A Steve Lovell penalty secured all three points for Dundee against Kilmarnock at Dens Park.

Chances had been few and far between early on but the Bank of Scotland Premier League clash was more lively after the break.

Kilmarnock had been making noises all week about how they hoped to win a place in the top six before the SPL split, while the three points should have been vital for a Dundee team flirting dangerously with the relegation zone.

But in the end, a penalty-kick was all that separated the two sides.

The first real incident of note came when Dundee claimed Freddie Dindeleux handled a Neil Barrett header in the box but referee Eddie Smith was unimpressed and ignored the claims.

At the other end of the park, Kilmarnock managed to put Dundee under pressure when Steven Naismith's cross found Danny Invincibile but he could only manage a weak effort under pressure from Callum MacDonald and the shot was easily held by goalkeeper Derek Soutar.

It took a burst of energy from Tom McManus to spark life into a match which had been devoid of any real chances from both sides.

He raced down the right flank before squaring into the path of the unmarked Steven Robb in the box but the Dundee player's effort was just off target and fell harmlessly past the post.

With the game edging towards half-time, Killie started to make a late push for the opener when Naismith tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area but Soutar was never really troubled.

Dundee tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck when they emerged from the interval with three strikers, Fabian Caballero having replaced right-back Joel Kitamirike.

But the plan looked like backfiring when Kilmarnock started piling on the pressure.

Gary McDonald came close with a header from Peter Leven's corner before Colin Nish set up Kris Boyd for a volley that was too easily held by the goalkeeper.

But Dundee managed to weather the storm before opening the scoring from the penalty spot after 62 minutes.

Caballero released Barrett into the box but he was hauled down by David Lilley before he could pull the trigger. Lovell stepped up for the spot-kick and made sure the net was left bulging.

Kilmarnock almost dragged themselves back into the game again through Boyd but he nodded just over the crossbar.

Dundee were just as eager to kill the game off and only the skills of goalkeeper Alan Combe prevented that from happening when he blocked a thunderous effort from McManus.

Boyd was threatening again towards the end but this time the striker was denied by the woodwork, his header crashing off the crossbar and over.

Seconds later Stevie Murray's shot was headed off the line by Lee Wilkie as Dundee held on for the points.

Teams

Dundee Soutar, Kitamirike (Caballero 45), Mann, Wilkie, McDonald, Brady, Barrett (Sancho 89), Smith, Robb, Lovell, McManus.

Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau, Larsen, Fotheringham, Sutton, Robertson.

Booked: Smith, Mann.

Goals: Lovell 63 pen.

Kilmarnock Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Dindeleux, Hay, Invincibile, McDonald, Leven (Wales 72), Naismith (Murray 75), Boyd, Nish (Dargo 72).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Greer, Dodds, Johnstone.

Booked: Leven.

Att: 5,494

Ref: E Smith (Scotland).