A Stephen Murray winner, the youngster's first goal for Kilmarnock, gave the Ayrshire side all three points to consolidate their position in the top half of the SPL.

Ally Mitchell gave the visitors a first-half lead with a tremendous volley only to see Gavin Rae cancel it out just after break.

But Murray's second-half counter, a low angled drive from inside the box, was enough to see the visitors through.

It was a deserved victory for the impressive Rugby Park outfit who showed great effort, commitment and no little skill throughout the freezing cold Dens afternoon.

It was Kilmarnock who started the game the brighter and had the first attempt on goal after only two minutes.

An Alan Mahood free-kick from the right was cleared out to the edge of the box.

Killie midfielder Mitchell picked up the loose ball but his volley was easily held by Dundee keeper James Langfield.

The home side retaliated and at the other end a Beto Carranza cross found Quique Torres unmarked at the back post but the former Real Madrid man's header was saved on the line by Killie keeper Gordon Marshall.

Then, as the game swung from end to end, Killie striker Paul Di Giacomo beat Barry Smith, slipped the ball to Craig Dargo but the youngster's shot from six yards was pushed onto the post by Langfield before the danger was eventually cleared.

Moments later Dargo again was foiled by Langfield when the Killie striker really should have scored after running clear of the Dens defence.

In the 16th minute Killie had a decent penalty claim when Dargo went down in the box after a challenge by Dens defender Walter Del Rio, but referee John Underhill waved play on.

However, moments later at the other end Temuri Ketsbaia went down in the box looking for a spot kick only to be booked by the referee for his troubles.

The players' effort was total, perhaps as a result of the cold conditions, and the game was open and entertaining with the visitors looking the more dangerous in attack.

There was no surprise then when Kilmarnock took the lead after 21 minutes after another concentrated spell of pressure.

A Stephen Murray corner was headed clear by Fan Zhiyi to the edge of the box.

The ball was picked up by Ally Mitchell who took a touch before hammering a volley past Langfield from 25 yards.

Kilmarnock continued to look sharp in attack against a nervous Dens defence and Dargo, Di Giacomo and Murray were posing all sorts of problems with their pace and skill.

Moments later, Di Giacomo drifted past Smith at the edge of the penalty area before unleashing a shot from 18 yards which Langfield did well to push past the post for a corner.

Dundee almost shot themselves in the foot when Zhiyi attempted a headed pass back which almost went past Langfield into the net and the keeper ended up conceding a needless corner.

Dundee introduced substitute Steven Milne for Javier Artero at the beginning of the second half in order to help swing the game back their way and within a minute of the restart the move had paid off.

It was Milne himself who had two attempts from close range blocked by Marshall but when the ball broke to Gavin Rae the midfielder wasted no time in despatching it into the top corner of the net.

Kilmarnock composed themselves, got back into the game and in 57 minutes regained the lead through the impressive Murray who scored his first goal for the Ayrshire club.

Di Giacomo picked up a pass from Mahood, crossed from the right to Dargo who swiped and missed right in front of goal.

The ball however ran kindly to Murray who drove a wonderful shot low past the despairing hands of Langfield.

In the 65th minute Killie should have increased their lead when Peter Canero raced to the by-line and cut the ball back to Dargo who was presented with an open goal.

Somehow, however, Dargo contrived to blast the ball over the bar from six yards to the dismay of Bobby Williamson and the travelling support.

Dundee attempted to fight their way back into the game but to no avail and Killie held on for a deserved victory.

Teams:

Dundee: Langfield, Smith, Del Rio, Zhiyi (Naveda 85), Beghetto, Rae, Torres, Artero (Milne 45), Ketsbaia, Carranza, Caballero.

Subs Not Used: Speroni, MacKay, Romano.

Booked: Ketsbaia, Caballero, Del Rio.

Goals: Rae 48.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Canero, McGowne, Dindeleux, Hay, Mitchell, Fowler, Mahood, Di Giacomo (Boyd 79), Dargo, Murray (Calderon 85).

Subs Not Used: Samson, Sanjuan, McDonald.

Booked: Hay, Mahood, Di Giacomo, Boyd.

Goals: Mitchell 21, Murray 58.

Att: 6,342

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).