Dundee showed they can still do the business when it comes to actual football
following another troubled week off the pitch.
The Dens Park outfit, in search of money to renovate their dilapidated stadium
to avoid being thrown out of the Scottish Premier League, are considering an
offer by controversial Italian Giovanni di Stefano - an outspoken critic of NATO
airstrikes in Yugoslavia who has admitted to holding a military rank in the
Serbian armed forces.
Although they were put under the cosh today in the first half-hour by an
under-strength Kilmarnock, Dundee stormed back for a deserved win.
Three points gives them an almost certain place in the top division next
season barring off-the-field politics.
St Johnstone's win over Celtic however means that the Rugby Park men are now
in danger of losing the race for the third spot in the table.
Prompted by the evergreen Ian Durrant, Kilmarnock totally dominated the
opening stages but a Jerome Vareille 25-yarder which flew over the top was all
they had to show for their early efforts.
Durrant then saw his 25-yard free-kick blocked by home skipper Barry Smith
before Gus MacPherson completely missed a John Henry cross when well
positioned.
Vareille then beat the home offside trap but just as Henry was on the point of
scoring Willie Miller got in a last gasp save.
The home side at last looked threatening and Steven Boyack chipped a free-kick
to the unmarked James Grady but it was his turn to totally miss the ball when
only 10 yards out.
Grady then had two chances as Dundee stepped up the pressure but his first
effort was blocked and his second was pushed past the post by keeper Gordon
Marshall.
The home side did have the ball in the net but Brian Irvine was clearly
offside.
Then Shaun McSkimming should have done better but he shot past the post from
the edge of the box after Boyack had squared the ball to him.
On the stroke of half-time a simple goal gave Dundee the lead when Lee
Maddison swung in a cross from the left and Iain Anderson volleyed home his
second goal of the week and of the season from six yards.
Eight minutes after the interval the visitors got their equaliser when a
Durrant corner allowed Chris Innes to head into the corner of the net from eight
yards.
Kilmarnock were again in control and Ally Mitchell saw his 25-yarder saved at
full stretch by birthday boy Robert Douglas.
Against the run of play Dundee regained their lead when another run and fine
cross by Boyack allowed McSkimming to head home the winner at the far post.
Although the visitors redoubled their efforts it was the home side who came
closest to scoring with Anderson seeing a shot touched onto the post by
Marshall.
Willie Falconer and substitute Eddie Annand both missed easy chances to make
the points secure.
Teams:
Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Irvine, Anderson (Annand 72), Grady,
Maddison, Falconer, McSkimming, Miller, Rae, Boyack.
Subs Not Used: Strachan, Coyne, Tweed, Langfield.
Goals: Anderson 44, McSkimming 64.
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, Henry,
Reilly (McCoist 74), Durrant, Mitchell (Wright 84), Mahood,
Vareille (McCutcheon 84), Innes, Lauchlan.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Burke.
Booked: Lauchlan.
Goals: Innes 53.
Att: 4,296
Ref: J Underhill (Edinburgh).
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