Dundee 0 Kilmarnock 0: Strong, resolute and dangerous but still right out of luck

Golf Correspondent

Monday 28 January 2013

Given the club's perilous position in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, the chances of Dundee being rebranded as the city of recovery would appear slim.

Kenny Shiels watched from the stand alongside chairman Michael Johnston

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Nick Rodger

They may have been cast well adrift at the foot of the league table but Barry Smith's battlers proved yesterday they will not go down without a fight. A disallowed goal, an effort that hit the post, one hoofed off the line and a justifiable shout for a penalty? If the footballing gods had been in a decent mood, Dundee could have plundered all three points on a day that was as cold as a Kenny Shiels glower when pressed on the topic of his four-match touchline ban.

"We did enough to win," said Smith. "I was delighted for the defence who have had a hard time of late. To get a clean sheet is pleasing but we have to take our chances."Most of the noteworthy incidents during the first period seemed to involve the hosts' Jim McAlister. On seven minutes, his rasping drive took a slight deflection off John Baird on its way into the net but his celebrations were short-lived as he peered across to see that the linesman had already flagged Baird offside.A few moments later, the winger almost became the unfortunate creator of a Kilmarnock opener. Declan Gallagher's attempted punt upfield clattered into the midfielder and sent Paul Heffernan striding away, but his low shot was smothered by Rab Douglas.Apart from another couple of efforts that were dealt with by the respective keepers, the remaining acts of significance as the half meandered to a conclusion were penalty claims that were waved away. Baird was the first to roar his case when he appeared to be manhandled to the ground by Ross Barbour just after the half-hour. "It was a definite penalty," said Smith. Seconds later, Rory McKenzie was left feeling hard done by when he tumbled amid a tangle of legs at the other end only for his howls to fall on deaf ears.The visitors posed an early threat as the second half got under way but it was the hosts who came closest to making the breakthrough. Colin Nish nodded down in the box and Baird's hooked attempt floated over Cammy Bell and rattled the far post. McAlister then unleashed a pile driver which Bell punched straight out in front of him but the on-rushing Nish could only jab the rebound over the bar under pressure. Having been on the back foot, Kilmarnock, who put in a "workmanlike performance", according to assistant Jimmy Nicholl, launched a late assault and Barbour's strike was beaten away by Douglas. There was still time for one final Dundee raid, though, and a Brian Easton header was stopped on the line and then cleared by Garry Hay."We have to keep plugging away," said McAlister, who has certainly not given up hope of a great escape. "Two or three wins back to back gets us right back in it."

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Dundee 0 Kilmarnock 0: Strong, resolute and dangerous but still right out of luck

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