Kilmarnock striker Craig Dargo came off the bench to fire a superb late winner which keeps Dundee still sweating over their top flight status.

It had looked as though the Killie fans were about to witness their first goalless draw in the Bank of Scotland Premier League since Boxing Day 2001.

Dundee goalkeeper Derek Soutar continued to defy them but Dargo, who had been sent on in the 80th minute, managed to find a way past the Scotland B International with just four minutes left on the clock.

It was no more than Jim Jefferies' side had deserved as they had dominated most of the play without being clinical in goal.

Before Dargo struck there had only been one occasion when the net had looked like bulging and that was when fellow substitute Danny Invincibile had blasted a volley from seven yards that had been destined for the top corner before Soutar pushed it over.

Kilmarnock had, for their part, been guilty of playing too much passing football and it was a relief therefore for the home crowd when Dargo finally showed them how it was done.

He accepted a cross from the left from Peter Leven and having got it under control under pressure from challenges slotted home off Soutar's left-hand post.

The first half had been disappointing with few clear-cut chances although Tom McManus had fired an early shot across goal and wide for Dundee.

Steven Robb had been inches away from connecting with a Joel Kitamirike cross in front of goal and Killie's first attack of note saw a 13th minute volley from Gary Wales fly past an upright.

Killie were forced into an early change when Gordon Greer limped off in the 22nd minute but that allowed Invincibile to join the fray and he was largely impressive down the right flank.

Dundee defender Bobby Mann was booked four minutes before the break for a foul on the newcomer and Dundee themselves made a change on the restart when defender Brent Sancho, who had needed treatment midway through the first half, was replaced by midfielder Neil Barrett.

Soutar's wonder save from Invincibile came in the 55th minute when Gary McDonald headed on a Leven corner but it seemed as though Dundee would go on to escape with a point.

Jefferies decided there was still time to change that picture and replaced front men Wales and Kris Boyd with Dargo and Colin Nish.

It paid off and the majority of the 3,770-strong crowd went home happy.

Teams

Kilmarnock Combe, Fowler, Hay, Lilley, Greer (Invincibile 22), Dindeleux, McDonald, Locke, Boyd (Nish 81), Wales (Dargo 81), Leven.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Johnston, Murray, Dodds.

Goals: Dargo 84.

Dundee Soutar, Smith, Mann, Sancho (Barrett 45), Robb, Kitamirike, Brady, McDonald, Lovell (Sutton 75), Anderson, McManus (Caballero 83).

Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau, Larsen, Conway, Fotheringham.

Booked: Mann.

Att: 3,770

Ref: S Conroy (Scotland).