Cam Congreve scoresImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Cam Congreve's goal was only his second goal of the season

At a glance

  • Congreve's 95th-minute strike rescues point for Dundee in epic game at Dens Park

  • Hibs took the lead twice, once early on through Elding and in the 89th minute through Jamie McGrath

  • Gray's side lose ground to fourth-placed Motherwell, who beat Dundee United at Fir Park

ByAndrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Hibernian dropped points in the race for Europe as Cam Congreve's dramatic late screamer rescued a Scottish Premiership point for Dundee in a six-goal thriller at Dens Park.

The lead changed hands on three occasions between the sides, but Congreve's goal was the pick of the bunch on a day where both sides deserved something from the game.

Hibs had taken the lead when Owen Elding connected to a Nicky Cadden cross, powering in a header for his second goal in green, but Simon Murray's deflected effort quickly restored parity on Tayside.

David Gray's side dominated the majority of the opportunities, with Elding and Felix Passlack missing gilt-edged chances, but it was Dundee who would next take the lead.

Drey Wright curled into the box and picked out Luke Graham, who emerged from a pack of bodies to side-foot in a tremendous volley, putting his side ahead for the first time.

But Hibs found a late leveller of their own when substitute Ante Suto took a brilliant first touch to kill a ball over the top, before tucking the ball under the keeper with his second.

And it got even better for the visitors, when McGrath dropped his shoulder in the box, shifting away from a defender and drilling in what looked like the winner.

But there was still time for Congreve to produce a moment of magic on his own. With the seconds dwindling away, the ball sat nicely for the Welshman on the edge of the box and he curled in an absolute beauty to tie things up once again.

Fifth-placed Hibernian trail Motherwell by seven points, with only the top four times sealing a European places.

Dundee, meanwhile, move seven points clear of 11th-placed Kilmarnock with relegation fears from earlier the season all but gone.

Analysis: Dogged Dundee bite back to humble Hibs

We truly have been blessed this season by some unbelievable entertainment, but that will not provide any comfort for Hibs' head coach Gray.

His side showed both the good and bad in their performance. The good? Elding looks a terrific signing.

Two goals, both headers, although slightly different. The Irishman glanced one in against St Mirren a few weeks ago, and bulleted one in today.

Highly thought of across the water in his homeland, he has slotted into the starting XI seamlessly, filling the Kieron Bowie-shaped hole up top.

Of course, he's been ably assisted by Nicky Cadden. In and out this season due to injury, he's getting back to his best at the business end of the season.

There are very few, if any, who are capable of delivering a better ball in the Scottish top flight and he showed that again this afternoon.

However, you will very rarely win points when you concede three goals. Yes, one of them was a wonder strike but taking a look at the table, they have let in considerably more than the four sides above them.

At least they've confirmed their top six place. Every cloud.

Attacking stats between Dundee and HibernianImage source, Opta

Pressley may deny the fact that Dundee are no longer in a relegation fight, but they look like one of the stronger horses in the bottom six.

That said, there will be a frustration they have only garnered two points from the previous two games.

However, when you look at the sides below them - Livingston, Kilmarnock and St Mirren - Dundee are the one side who appear to be moving in the other direction.

They have players they can rely upon for a bit of magic - Murray and Congreve - while Ethan Hamilton adds grit in the middle.

That grit runs throughout the team, though. Pressley's men have won 11 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season - only rivals United have recovered more.

There is a doggedness there, although there is also a penchant for losing late goals which almost cost them today.

What they said

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley tells BBC Scotland: "It was a terrific game of football, both sides going out there to try and win the game.

"Hibs are a great side and have really good quality, but I thought for 80 minutes we were excellent. We did some great things and once we got our noses in front, we just lost a bit of composure.

"Credit to Hibs, they made some really positive changes and found themselves a goal ahead.

"But it says everything about our team at present that from a position of winning, to then being behind, we didn't give up. We kept going and going until that final whistle, and we got a very much deserved point.

Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "Very mixed [emotions], just due to the nature of a whirlwind game. To lose a goal with the very last kick feels like two points dropped a defeat.

"What's massively let us down today is the goals we've conceded. We were the better side but the defending has cost us.

"The players then showed incredible character to be 2-1 down, to then go 3-2 up. The subs came on and impacted the game.

"The players are hurting though, but the story today is that we've come to a tough place, scored three goals and only got a point. That shows you where we've let ourselves down today.

What's next?

Dundee host Motherwell next Saturday in league action (15:00 GMT), while Hibs don't play again until Saturday 14 March when they welcome Livingston (15:00).

Player of the match

Number: 77 A. Šuto
Average rating 7.75
Number: 20 C. Congreve
Average Rating: 6.92
Number: 48 E. Hamilton
Average Rating: 6.83
Number: 22 L. Graham
Average Rating: 6.73
Number: 17 T. Yogane
Average Rating: 6.67
Number: 7 D. Wright
Average Rating: 6.27
Number: 11 A. Hay
Average Rating: 6.07
Number: 18 C. Reilly
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 12 I. Samuels
Average Rating: 5.88
Number: 4 R. Astley
Average Rating: 5.50
Number: 24 J. Cotterill
Average Rating: 5.50
Number: 15 S. Murray
Average Rating: 5.46
Number: 19 J. Westley
Average Rating: 5.40
Number: 1 J. McCracken
Average Rating: 5.33
Number: 10 F. Robertson
Average Rating: 5.33
Number: 21 Y. Dhanda
Average Rating: 5.08

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.