Dundee saw off Killie at Dens tonight, sending the visitors home after a 3-1 defeat. The Dee were on top in the first half and had a 1-0 lead at half time thanks to Joe Bevan, although it should have been more. Kilmarnock fought back after the interval and were worth their equaliser from the penalty spot from Joe Hugill. However, the Dark Blues stepped up their game to take charge and earn all three points with two goals from Ash Hay, who netted three times from the 80th minute onwards. VAR ruled out the first “score”, but Hay reacted superbly to the disappointment and thrilled the supporters with his late double.
The only change to the starting eleven was that Joe Wright came in for his first start, replacing the injured Owen Bevan.
The opening stages were low key with both sides unable to settle into a groove, and neither defence looking completely convincing. Kilmarnock almost had a chance when George Stanger’s low cross flew across the goalmouth too far in front of Joe Hugill. The Dark Blues’ attackers often seemed on the verge of breaking through Killie’s defence, but couldn’t quite pull it off.
From 20 minutes onwards Dundee settled and the defence kept Killie under control. The midfield moved up a gear, and the Dee began to offer serious threat in attack. Joe Bevan, in particular, was a constant menace. Whether he chose to attack on the outside or cut infield Kilmarnock struggled to contain him.
The Dark Blues should have taken the lead after half an hour. Alan Forrest’s second ball following a corner gave Bradley Fink a free close range header. Keeper Nico Mantl parried but the ball flew back at Fink so quickly that the striker could only poke it against the post with the goal gaping.
The opening goal was delayed only two minutes, however. Ethan Hamilton disrupted Killie with a burst through the midfield. His pass gave Joe BEVAN space to cut inside the last defender and slide a shot inside the near post from 15 yards. It was a beautifully worked and finished goal, executed at pace.
Dundee should have been more than one goal ahead at the interval but Hamilton passed up another great chance. His run was perfectly timed to find space at the far post from Callum Jones’ corner but the volley flew high and wide.
After a first half in which Dundee steadily improved and finished well on top the first half hour of the second half was disappointing. The Dark Blues couldn’t get their attacking game going. The defence and midfield were not as tight as they should have been, and there was the occasional unforced error.
A better side than Kilmarnock might have punished Dundee during that spell. Killie were still able to threaten an equaliser and it took a magnificent save by Owen Goodman to preserve the Dee’s lead. Greg Kiltie lofted a simple cross into the middle of the penalty and Hugill took a touch before smashing a shot from 12 yards towards the top corner. Somehow Goodman touched it over the bar.
After an hour Charlie Reilly replaced Joe Bevan, and Dundee made a double substitution. Joe Westley came on for Bradley Fink in attack, and Matai Akinmboni was given his debut in central defence with Joe Wright coming off.
Akinmboni was soon in the action and hit the turf in questionable circumstances at a Dee corner. However, the VAR review went in Killie’s favour.
In Kilmarnock’s next attack Hugill again forced a good save from Goodman from 18 yards. The keeper touched the ball away for a corner, and when it came over George Stanger went down in similar circumstances to Akinmboni. Referee Duncan Nicolson pointed to the spot and there was no VAR review to save the Dee. Joe Hugill scored from the spot. Dundee could hardly complain at that point. They had allowed Killie back into the game too easily.
The disappointing setback kicked the Dark Blues into life. There was one more Dundee change; Zan Besir came on for Callum Jones. The Dee showed that they were not prepared to settle for a point and impressed once more as they began to attack with real purpose.
Five minutes after the equaliser it looked like the Dark Blues had regained the lead. Reilly sent over a wonderful cross and Ash Hay seemed to have chested home at the far post. A VAR review decided that the ball had come off his upper arm. It seemed a borderline decision.
That would have discouraged many players, but instead of sulking the Dee number 11 responded superbly, despite suffering from twinges of cramp. Hay’s attitude could be summed up as “Think you can stop me scoring do you? Well have some of this!”
Dundee kept attacking with serious menace. Killie half cleared a corner, but the Dee had them teetering on the brink and racked up the pressure to tip them over the edge. Alan Forrest sent over a cross from the left that was every bit as good as Reilly’s and Ash HAY rose to head firmly home at the far post.
The home fans exploded in relief, but there were still seven minutes of normal time plus four minutes of added time to go. Killie threw themselves forward but Dundee were resolute.
In the final minute of added time Goodman, instead of wasting time, launched a long ball forward into what passed for Kilmarnock’s defence. Hay nodded the ball on into into space towards the penalty area. Mantl ran from his box, but Hay had kept running and got to the dropping ball before the keeper. Mantl was stranded as HAY simply headed past the keeper and tucked the ball into the empty net.
The final whistle blew as soon as Kilmarnock kicked off to the delight of every Dee. The game showed exactly why the two clubs are where they are in the league. Dundee are in fourth place and Kilmarnock are bottom. The Dee were short of their best for a long spell tonight, but they had the ability, resilience and determination to kill off Killie when it mattered. The visitors had some promising passages of play, but ultimately they lacked the quality to save the game. Any hope they might have had was crushed by their failings in defence.
Dundee showed moments of high quality in sparks throughout the game, and that brought the goals. Ethan Hamilton’s and Joe Bevan’s contributions in the first half were crucial, and the attacking from both flanks and through the middle in the final 19 minutes of play was up to the standard we have come to expect this season. However, the plaudits must go to Owen Goodman who was outstanding in goal. His saves in the second half were vital, and if he claims an assist for the third goal who would argue?
Dundee FC 4-4-2
Owen Goodman
Drey Wright, Ryan Astley, Joe Wright (Matai Akinmboni 65), Imari Samuels
Joe Bevan (Charlie Reilly 60), Callum Jones(Zan Besir 78), Ethan Hamilton (c), Alan Forrest
Bradley Fink (Joe Westley 65), Ashley Hay
Unused substitutes: Harry Sharp (gk), Brad Halliday, Idris Odutayo, Cole Perrie, Alfie Harrison.
Goals: Joe Bevan (32), Ash Hay (83, 90+4).
Booked: none.
Kilmarnock 3-4-2-1
Mantl
Stanger, McCarthy (Daniels 89), Deas (Kamson-Kamara 69)
Brandon (Meier 76), Tshibola, Lowery, Schjønning-Larsen
John-Jules, Kiltie (Owen 76)
Hugill
Unused subs: Ferrie (gk), McKenzie, Ring, Mathurin, Ellis.
Goal: Hugill (75 pen).
Booked: McCarthy (foul on Forrest), Stanger (foul on Reilly), Kamson-Kamara (foul on Westley).
Attendance: 4,866.
Referee: Duncan Nicolson. Assistants: Frank Connor, Ross Nelson. VAR: Grant Irvine. Assistant VAR: David McGeachie, 4th Official: Graham Grainger.
Report: James Christie.
