Goals from Steve Fulton and substitute Kris Boyd gave Kilmarnock their second win of the week at the expense of a disappointing Dundee at Rugby Park.

Former Hearts midfielder Fulton struck first with a moment of class in the 57th minute when he unleashed a tremendous 20-yard shot to leave Dens keeper Julian Speroni grasping at thin air.

Then, in injury time, Boyd wrapped up the points with a low drive from the edge of the box.

Kilmarnock were first out of the blocks as they tried to build on the midweek win at Aberdeen.

But Alan Mahood's short corner-kick to Andy McLaren came to nothing as the ex-Dundee United player's cross was easily cleared.

In the 12th minute, the visitors had the first real chance to open the scoring when midfielder Gavin Rae picked out Steve Lovell with a 40-yard diagonal pass.

But the Englishman's weak shot trundled harmlessly past Gordon Marshall's left-hand post.

Moments later, Fabian Caballero's trickery allowed him to set up Lovell again but, this time, the offside flag saved the home side.

Then, in the 17th minute, Dundee were again caught offside with Lovell again racing onto a Rae pass just a moment too soon.

At the other end, a Fulton pass sent Gary McSwegan clear on the left but his cross was cut out Dens defender David Mackay.

Kilmarnock should have taken the lead in the 24th minute with the best chance of the half.

A Mahood chip to the back post found Chris Innes who headed across goal to the unmarked Craig Dargo.

The young striker looked certain to tap in but, from three yards out, he shot straight at Speroni and the ball spun to safety.

Dundee ran to the other end and Nacho Novo's shot across the goalmouth was begging to be put in but no Dens players were on hand.

Killie manager Jim Jefferies shuffled his side around at half time bringing Boyd on for Gary Locke and moving Peter Canero to full-back.

Dundee continued to play the ball in a more assured way but still the Dens men found the tough tackling of the Killie defenders a barrier they could not break down.

The disappointing Dargo, whose confidence clearly went after missing his first half sitter, must have been relieved when manager Jefferies took him off in the 54th minute for Stephen Murray.

And the move paid off within two minutes when the home side took the lead.

Murray raced forward and sent a cross in from the left to Boyd who lost control on the penalty spot.

But the ball broke kindly to Fulton 20 yards out and the midfielder took aim and fired an unstoppable volley high into the net past the despairing Speroni.

But Killie let their guard down and Dundee should have equalised almost immediately but Novo managed to miss his shot completely only six yards from goal.

As the second half wore on, it looked increasingly likely like Fulton's goal would be the difference between the teams.

Dundee tried to battle back but the Ayrshire men held firm and it was they who began to look dangerous on the break.

In injury time, substitute James Fowler, on earlier for McLaren, set Boyd up at the edge of the box and the striker shot low past Speroni to seal the game.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Locke (Boyd 45), Innes, Shields, Dillon, Canero, Fulton, Mahood, McLaren (Fowler 65), Dargo (Murray 54), McSwegan.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Hay.

Booked: Shields, Dargo, Locke, Innes.

Goals: Fulton 57, Boyd 90.

Dundee: Speroni, Smith, Wilkie, MacKay (Sara 65), Hernandez Santos, Brady, Rae, Mair, Novo, Lovell, Caballero.

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Milne, Khizanishvili, Robertson.

Att: 4,810

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).