Kilmarnock net three times in final four minutes to seal dramatic win over Dundee

A stunning first win of the season for Killie.

Kilmarnock picked up their first win of the league season in barely believable circumstances as they trailed 2-0 with just four minutes remaining before defeating Dundee 3-2 at Dens Park.

The visitors had produced a lacklustre display with Ziyad Larkeche giving the hosts a deserved lead with an angled drive off the woodwork midway through the first half. Mo Sylla was dismissed for a second yellow just before the interval after a challenge with Matty Kennedy, but even that failed to turn the game in Killie's favour.

The Dees appeared in control and looked to have had the points firmly in the bag when substitute Oluwasean Adewumi pounced on defensive dithering to chip Robby McCrorie on 81 minutes.

But Killie never give up. Kennedy made it game on with four minutes left as his strike went under Jon McCracken - with Bruce Anderson lurking at the back post to turn home a Gary Mackay-Steven cross two minutes later.

And they weren't done yet. Deep into stoppage time the turnaround was complete as Bobby Wales got to the byline and calmly teed up Kennedy to roll home the winner.

The two sides drew all four meetings in the league last term so a tight affair was to be expected. However, it was Dundee who started on the front foot as they threatened on several occasions in the opening stages - only to be met with a sturdy Killie defence that kept them at bay.

McCrorie was alert when called upon to repel Curtis Main after the striker looked to pounce on a terrific defence-splitting ball from Billy Koumetio as the hosts searched for an opener. At the other end, Kyle Vassell produced a neat turn on the edge of the box, only to blast harmlessly over.

Larkeche went agonisingly close to scoring a wonderstrike on 23 minutes with a fizzing drive from distance that flew inches past McCrorie's left-hand post. But the flying Frenchman made no mistake barely 60 seconds later as he produced a composed finish across goal and in off the post after being played in by Lyall Cameron.

Killie were struggling for a way back into the game - and they were handed one just before the interval as Sylla saw red for a challenge with Kennedy. The midfielder was shown a second yellow although Grant Irvine's decision seemed harsh on first viewing.

The visitors came out after the break revitalised and enjoyed their first prolonged spell on the ball in the early stages of the half - but there were no signs of them breaking down a stubborn defence. Patient build-up play led to Liam Donnelly trying his luck when afforded a yard of space but it was a tame effort from the Northern Irishman who curled straight his strike straight into the arms of McCracken from 20 yards.

McInnes introduced Anderson on 63 minutes in a bid to spark some life into the Killie frontline. The former Livi man clattered the woodwork in a congested penalty box after getting on the end of a Brad Lyons delivery.

That near miss proved critical as it was essentially game over two minutes later. A defensive mix-up allowed substitute Adewumi to nip in between the back line and McCrorie before producing a delicate lob over the keeper to wrap up the points.

Anyone would have been forgiven for thinking that was game over. But Killie produced a stunning spell as Kennedy made it game on before Anderson's back post finish tied things up. Wales replaced Vassell after the second goal and played a pivotal role in the winner as the teenager was composed under pressure to find Kennedy for the winner and spark wild scenes amongst the travelling fans and the Killie players.

Dundee: McCracken; Portales, C. Robertson, Koumetio; Ingram (Astley 88), Tiffoney (Adewumi 66), Sylla, Cameron, Larkeche; Main (Fraser 45), Murray (Palmer-Houlden 66). Subs not used: Carson, Mulligan, F. Robertson, Braybrooke, Vetro.

Goal: Larkeche (24), Adewumi (81)

Red card: Sylla (43)

Kilmarnock: McCrorie; Mayo (Burroughs 75), Deas, Ndaba; Armstrong (Mackay-Steven 75), Lyons, Donnelly (Anderson 63), Watson (McKenzie 63), Kennedy; Vassell (Wales 86), Watkins. Subs not used: O'Hara, Murray, Cameron, Bainbridge.

Goal: Kennedy (86, 90), Anderson (88).

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