THERE are few positives to take from this affair for the Kilmarnock manager, Gary Locke. The only one, really, is that Dundee did not make it into double figures in terms of goals.

This is no attempt to be glib or dismissive. The difference between these two sides really was so alarming that the scoreline could have been considerably worse.

Dundee, first and foremost, were excellent. There are very good reasons why Greg Stewart made the shortlist for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award last season and the evidence on display at Rugby Park suggests he is only going to improve.

His was one of many fine displays for the visitors. He opened the scoring in the 34th minute of a spectacularly one-sided opening period, helped Rory Loy to score his brace either side of the break and then wrapped up the scoring with 12 minutes to play.

Were it not for their goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald and some dreadful profligacy from Dundee’s other striker Kane Hemmings, the degree of Killie’s defeat would have been truly humiliating.

It was bad enough as it was. They created next to nothing all afternoon. A weak header from Kris Boyd, every bit as ineffective as he was at Rangers last year, on 72 minutes represented their first attempt at goal.

There was little invention in their play, little sign of structure or philosophy. Stewart terrorised them in his advanced role with Kevin Thomson, Nick Ross and Gary Harkins dominating in midfield from the first whistle.

Their supporters appear to harbour a similar sense of foreboding. Locke is already under pressure. He was roundly abused throughout, jeered at half-time and again at the end.

Locke fielded six new faces in this encounter. Outwith MacDonald, they were all completely anonymous. His signing strategy, which centred around handing lengthy contracts to ageing players limping out of Rangers’ worst season in history, is under the microscope.

“There are no excuses at all,” he said. “We were poor. I didn’t see that coming as I thought pre-season had gone well, but we were second best everywhere. We never got close to them and their flair players got on the ball all day long without any pressure on them. We can only apologise to the fans. It is only one game, but it was a disaster for us.”

Stewart was at the centre of everything good for the visitors, spraying passes cross-field, linking up play and always appearing a goal threat.

The inevitable opener for Dundee would arrive 13 minutes before the interval. Given the quality of his performance, there seemed a certain justice in the fact it came from the left boot of Stewart.

Paul McGinn played a ball inside to him from the right flank, he took a touch more than 20 yards from goal and picked his spot before curling a beautiful effort high past MacDonald.

With the first half having entered stoppage time, Loy made it two. Kevin Holt played a dangerous, low cross in from the left and the former Falkirk forward got in front of his man to produce the most delicate of first-time finishes.

Within one minute and 38 seconds of the restart, Locke’s team went three goals behind. After another clever passing move, Harkins poked the ball into the centre of the area from the left side and Loy sprung higher than anyone to provide the final touch.

Loy then turned provider to let Stewart put the icing on the cake. He played a short pass to the midfielder, who showed quick feet to move the ball onto his left and fire past MacDonald inside the area.

“We dominated the match from start to finish and I thought some of the play was outstanding,” said Paul Hartley, the Dundee manager. “We have been working on movement, combinations and speed and enjoyed being on the ball. We are going to be expansive and let the players express themselves.”