Dundee beat Kilmarnock 2-1 at Rugby Park in the Scottish Cup 4th Round this afternoon. The Dark Blues dominated from start to finish but had to fight back from the loss of an early goal. Killie’s Dom Thompson scored a superb opener from a corner to give the home side a surprising lead at half time. The Dee were relentless in the second half and Ash Hay finally scored a deserved equaliser. Kilmarnock were on the rack and were in even deeper trouble when Jack Thomson was red carded. The pressure on the home goal finally told and Drey Wright grabbed the winner in added time. Lewis Mayo picked up Killie’s second red card at the very end.
The only change to the Dee’s starting eleven was Yan Dhanda returning in the place of Fin Robertson, who was on the bench.
The Dark Blues could hardly have found the opening 20 minutes more frustrating. From the start Dundee tore at Killie and should have been ahead inside four minutes.
Cam Congreve drove into the penalty area from the right wing. He cut the ball back for Ash Hay, whose shot was blocked. Tony Yogane followed up but his shot was cleared off the line. When the ball was returned into the goalmouth Hay’s header came back off the bar.
It was all Dundee, but Killie won a corner after 10 minutes. David Watson sent it deep and Dominic THOMPSON connected perfectly to crack a low drive off both posts and into the net from 18 yards.
That was bad enough, but a couple of minutes later Billy Koumetio went down injured and after lengthy treatment he was replaced by Clark Robertson.
Dundee resumed their attacking and spent the rest of the first half putting Kilmarnock under fierce pressure.
Dundee were always dangerous with some impressive approach play. But the Dee couldn’t find the right final ball to create enough clear chances.
A Hay header from a corner flew across goal and narrowly wide. A cross by Drey Wright broke to Ryan Astley only for his shot to be blocked.
Dundee continued to dominate for the rest of the first half but the equaliser just would not come.
The start of the second half was uncomfortably familiar. Yet again Hay saw a header come back off the crossbar after he seemed to connect perfectly with Callum Jones’s corner.
A rare and fleeting Kilmarnock attack ended with Dundee breaking at pace. Yan Dhanda’s pass allowed Congreve to run at the retreating defenders and he flashed a low shot narrowly past the post.
Dundee were totally dominant, constantly tearing at the Kilmarnock defence. Killie could never find a way out. Every time they got the ball they couldn’t hold onto it. The Dark Blues were ruthless out of possession and in no time they would win the ball back and launch another attack.
Midway through the half Kilmarnock had their only serious attempt on goal after their early score. A breakaway gave Marcus Dackers a half chance with an angled shot but McCracken saved.
Dundee then made two substitutions, sending on Imari Samuels and Charlie Reilly for Ryan Astley and Callum Jones. Samuels went to left back, with Drey Wright moving to the right. Reilly, rather than playing on the wing, took up an attacking midfield role just behind Hay.
Finally, in the 69th minute, the Dark Blues scored the equaliser. Luke Graham broke out of defence, running 50 yards, disrupting the home midfield and defence. Reilly took advantage and sent Ash HAY into the penalty area to smash a lovely finish high into the net from 17 yards.
Kilmarnock perked up briefly and tried to get onto the attack, without looking convincing or dangerous.
Within a few minutes Dundee reasserted their dominance. The Dee’s control of the game was complete when Jack Thomson picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Yogane.
Reilly had two good efforts, cutting in from the right and curling shots across goal. Keeper Roos saved the first, and the second was hacked desperately over the bar by a defender.
Simon Murray came on for Cam Congreve after 84 minutes as the Dee turned the screw while Killie were hanging on for extra time and penalties.
In the first minute of added time Dhanda hoisted a steepling up and under into the goalmouth. There was a breakdown in communication between Roos and central defender Robbie Deas. Both collided and the ball broke to Drey WRIGHT who gleefully tapped it into the empty net to send the large, boisterous Dee support into delirium behind that goal.
In the final minute of added time Kilmarnock won a corner. Goalkeeper Kelle Roos came up to challenge, but was stranded when Dundee broke. Murray found Dhanda on the halfway line with Roos still 50 yards from his goal. Lewis Mayo hauled Dhanda down before he could shoot at the unattended goal and duly received a red card.
That was the final piece of action and the fans celebrated enthusiastically when the referee blew the final whistle. The players lapped the applause up as the bouncing fans sang and danced.
It’s a long time since this reporter has seen an away game against Premiership opponents in which Dundee were so dominant. From start to finish the Dark Blues were on top. They were much the better side, both on the ball and out of possession.
The Dundee midfield was superb throughout. Ethan Hamilton was imperious and Yan Dhanda kept probing at the Kilmarnock defence. The wide players had the beating of defenders and sent in a stream of crosses. Nobody could have deserved his goal more than Ash Hay.
The Dee defence was excellent despite the disruption of Billy Koumetio’s injury. The centre backs had little defending to do but played an important part, bringing the ball forward into midfield. Luke Graham in particular was magnificent, brushing attackers off the ball and breaking the Killie lines with composed bursts forward.
Don’t be deceived by the narrow scoreline. It flatters Killie. The Dark Blues battered the home side all day long. It was so good to watch!
Kilmarnock 4-4-1-1
Roos
Mayo, Brown, Deas, Schjonning-Larsen (McKenzie at half time)
Watson, J Thomson, Lyons (c), D Thompson
John-Jules (Tiffoney 62)
Dackers (Anderson 84)
Unused subs: Beach (gk), Williams, Stanger, Lowery, Brannan, Polworth.
Goal: D Thompson (11).
Booked: J Thomson (fouls on Congreve and Yogane), Brown (foul on Hay), John-Jules (foul on Hamilton), Tiffoney (foul on Hamilton).
Sent off: J Thomson (two bookings).
Dundee 4-2-3-1
Jon McCracken
Ryan Astley (Imari Samuels 67), Billy Koumetio (Clark Robertson 17), Luke Graham, Drey Wright
Ethan Hamilton (c), Callum Jones (Charlie Reilly 67)
Cameron Congreve (Simon Murray 84), Yan Dhanda, Tony Yogane
Ash Hay
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Paul Digby, Fin Robertson, Brad Halliday, Joe Bevan.
Booked: Dhanda (foul on Lyons), McCracken(dissent), Jones (simulation), C Robertson (stopping keeper releasing ball).
Attendance: 4,501.
Referee: Colin Steven. Assistants: Dougie Potter, Scott Anderson.
Report: James Christie.
