Captain Joe Shaughnessy was the last gasp hero again for the Dark Blues with a 95th minute equaliser to earn a richly deserved point in a 2-2 draw away to fourth placed Kilmarnock. A classic Luke McCowan goal put the Dee ahead in a first half dominated by the Dee. Killie fought back well in the second half but Dundee should have held out. However, late goals by Joe Wright and Rory McKenzie put the home side ahead. Killie’s second goal was deep into injury time, but there was just enough time for Shaughnessy to delight the travelling support, as he did away to Ross County, by scoring at the death. This time he headed home from a corner, so late that the final whistle sounded as soon as the game restarted.
The Dark Blues’ starting eleven had four changes from the Celtic match. Josh Mulligan, Ryan Howley, Mohamed Sylla and Scott Tifffoney came in for Cammy Kerr, Lyall Cameron, Malachi Boateng and Zak Rudden, who were all named as substitutes.
The game got off to a slow start with no goal threat from either side in the first 15 minutes. Killie’s Kyle Vassell did get a shot on target from 20 yards but it was a comfortable save for Trevor Carson. That was the last we saw of Killie as an attacking force in the first half.
Dundee grew into the game, holding the ball better than Killie and building patient attacks. The rejigged midfield was working well and quickly established the Dee as the more effective side in the middle of the park. This allowed the Dark Blues to go on and control the last 30 minutes of the first half.
Luke McCowan and Scott Tiffoney combined well on two occasions, launching dangerous attacks into Kilmarnock’s penalty area and winning a corner each time.
It was no surprise when Dundee took the lead after 35 minutes, and what a lovely goal it was! Luke McCOWAN took the ball on the right from Josh Mulligan, burst infield past David Watons, and curled a beautiful low shot around keeper Will Dennis and inside the far post.
There was no response from Killie and Dundee pushed hard for a second goal before the interval. It took last ditch tackles to stop Ryan Howley and then Scott Tiffoney from shooting at the end of two fine attacking moves.
Kilmarnock had been utterly ineffective for the whole first half and there was little prospect that they would be so poor after the restart. For the opening 10 minutes the game continued in the same pattern. McCowan flashed a low shot across goal with Bakayoko lunging and not quite able to connect. Josh Mulligan then raced through on a long ball but Lewis Mayo managed to get a touch to send the ball back to the keeper.
After 57 minutes Killie had their first dangerous moment. Joe Wright’s diving header from a corner brought a good save from Carson. That was a turning point. We’d seen nothing from Killie until then, but they started to attack with conviction. They repeatedly worked their way into good positions and sent a series of good balls into the penalty area.
The Dundee defence stood up well to Kilmarnock’s resurgence, repeatedly clearing crosses and blocking shots. To try and bring more composure to the Dee midfield Malachi Boateng came on or Ryan Howley, with Josh Mulligan moving to right wing back.
Cammy Kerr came on for Mulligan to provide more experience in defence. It looked like the Dee would hold out for three points, but it wasn’t to be.
Disappointingly, after sterling defending throughout the match, the Dark Blues conceded a sloppy equaliser after 85 minutes. A corner dropped into the goalmouth and Carson couldn’t hold the ball, allowing Joe WRIGHT to head over the line.
The Dark Blues almost restored their lead with what was very nearly a superb goal by Owen Beck. The Liverpool youngster dribbled into the penalty area, beating three men, and smashed a fierce shot against the crossbar from 15 yards.
Both sides kept attacking, looking for a winner, as the game moved into the four minutes of added time. The Dark Blues looked fully capable of grabbing a winner, but were caught out by a sucker punch on the break in the 93rd minute. Substitute Gary Mackay-Steven’s low cross caused a scramble in the goalmouth and fellow sub Rory MCKENZIE swept home what everyone connected to Kilmarnock believed would be the winner.
The Dark Blues weren’t having that and had a real go at saving the game. Aaron Donnelly’s long throw led to a corner. Trevor Carson raced up to the penalty area, and his presence in the goalmouth might have created enough confusion to give Joe SHAUGHNESSY a free header and the skipper powered home the equaliser that Dundee fully deserved.
The final whistle sounded as soon as Killie kicked off and both clubs were left with regrets. Dundee were excellent for the first 55 minutes and would have taken all three points home if they had maintained their solid defending beyond 85 minutes. On the other hand after Killie surprised us with those two late goals they blew it at the very end, and that will infuriate them.
Killie have been in top form over the last few weeks and the Dark Blues deserve great credit for the way they dominated for long spells, outplaying the home side in the first half. The changed midfield was very good for the opening hour and the Dee always looked capable of scoring when they came forward.
Kilmarnock were poor for almost two-thirds of the game. When they lifted their game they weren’t quite as smooth and composed as they would have wanted, but they managed to force themselves back into contention. A win would have flattered them but there’s no excuse for failing to tie up the game after taking the lead deep into injury time.
Dundee’s late, late equaliser meant that what would have been a disappointing draw felt far more positive. There’s nothing like a goal at the death, whether it gives a win or a draw. The result was probably fair in the end, even if it came about in a strange way.
Kilmarnock FC 4-4-2
Dennis
Mayo, Wright (Ndali 88), Findlay, Deas (Polworth at half time)
Armstrong (Mackay-Steven), Lyons (McKenzie 42), Watson (Donnelly 76), Kennedy
Watkins, Vassell (c)
Unused subs: O’Hara (gk), Murray, Sanders, Dallas.
Goals: Wright (85), McKenzie (90+3).
Booked: Kennedy (foul on Howley), Donnelly (foul on Bakayoko).
Dundee FC 3-5-2
Carson
Shaughnessy (c), McGhee, Donnelly
Howley (Boateng 67), Mulligan (Kerr 82), Sylla, McCowan, Beck
Bakayoko, Tiffoney (Reilly 77)
Unused substitutes: Legzdins (gk), Rudden, Ashcroft, Cameron, Robertson, Lewis.
Goals: McCowan (35), Shaughnessy (90+5).
Booked: Boateng (foul on Polworth).
Referee: David Dickinson. Assistants: Frank Connor, Douglas Ross. Fourth Official: Lloyd Wilson. VAR: Matthew MacDermid. Assistant VAR: Dougie Potter.
Attendance: 5,780 (607 Dees).
Report: James Christie.
