Kilmarnock squander two goal lead in late defeat to Dundee

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Kilmarnock squandered a two-goal lead in a 3-2 away loss at Dundee this afternoon.

Remarkably, it comes just four weeks after Killie themselves produced a similar fightback at the same venue but they were on the recevining end this time.

The contest was a slow burner that burst into life midway through the first half when an explicable error from Dundee keeper Jon McCracken allowed Bruce Anderson to tap into an empty net to open the scoring.

A David Watson cross was headed towards goal before looping high into the air. Under no pressure, the stopper attempted to claim the ball only to fumble it into the path of Anderson.

Killie were dealt a blow less than 10 minutes later when Stuart Findlay was stretchered off with an apparent ankle injury, replaced by Joe Wright.

That didn't set them back, however, as they doubled their advantage five minutes before the break when Matty Kennedy rose the highest to nod a Danny Armstrong cross into the net.

Just as the visitors looked to have taken control, though, Dundee were right back in it as barely a minute later Seb Palmer-Houlden replicated Kennedy's finish at the other end with a fine header beyond Robby McCrorie.

The keeper could do nothing just after the restart as half-time substitute Jordan McGhee marked his return from injury in style with a headed equaliser in a congested box to draw things level before Josh Mulligan's run and pass led to Ziyad Larkeche scrambling the ball over the line deep into injury-time.

Following a 15 minute delay to kick-off due to a medical incident involving Dundee substitute Julien Vetro, both sides started brightly and looked to get on the front foot. Ethan Ingram was lively in the opening exchanges down Dundee's right flank and his delivery into the box was met by the head of Simon Murray on 10 minutes, but the skipper could only direct his header over the bar.

At the other end, Killie got the ball out wide with Kennedy the focal point but he saw his fizzing strike blocked.

Defences were very much on top in the opening exchanges as both sets of players failed to deliver the goods once the ball was in the final third - so it was a surprise when the deadlock was broken on 24 minutes.

An inexplicable error from McCracken saw him spill the ball under no pressure. Anderson was on hand to gleefully tap into the empty net. In a rare start for the ex-Livingston striker, the 26-year-old netted his third of the campaign.

The visitors were forced into a defensive reshuffle moments later as Findlay was stretchered off and they were still getting to grips with the change when Dundee squandered a great opportunity within a minute. Oluwasean Adewumi was found unmarked inside the box but could only sweep into the side-netting.

They were made to pay for that as Killie doubled their lead shortly after. Armstrong jinked down the right flank before floating a cross that was nodded home by Kennedy under little pressure from a static Dee defence with McCracken unable to claw the ball away.

Contests between these sides tend to provide plenty of goals and drama and it proved to be the case again this afternoon. Just as Killie looked to have taken a stranglehold on the game, Dundee were back in it before the break. Adewumi's delivery was met in the air by Palmer-Houlden who powered a header beyond McCrorie for his sixth goal of the season.

The keeper was called upon a minute later to deny Clark Robertson as the defender looked to head home a leveller at the back post.

Tony Docherty elected for a double change at the break and it quickly paid dividends as McGhee headed home the equaliser just 11 minutes after coming off the bench. Another dangerous ball into the box from Adewumi was met by Palmer-Houlden with the ball popping up nicely for McGhee who duly beat McCrorie.

Headers was very much the theme of the afternoon and Killie went agonisingly close to retaking the lead midway through the second half as Wright got on the end of a whipped free-kick but saw his header go the wrong side of the woodwork for his liking.

As both teams went searching for a third, Dundee passed up a golden opportunty as a ball over the top saw sub Scott Tiffoney races clear of the defence. With McCrorie seemingly caught in no man's land as he raced from goal, the striker poked the ball beyond the keeper only to see it roll wide.

The hosts had the momentum and looked to press home only to be thwarted twice in quick succession as Rory McKenzie produced a timely clearance as he pounced on a loose ball in the box with two Dundee players looking to fire home - before McCrorie produced a wonderful diving stop to palm away a Larkeche strike.

He wouldn't be denied in the dying moments as he popped up for a dramatic winner. Mulligan's run down the left flank saw him get the better of Rory McKenzie before teeing up Larkeche as the Dees bagged all three points.

Dundee: McCracken; Astley, Portales, C. Robertson (Koumetio 84); Ingram (McGhee 45), Sylla, Cameron (Mulligan 45), Larkeche; Adewumi (Tiffoney 65), Palmer-Holden; Murray. Subs not used: Sharp, Main, F. Robertson, Braybrooke, Vetro.

Goal: Palmer-Houlden (41), McGhee (56), Larkeche (90)

Kilmarnock: McCrorie; Mayo, Findlay (Wright 33), Deas, Ndaba; Armstrong (Burroughs 52), Watson (McKenzie 74), Lyons, Kennedy; Vassell, Anderson (Cameron 74). Subs not used: O'Hara, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Donnelly, Wales.

Goal: Anderson (24), Kennedy (40)

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