A wonderful goal from Kris Boyd gave Kilmarnock a share of the
points against Dundee at Rugby Park.
Kilmarnock, without several key members, began apprehensively. They
were comfortable allowing their opponents time and space on the ball. As
was the case at Fir Park last week this was the perfect opportunity for
some of Ayrshire's fresh-faced finest to stake a claim for regular
games.
With Craig Dargo, Peter Canero, Danny Invincible, Gary Locke and
Martin Hardie all out injured, Chris Innes off to Tannadice and James
Fowler suspended it was very much an unrecognisable home side and they
played like strangers in the opening quarter hour.
Dens Park striker Nacho Novo's sixth goal in six outings this season
had given Dundee the lead in the 54th minute and the visitors had looked
comfortable with their one-goal advantage.
But in the 78th minute Boyd fired in a tremendous angled shot which
almost broke the crossbar before the ball nestled in the back of the
net.
It was a goal out of the blue but the home side deserved the draw in
what had been an evenly-matched game.
With Fabian Caballero back in their side, Dundee's noted flair and
inventiveness was cranked up a notch and the Argentine's pass in the
eighth minute sent Novo through on goal.
The little Spaniard rounded Killie keeper Colin Meldrum but his weak
shot could only find the side-netting.
As the first half wore on wide-man Stephen Murray continued to give
the visiting defence problems and Dundee survived a penalty claim in the
22nd minute when defender Lee Mair appeared to handle a Paul Di Giacomo
shot after good work by the little winger on the byline to get his cross
into the box.
Referee Stuart Dougal refused to bow to the appeals, however, and the
game continued with the Ayrshire side nursing a sense of injustice.
Killie forced the pace just before the break and Boyd free-kick from
25 yards was accurate and powerful but easily dealt with by Julian
Speroni.
Then Paul Di Giacomo came close with a snap-shot from 35 yards which
went just wide of Speroni's left-hand post.
In the 49th minute Boyd warmed the hands of Speroni with a
thunderbolt from 16 yards which the Dundee keeper did well to save.
At the other end, Meldrum did well to keep out Dundee defender Brent
Sancho from close range following a goalmouth scramble.
But in the 54th minute the deadlock was broken when the visitors took
the lead with a well-worked goal.
Giorgi Nemsadze, having a subdued game up until that point, sent the
lively Novo through and this time the Spaniard beat the offside trap
before slotting the ball past the on-rushing Meldrum.
The goal stung Kilmarnock and the Ayrshire side tried to battle back
but Dundee, prompted by Caballero, began to look dangerous on the
counter-attack.
As the tension increased, there was a desperation about the
Kilmarnock attacks but in 78th minute they got back on level terms with
an incredible strike from Kris Boyd.
The big striker chased a long ball into the Dundee box and shrugged
off Dees defender Tom Cowan before hammering an unstoppable angled shot
from 12 yards in off the crossbar giving Speroni no chance.
The goal sparked a Killie
charge for the winner but in the end, both sides would have been happy
with a point.
KILMARNOCK Meldrum, Shields, McLaughlin, Dindeleux, Hay, Di
Giacomo, (Nish 65), McDonald, (McSwegan 78),
Mahood, Fulton, Murray, Boyd.
Subs Not Used: Dubourdeau, Hessey,
& Dodds.
Attendance:
5.973
