Dundee went down to a 3-2 defeat in Ayrshire against Kilmarnock this afternoon. Danny Armstrong’s penalty gave Killie a half time lead. Lyall Cameron equalised after 75 minutes but Bruce Anderson immediately restored Kilmarnock’s lead. In added time Robbie Deas made it 3-1 before Cameron scored his second goal of the day. Despite frantic Dee attacking Killie hung on take the three points.
There were two changes to the Dundee team from last week. Aaron Donnelly and Seb Palmer-Houlden came in for Clark Robertson and Seun Adewumi.
Kilmarnock gave the Dee two scares in the first few minutes. Robbie Deas’ header from a corner at the far post was blocked by Trevor Carson who saved from Bruce Anderson’s follow up. The saves were nothing remarkable from a good, professional keeper, but the ease with which Killie created the chance was a concern.
The home side should have taken the lead after seven minutes. Corrie Ndaba burst forward from left back and Killie were attacking the penalty area with two players facing a single defender. Ndaba set up Anderson who somehow scuffed a simple chance wide.
That was the end of Kilmarnock’s attacking threat from open play in the first half. The Dark Blues played the better, more composed football, but failed to create a single worthwhile chance.
Simon Murray went closest when he tried to repeat his spectacular, opportunist goal at Ross County. He lost his marker with a skillful turn at the corner of the penalty area, but Kieran O’Hara turned his curling shot away.
Kilmarnock were scrappy and saw moves break down repeatedly with mistakes and overhit passes. They were always a threat from set pieces, however, and a free kick from 40 yards led to the opening goal from a penalty after 31 minutes. Referee Don Robertson ruled that Seb Palmer-Houlden blocked Liam Donnelly illegally beyond the far post and Danny ARMSTRONG thumped the spot kick high into the net.
The pattern of the game didn’t change. Dundee continued to pass and press with no reward. Kilmarnock stayed solid at the back but stuttered unconvincingly when they tried to attack.
Kilmarnock started the second half as if their manager had used some stern words in the dressing room. After that ineffective first half they launched a series of troubling raids in the first five minutes after the restart. The most dangerous ended with David Watson sending Ndaba clear but the full back shot over the bar from 10 yards.
Dundee survived that storm but Kilmarnock remained on top and always looked the more dangerous side. Stuart Findlay’s diving header from six yards flew narrowly wide.
Seun Adewumi came on for Scott Tiffoney and was quickly in the action. He had a half chance but hit a weak shot straight at the keeper.
The Dark Blues were given hope that VAR might rescue them after Simon Murray appealed for a penalty when he was challenged by Kyle Vassell as they went for a free kick. The referee decided it wasn’t a foul but was told to review the incident. However, when he went to the screen there was no image and he had no alternative but to stick with his initial decision.
Kilmarnock’s left winger Fraser Murray had a poor first half but was dangerous throughout the second particularly as the game opened up with Dundee chasing an equaliser. He went close with a shot across goal after cutting in from the left.
Seb Palmer-Houlden went off injured after 73 minutes and was replaced by Fin Robertson. The change made Dundee more competitive in midfield and it paid off quickly when the Dark Blues equalised two minnutes later.
Robertson pounced on a mistake in the Killie midfield and sent Adewumi into the penalty area. The young Austrian was tackled and the ball broke to Lyall CAMERON whose shot was partially blocked before bobbling over the line.
It should have been a hugely important goal but, instead of keeping the game tight, Dundee allowed Kilmarnock to regain the lead almost immediately. Donnelly got clear on the left of the penalty area and his cross was headed home from close range by ANDERSON.
It was a simple goal to concede and particularly disappointing after the Dark Blues had worked their way back onto level terms.
Dundee threw men forward to try and save the game but were vulnerable to counter attacks and rode their luck on a few occasions. Carson saved well from substitutes Liam Polworth and then Rory McKenzie. After 90 minutes Carson again saved well from Kyle Vassell, turning his shot round the post for a corner.
Armstrong swung the corner to the far post and Robbie DEAS scored with a powerful header. That seemed to be the final blow to Dundee’s hopes of saving the game but there were nine minutes of added time.
Dundee attacked frantically and with enough conviction to trouble Kilmarnock. After 95 minutes Ziyad Larkeche burst in from the left and passed to Lyall CAMERON who made space on the edge of the penalty area and rifled a superb low shot across O’Hara into the corner of the net.
Josh Mulligan had a glimmer of a chance in the final minute but couldn’t get enough in his shot to beat O’Hara who saved at the expense of a corner. Kilmarnock survived that and celebrated when the final whistle sounded seconds later.
Kilmarnock deserved the win in the end without playing consistently well throughout. When they couldn’t get their attacking game going they were always solid at the back. Sadly Dundee’s defending was as erratic as we have come to expect. They can play much more fluently than they did in the second half, but the two goals they scored should have been enough to give them some reward from the game. The VAR fiasco might have been ludicrous but it was the Dark Blues’ defending that cost them dearly today.
Kilmarnock 4-4-2
O’Hara
Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba
Armstrong, Donnelly (McKenzie 80), Watson (Polworth 85), Murray
Anderson (Watkins 85), Wales (Vassell 65)
Unused subs: McRorie (gk), Kennedy, Mackay-Steven, Cameron, Ramsay.
Goals: Armstrong (31 pen), Anderson (77), Deas (90+1).
Booked: Donnelly (foul on Mulligan).
Dundee FC 4-3-3
Carson
Astley, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly, Larkeche
Mulligan, Portales, Cameron
Palmer-Houlden (Fin Robertson 73), Murray, Tiffoney (Adewumi 57)
Unused subs: McCracken (gk), Clark Robertson, Samuels, Garza, Reilly, Fraser, Sylla.
Booked: Palmer-Houlden (foul on Donnelly), Larkeche (foul on Armstrong).
Referee: Don Robertson. Assistants: Ross Macleod, Steven Traynor. VAR: Gavin Duncan. Assistant VAR: Dougie Potter.
Attendance: 5,669.
Report: James Christie.
