Hibs thought they’d snatched a late win, but a Cameron Congreve buzzer beater forced the teams to settle for a point.
Both sides would come into the match in good spirits on the backs of breaking long-standing away ducks. Dundee recored their first win at Pittodrie in 22 years whilst Hibs defeated Celtic at Parkhead for the first time since 2010 last weekend.
Last season, Hibs uncharacteristically wore green shorts. They opened that season with one win in 14 and sat bottom. Many credit the formation change for the 3-3 draw with Aberdeen to be the season’s turning point, but it was also the first time that Hibs reverted to their traditional white shorts. A clash with Dundee’s Armed Forces kit meant David Gray’s side were in their unlucky greens once more. Ironically, the last time Hibs donned the all green home kit was a 4-1 loss at Dens Park in November 2024. It feels a full circle moment following the change, with Hibs on the receiving end of a late sucker punch in a six goal draw this time.
First Half
The first chance of the match fell to Dundee, Jack Iredale would head an inviting cross away for a corner, with Dundee heading over moments later.
Hibs would take the lead in the 11th minute when Owen Elding headed in from a fantastic Nicky Cadden cross. However, the lead only lasted five minutes as Dundee captain and ex-Hibs striker Simon Murray’s shot was aided by a deflection into the bottom corner.
Dundee would go close on 25 minutes as Tony Yogane forced Raphael Sallinger into an excellent save which would fly across the face of goal, but no man in navy and red was on hand to tap home.
Elding would look to double his tally from outside the area, but his attempt for the bottom corner was easily caught by John McCracken in Dundee’s goal.
It’s clear that Hibernian’s wingbacks of Nicky Cadden and Felix Passlack are starting to become quite the partnership. Cadden assisted Passlack last week at Celtic Park, and the German hit the frame of the goal a week prior after volleying another Cadden cross. On this occasion, Cadden would play a cross-field ball to Passlack, who would challenge McCracken from the edge of the box on his weak foot.
On the stroke of half-time, Dan Barlaser would trip over the ball causing a Dundee counter attack which would be stopped by Warren O’Hora as he entered the book. On-loan Hearts midfielder Yan Dhanda would have an effort following the free kick whistle past the near post.
Second Half
Hibs would go close early into the second half. Whether it was meant or not, Nicky Cadden’s cross would worry McCracken as it flew goal bound, only just floating over the bar.
They’d continue to apply pressure in the opening phases of the second stage. After playing some nice football counter attacking from a Dundee corner, the ball would fall just inside the box to Elding, but his effort was over the bar.
Passlack would attempt to restore Hibs’ lead as he got on the end of Jack Iredale’s cross, but his header was just over the bar. Moments later, Jamie McGrath shot just over the bar too from inside the box.
Dundee’s first chance of the half fell to Simon Murray just after the hour mark, but his near post effort was blocked by the Hibs defence.
Steven Pressley’s side would take the lead in the 72nd minute as Luke Graham lost his man to get on the end of a Drey Wright cross and finish from close range.
When looking to his bench, David Gray would once again turn to Ante Suto who had provided two goals and an assist in his opening four cameos. Five minutes from time, the Croatian would find himself one-on-one an make no mistake to score the equaliser.
Jamie McGrath thought he gave Hibs the win in the 89th minute as he cut inside to finish in the bottom corner, but his goal was cancelled out with the last kick of the match as Cameron Congreve’s exceptional finish salvaged a point in a thriller on Dens Road.
Post-Match
Speaking after full time, Steven Pressley said:
“I thought we showed real great composure for 80 minutes, and then we just lost our way a little bit and of course, losing the two goals. I think its easy for a team to go down and under but we responded in amazing fashion and I think it says a lot about the group and the spirit after that setback that we managed to salvage a point. So I couldn’t be prouder.”
Whilst Dundee now sit seven points ahead of Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot, Pressley has insisted his side aren’t out of the woods yet. He said:
“A lot of people have said are you looking up the table? I’m genuinely not, there’ll be nobody more relieved if we finally get over the line and secure our safety for next season. We’re still quite a bit away from that.”
The Dundee boss also let slip that Premier League club Brentford’s representatives took an eye to goalscorer Luke Graham. Pressley said: “The Brentford loans manager was here today and he’s seen a really top performance in Yogane. They also commented on Luke Graham and he said to me ‘What an outstanding young player you have’ and he’s right.
“That’s why the club turned down the money we did in January, I think we will be proved right because I think he’s worth every penny that we value him at.”
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David Gray reflected on dropping points at the death once more, he said:
“It feels like because you lose a goal in the last second, like a defeat. I think that’s natural.
“I thought it was quite a slow game at the start. But the first bit of quality we actually showed in the game, we scored and found ourselves 1-0 up.
“The next two goals we lose within the game are extremely poor, really, really poor goals allow Dundee back into the game.
“The players then show brilliant character go [from] 2-1 down… 20 minutes to go in the game, to find a way to get back in it, to go 2-2, then push and go 3-2.”
This is now the seventh time this season hits have conceded in injury time, Gray said:
“It’s something we will address, we will look at it.
“There is accountability across the board to make sure we learn from the experience and try to get better from it.”
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Next up, Dundee host Motherwell on the 7th March following the matches postponement earlier this month. As for Hibs, they’re off next weekend due to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, returning to league action on the 14th March where they’ll welcome Hibernian legend Marvin Bartley’s relegation favourites Livingston.
