Hibernian overcame an early setback this afternoon to claim a share of the spoils against Dundee at Dens Park.

Kevin Holt’s 8th minute penalty had given the hosts an early advantage, however Anthony Stokes levelled shortly before half-time with his fourth goal of the campaign.

Despite dominating the game for large spells and creating numerous opportunities throughout the 90 minutes, Hibernian found Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain in inspiring form and he thwarted them time and again.

The Dundee stopper produced the level of performance that saw him called into the national squad last term and at times he was all that stood between Hibernian and victory.

Head Coach Neil Lennon rang the changes following last weekend’s defeat by Hamilton Academical with David Gray, Marvin Bartley, Vykintas Slivka and Brandon Barker all starting.

Efe Ambrose, Dylan McGeouch and Lewis Stevenson dropped down to the substitutes’ bench whilst Danny Swanson missed out altogether due to illness.

The Easter Road men started well with home goalkeeper Bain called into action after only four minutes to keep out a powerful strike from Barker at his near post.

Dundee began the afternoon bottom of the league table and seeking their first points of the campaign.

Neil McCann’s side have struggled for goals lately and they were given an early opportunity to find the back of the net when Steven Whittaker was adjudged to have fouled Roarie Deacon inside the box.

Referee Don Robertson showed no hesitation when pointing to the penalty spot and Holt finished clinically despite the best efforts of Ofir Marciano.

New signing Barker was causing the Dundee rearguard problems with his direct running and he was unlucky not to find the net in the 19th minute after a terrific run and shot that was pushed over the crossbar by Bain.

Dundee should have doubled their lead soon after when a fantastic delivery from Scott Allan picked out the unmarked run of Holt, however, with only Marciano to beat, he headed weakly at the keeper.

As the game neared half-time the visitors increased the pressure on the home side with Bain called into action to brilliantly keep out a shot on the turn from Simon Murray.

Hibernian deservedly levelled six minutes from the break when Stokes brilliantly volleyed home a fantastic cross from Whittaker at the near post.

The goal was no less than the visitors deserved after dominating the majority of the first half.

The Edinburgh men were forced into a reshuffle at the break with Darren McGregor replaced by Ambrose at the heart of the defence.

Hibernian continued to take the game to Dundee and when Jack Hendry was hesitant in possession Stokes pounced to steal the ball and set up Murray for a strike at goal that fizzed just wide of the target.

Hendry was then fortunate to escape punishment after handling inside the box before a one-two between Bartley and Stokes ended with Bain saving at the feet of the midfielder.

Dundee had Bain to thank for a string of stunning saves that kept his side level - the keeper denying John McGinn, Barker and Stokes as Hibernian continued to knock on the door.

Whilst it had been one-way traffic for the majority of the second half, Dundee went close to snatching victory in the final 10 minutes when Farid El Bakhtaoui surged forward, skipped away from Ambrose and fired an angled drive just wide of goal from the edge of the box.

With four minutes remaining Stokes headed agonizingly wide of the target following a Gray cross from the right.

There were further opportunities in the dying moments for Stokes and Fraser Murray however neither could find a way past Bain as the hosts desperately held on for a share of the spoils.

Dundee: Bain, Kerr, Hendry, Waddell, Holt, Deacon, Kamara (O’Hara 82’), Vincent (Wolters 57’), Allan, McGowan, El Bakhtaoui. Substitutes not used: Hateley, Williams, Parish, Spence, Piggott.

Hibernian: Marciano, Gray, McGregor (Ambrose 46’), Hanlon, Whittaker, McGinn, Bartley, Barker (McGeouch 78’), Slivka, S. Murray (F. Murray 76’), Stokes. Substitutes not used: Laidlaw, Fontaine, Matulevicius, Stevenson.

Referee: Don Robertson.

Attendance: 6,004 Away: 1,520

Image: Alan Rennie