Dundee had to settle for a share of the spoils after this hard-fought draw against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Dark Blues boss Neil McCann made three changes from the side that was beaten by Celtic in the Betfred Cup in midweek with Kerr Waddell coming in for suspended skipper Darren O’Dea while  Scott Allan and Roarie Deacon replaced Randy Wolters and Mark O’Hara in the starting line-up.
Dundee stormed into an early lead in just the fourth minute.
Killie captain Gordon Greer gave away possession inside his own box with the Dark Blues working the ball wide to Deacon on the right with his deep cross finding Allan who selflessly played the ball into the path of A-Jay Leitch-Smith. The striker’s shot was saved by Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald but Faissal El Bakhtaoui was on hand to rifle home the rebound.
Killie then had a big chance of their own when Lee Erwin found himself straight through on goal but Dundee keeper Scott Bain made a vital block with his feet.
In the 24th minute, Erwin tried his luck from 20 yards but his shot was comfortably saved by Bain.
The home side were enjoying plenty of possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances until the 42nd minute when Adam Frizzell found space in the Dundee box but Kevin Holt made a superb block to deny him.
Shortly after, Jordan Jones sent a free-kick in from the left towards Stuart Findlay but the defender headed straight at Bain with a chorus of boos ringing out from the home support as referee Bobby Madden blew for half-time.
Dundee had the first chance of the second 45 when El Bakhtaoui played in sub Mark O’Hara 20 yards out but his powerful shot flew just wide.
Just before the hour mark, Killie’s Calum Waters was lucky to escape with just a yellow card for a shocking challenge on Dundee’s Jack Hendry.
Then in the 64th minute, Killie finally equalised. A corner from the left was headed back across goal by sub Kris Boyd with Greer smashing the ball past Bain from eight yards.
The Dark Blues then came mighty close to taking the lead once more when El Bakhtaoui fizzed a shot from 20 yards with MacDonald making a fingertip save, with the ball clipping the crossbar.
Then in the 94th minute, Boyd passed up a huge chance to secure all three points for his side but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
