Kilmarnock cemented a place in the top six with a welcome point from their trip to Tayside this afternoon.

Craig Dargo was hero and villain for the visitors, giving the Rugby Park outfit a fourth minute lead before being dismissed just past the hour mark by which time Dundee had hit back.

The Dark Blues still have an outside chance of making the top six themselves, but in reality it is matches like this which have to be won at home.

Dargo got in on the act with his first goal, when he sprinted beyond Dundee's static rearguard, fastening on to a lovely pass by Jesus Sanjun - the visitors new signing from Airdrie - before tucking the ball under Marco Roccati.

The Dundee keeper denied Dargo again, before the home side inched themselves back into affairs with an equaliser after 27 minutes.

It was a well worked move, initiated by a sublime pass from Beto Carranza, who found Juan Sara, and the Argentinian was composed enough to round Colin Meldrum before rolling the ball into the net.

Dargo, ever busy, went narrowly wide upon dispossessing Steven Tweed as play ebbed and flowed in the first half.

Dundee should have gone in front before the break but golden boy Claudio Caniggia could only blast the ball straight at Meldrum.

However, the Dark Blues cashed in two minutes after the restart with a superb build up and finish.

Following Caniggia's lay off to Barry Smith, the defender measured the cross for Gavin Rae who glanced the ball home to cap a fine week which included being called into the Scotland squad for the first time.

Dargo was then involved in a needless 61st minute flashpoint, when during a tussle with Tweed, the striker appeared to lash out in frustration at the big defender, leaving referee Tom Brown with no option but to dismiss him.

Kilmarnock boss Bobby Williamson elected to make a double substitution to try and freshen up his players, sending on Andy McLaren and Paul di Giacomo for the tired Ally McCoist and Ally Mitchell.

The decision indirectly paid off with Kilmarnock crafting the equaliser in the 74th minute. Veteran Gus McPherson got into a dangerous position to head Garry Hay's cross goalward and in an ensuing goalmouth scramble Alan Mahood was on hand to pounce.

Despite Dundee sending fit-again Fabian Caballero on for Carranza, the tide could not be turned and both teams, on reflection, will probably be satisfied with the outcome.

Teams

Dundee (1) 2 Kilmarnock (1) 2

Dundee: Roccati, Smith, Coyne, Tweed, Marrocco, Artero, Nemsadze, Rae, Carranza (Caballero 78), Caniggia, Sara.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Russo, Yates, Garrido.

Booked: Carranza.

Goals: Sara 27, Rae 47.

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, McGowne, Innes, Dindeleux, MacPherson, Sanjuan (Reilly 44), Mahood, Mitchell (Di Giacomo 68), Hay, Dargo, McCoist (McLaren 68).

Subs Not Used: Stewart, Canning.

Sent Off: Dargo (61).

Booked: Innes, Mahood.

Goals: Dargo 4, Mahood 74.

Att: 6,719

Ref: T Brown (Scotland).