Dundee striker Juan Sara sprinkled the magic dust upon Dens Park with the opening goal which set Ivano Bonetti's men on cruise control to victory.

The Argentinian struck three minutes from the interval to catch Killie cold, and after Steven Milne's second just three minutes after the restart it was curtains for the Ayrshire outfit, who looked seriously bereft of imagination and creativity to respond.

Dundee may finish the season as mid-table merchants but at least their League of Nations outfit showed that they can live comfortably without talisman Temuri Ketsbaia.

Kilmarnock disappointed their supporters, particularly as this is a match that normally they could seriously lay a claim to, but a restructuring at Rugby Park by manager Jim Jeffries is surely on the cards.

Dundee welcomed back into the rearguard Marcello Marrocco, an absentee since September, and he brought much-needed composure to the side.

For Killie, Greg Shields, on loan from Charlton, appeared and the former Ranger displayed qualities which may tempt Jeffries to make his spell a permanent one.

Strangely though it was Killie that fostered the best opening chances but unfortunately for them they found Dundee keeper Julian Speroni in sparkling form throughout, although his initial reflex save by Peter Canero in the 11th minute was eye-catching.

Sara could have opened the account as early as the 24th minute but veteran Killie keeper Gordon Marshall blocked his six-yard shot, with the away defence hardly helping matters.

It did not matter. Sara bided his time until the 42nd minute when he confidently rivalled home his 13th goal of the season when Javier Artero clipped in the ball, and again the Argentinian had all the time he needed.

Jeffries tried to reorganise his side at the interval by adding the directness of Andy McLaren, who unsurprisingly received special treatment from the home fans on account of a previous spell at Dundee United.

Killie did not get the chance to claw their way back after they fell victim to the second in the 48th minute. It was a well thought-out corner swung in by Beto Carranza and from Lee Wilkie's nod on Milne intervened to bravely head home - and thus effectively rendered the rest of the game academic.

After a barrage of substitutes from the troubled Kilmarnock chief, all they offered was a snapshot by substitute Michael Ngonge only for Speroni to deny him.

It was all Kilmarmock could offer from a less than illustrious afternoon, and three welcome points stayed by the silvery Tay.

Teams

Dundee: Speroni, MacKay, Wilkie, Smith, Marrocco, Artero, Rae, Torres, Carranza (Garrido 70), Sara (Traverso 89), Milne (Kemas 74).

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Romano.

Goals: Sara 43, Milne 49.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Shields, McGowne, Dindeleux, Hay (McLaren 45), Canero, Fowler, Sanjuan, Murray, Dargo (Mitchell 64), Boyd (Ngonge 57).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McDonald.

Booked: Dargo, Boyd, Mitchell, Sanjuan.

Att: 5,579

Ref: K Toner (Scotland).