Dundee took a point home from a disciplined and hardworking performance in a 0-0 draw at Kilmarnock this afternoon. Dundee had the edge in a first half and only a VAR review denied Joe Westley a first goal for the Dee. In the second half Killie put the Dark Blues under more pressure but again the Dee defence impressed and took a deserved clean sheet.
Simon Murray returned from injury and Yan Dhanda came in for his debut. They replaced Ash Hay, who was on the bench, and the injured Paul Digby. The formation looked 3-5-2 on paper, but in practice it was more like 3-4-2-1, with Callum Jones and Fin Robertson the central midfielders while Joe Westley and Yan Dhanda played in front of them, behind and either side of Simon Murray.
Dundee consistently played neat and thoughtful football throughout the first half, and held the ball largely in the Killie half for the first few minutes. However, it was the home side who had the first shot on goal. Following a corner Ben Brannan fired in a 20 yarder that Jon McCracken beat away.
That set the pattern for the rest of the first half with Dundee having an edge on the ball, but Kilmarnock alway dangerous from set pieces. Killie were keen to launch early balls forward for runners and from wide areas into the penalty early, a tactic that might not have created chances but did earn corners which allowed them to send their big men forward.
The Dark Blues had a worrying 15 minutes playing with 10 men while Ryan Astley received treatment in the dressing room following a face knock. Kilmarnock spent almost all of that period on the attack but the improvised Dee defence held firm. When Astley returned it was Killie who were relieved the game was still scoreless.
A rare Dee attack produced a lovely probing, passing move on the right which ended with Dhanda whipping over a cross to the near post that was flicked on by Murray. Westley forced the ball past the keeper from a tight angle and into the net off defender Ethan Brown. The goal was awarded at first but a VAR review ruled it out for offside against Murray.
Dundee continued to pass the ball around pleasingly without enough real goal threat. Kilmarnock were still erratic in open play but late in the half put Dundee under pressure with a series of corners. A second ball in from one gave Brad Lyons a difficult headed chance and McCracken pushed his effort over the bar.
The pattern of the game didn’t change in the first 20 minutes of the second half with Dundee comfortable, but lacking any final product while Killie kept stuttering.
Towards the middle of the second half Kilmarnock stepped up the tempo and put the Dee under some uncomfortable pressure.
A long clearance from keeper Max Stryjek sailed over the Dundee back line for David Watson to chase. McCracken was alert to the danger and sprinted out, just beating Watson to the ball.
A few minutes later McCracken saved well from Watson’s low angled shot. Substitute Bruce Anderson headed wide from the second ball following a corner with the linesman creating confusion by flagging for either offside or a goal kick.
After that tricky spell Dundee held strong and stopped Kilmarnock creating much in the last 20 minutes.
Yan Dhanda was replaced by Tony Yogane just after the hour, and then Cesar Garza, Billy Koumetio, Ash Hay and Cam Congreve came on for Fin Robertson, Luke Graham, Simon Murray and Joe Westley. The fresh legs allowed Dundee to get into the final third more in the closing stages. There were a few promising moments, but only in injury time did Dundee manage to get a serious shot on target, when Congreve’s 20 yarder was turned away for a corner by Stryjek.
This was a game that neatly illustrated the saying about new teams being “a work in progress”. Steven Pressley is clearly building sound foundations. Dundee were solid at the back and in central midfield. There is still work to be done to make the Dark Blues more dangerous in attack, but there are promising signs. When the players become more used to each other and start to read teammates’ runs and passes we will see more chances. Today nothing came from the efforts of Fin Robertson, Callum Jones, Yan Dhanda and Joe Westley, but these players clearly offer creative potential.
A goalless draw at Kilmarnock is hardly a thrilling result, but a point and a clean sheet at a difficult ground is an acceptable outcome. Dundee showed a level of organisation, resilience and strength that was missing too often last season and were worth their point in the end.
Kilmarnock 3-5-2
Stryjek
Brown, Mayo, Deas
Brandon (Thompson 77), Watson, Polworth, Lyons (Daniels 72), Brannan
Kiltie (Anderson 62), Dackers
Unused subs: Beach (gk), McKenzie, Stanger, Magennis, Lowery, Watkins.
Booked: Lyons (foul on Graham), Watson (foul on Samuels), Brannan (foul on Yogane).
Dundee FC 3-4-2-1
Jon McCracken
Ryan Astley, Clark Robertson (c), Luke Graham (Billy Koumetio 72)
Drey Wright, Callum Jones, Yan Dhanda (Tony Yogane 62), Fin Robertson (Cesar Garza 72), Imari Samuels
Joe Westley (Cam Congreve 77), Simon Murray (c) (Hay 77)
Unused substitutes: Trevor Carson (gk), Ethan Ingram, Aaron Donnelly, Emile Acquah.
Booked: Murray (dissent), Jones (foul on Polworth), Clark Robertson (foul on Anderson).
Attendance: 5,620 (727 Dees).
Referee: Ryan Lee. Assistants: Frank Connor, Ross Nelson. VAR: Andrew Dallas. Assistant VAR: Gary Hilland.
Report: James Christie.
