Hibernian were handed their first penalty kick of the season to ensure a 2-1 win over Dundee.

Mixu Paatelainen had already given the Easter Road side the lead early in the game and he netted again from 12 yards to secure the three points, despite a late goal from Nacho Novo.

Hibs boss Bobby Williamson had dominated the headlines earlier this week when he questioned the number of penalties awarded against the Old Firm, after claiming his side were denied a spot-kick that could have earned them a valuable point against Rangers.

But, against Dundee, Williamson seemed determined to do his talking on the pitch instead and the game was only two minutes old before the Easter Road side had their first shot at goal.

Jarkko Wiss picked out skipper John O'Neil in the box and he played the ball to Alen Orman, who in turn provided the pass for Wiss' shot, but the Finn sent the effort just wide of the post.

It was Wiss' fellow countryman Paatelainen who opened the scoring for the home side after 12 minutes.

Craig James had been looking dangerous down the left flank and he provided the cross for the big striker to squeeze a header past Dundee goalkeeper Julian Speroni.

Dundee had fallen victim to a Dunfermline fightback during the week when they went two goals ahead only to lose the game, and they tried to take some tips from Jimmy Calderwood's side by staging their own comeback.

The Dens Park side called Hibs goalkeeper Nick Colgan into action for the first time after 18 minutes when he was forced to block a Jonay Hernandez free kick from 25 yards out.

But, despite Dundee's increased possession, it was Hibs who were still looking most dangerous in front of goal.

James again tried to pick out Paatelainen in the box - this time just a few yards out - but Speroni managed to intercept to deny the big Finnish striker the header.

But Hibs almost grabbed a goal in stunning style shortly before the interval when Yannick Zambernardi tried his luck with an audacious 45-yard shot, which Speroni only just managed to tip over the crossbar.

Just three minutes after the restart Hibs were handed their first penalty of the season when Paatelainen was brought down in the box by Dave MacKay.

The towering striker stepped up for the spot kick himself and doubled the Easter Road side's lead when he slotted home from 12 yards.

Hibs continued to put Dundee under pressure. A John O'Neil corner was flighted into the box, sparking a goal mouth scramble, before Paatelainen eventually managed the shot from a couple of yards out only to be denied by Speroni.

Dundee made their first change on the hour mark when boss Jim Duffy replaced Tom Hutchinson with Nacho Novo.

Two minutes later, the Dens Park side were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Steve Lovell surged into the box only for Colgan to pounce off his line to successfully block the effort.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Dundee pushed forward in search of the goals that would give them a point from the game.

Gavin Rae came close from inside the 18-yard box but he was denied by Hibs defender Gary Smith who managed to clear.

Caballero then went on a good run that took him almost to the six yard line only for the shot to cannon off Wiss.

The goal eventually came in the last minute of the game when substitute Novo fired home from eight yards out.