SOULEYMANE Coulibaly dedicated his first-half goal to the brother of Kilmarnock team-mate Kris Boyd, who was found dead on Wednesday after taking his own life.
The Ivorian levelled with an overhead kick just after the half-hour, after Faissal El Bakhtaoui had given Dundee an early lead at Dens Park.
Boyd decided to play despite the death of his younger sibling Scott, 27, and Coulibaly said: “I dedicate to my goal to Kris’ brother. It’s been a difficult week for Kris, but like a man, he turned up today and played for us.”
Kilmarnock manager Clark heaped praise on Coulibaly, saying: “The technique was just out of this world. He does that sort of thing in training.
“There’s a few lads who’ve got cuts and bruises from him kicking their heads.
“My lads are ducking and diving when those crosses are coming in during training. He’s such a great kid – he’s so positive and the lads have taken to him so much.”
Dundee remain without a home win in the Ladbrokes Premiership as they were held to a third consecutive draw.
They had to play the last 10 minutes with 10 men after French defender Kevin Gomis was shown a straight red card for a rash tackle on Kilmarnock substitute Charlee Adams.
Seeking to freshen things up, manager Paul Hartley made two changes from the side which had drawn away to Motherwell a fortnight before.
On-loan Celtic attacker Michael Duffy and Danny Williams dropped out, and in came Craig Wighton and new signing Tom Hateley.
But it was the visitors who began brightly. Captain Steven Smith flighted a free-kick into the box after four minutes but Boyd’s header was gathered by home goalkeeper Scott Bain.
However, three minutes later Dundee took the lead in simple fashion.
Hateley took advantage of a dead-ball situation and his low free-kick eluded the entire Killie defence to allow El Bakhtaoui to make it 1-0 with a neat finish from inside the six-yard box.
It was the Frenchman’s first goal since signing in the summer and gave the hosts a welcome lift.
However, Kilmarnock equalised in some style after 31 minutes. Adam Frizzell’s deep cross from the right picked out Coulibaly and he spectacularly sent an overhead kick back across Bain and into the back of the net from 12 yards.
Soon after the restart, Wighton was put clean through on goal by Paul McGowan only to see his shot saved by Jamie MacDonald, and the Kilmarnock goalkeeper also thwarted him from the rebound.
After 80 minutes, Dundee centre-back Gomis was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Adams, who was stretchered off.
Despite their best efforts to force a winner late on, Dundee had to settle for another draw.
“We started brightly and, to be fair, the goal Kilmarnock scored was a fantastic strike,” manager Hartley said. “We just lacked that little bit of clinical finishing.”
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