from Brown and then Dobbie again.

Teams

Hibernian Andersson, Reid, Caldwell, Murdock, Edge, Scott Brown, Brebner (Whittaker 74), Nicol, Thomson, McManus (Dobbie 80), Riordan (Fletcher 90).

Subs Not Used: Alistair Brown, Orman.

Booked: Scott Brown, Edge.

Goals: Riordan 42.

Dundee Speroni, Mackay, Sancho, Mair, Hernandez Santos, Cameron (Clark 74), Jablonski (Hegarty 78), Brady, McDonald (Youngson 90), Novo, Milne.

Subs Not Used: Soutar, McNally.

Booked: Novo, Hernandez Santos, Mair.

Att: 6,180

Ref: C MacKay (Scotland).