Kilmarnock 0, Dundee 1, Rugby Park, Ladbrokes Premiership, 06-May-17

In glorious sunshine Dundee played Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, it was my first visit this season, a big Dundee support have travelled down. Manager Neil McCann made two changes from the game at Motherwell. Cammy Kerr and Faissal El Bakhtaoui came in for Nick Ross and Craig Wighton.

Dundee started well and should have scored when good play from O'Hara set up Haber who's shot was well saved by Woodman in the Killie goal. Soon after Gomis headed home a Holt cross but was ruled offside it looked a very tight decision.

Haber missed another great chance after superb play by El Bakhtaoui, who's  cross to the near post where Haber smashed his header narrowly wide. A big chance for the first goal, then a Hateley free kick made Woodman save again as Dundee pushed for the first goal.

Scott Bain did had a couple of saves but nothing to trouble the keeper long range efforts, as the Dundee defence done their job at closing down the Kilmarnock players.

Dundee started the second half well and a great run by Cammy Kerr a last ditch tackle foiled the full back from racing clear, Dundee had a massive let off when Bain kicked the ball off a Killie player and ball luckily went wide of the goal.

But on 54 minutes Dundee too the lead great play from McGowan and his cross was headed home by Marcus Haber from six yards to the delight of the Dundee fans.

Killie had a wee spell of pressure but the Dundee defence held firm. At the other end O'Hara missed a header from close in and Holt and Bakhtaoui had good efforts blocked.

Then as Dundee sat a bit too deep for my liking Scott Bain pulled off two great saves, the first from a Boyd header he managed some how to push the ball over the ball, then a Boyd low shot from 16 yards again seemed sure to find the net. It was heading just inside the post but Bain stretched out to tip the ball wide.

Craig Wighton came on for El Bakhtaoui for the last 15 minutes, and Nick Ross then replaced McGowan as the Dee switched to a 4-5-1 formation to see the game out.

Great celebrations when the final whistle went and it was a happy journey home with my son Andrew. Another three point towards safety, with three games to go it's looking better. As long as we keep it going until we are safe from the play off spot.

Dundee: Bain,  Kerr, Gomis, O’Dea (c), Holt,  O’Hara, Hateley, Vincent, El Bakhtaoui (Wighton 76)
McGowan (Ross 84),  Haber (Ojamaa 90+1). Unused Subs: Ferrie , Williams, Gadzhalov, Higgins.

Att: 4,040.

Ref: Craig Thomson.

More Motherwell

Motherwell 2, Dundee 3, Fir Park, Ladbrokes Premiership, 29-April-17

In Neil McCann's first game in charge he made  three changes Wighton, Gomis and Ross coming in for Kerr, Higgins and El Bahktaoui. Dundee started with a 4-4-2 system with Paul McGowan upfront with Marcus Haber.

Motherwell started the better team and earned a few corner's but the Dundee defence done well and Scott Bain was active and came for crosses which was good to see. Dundee did have a couple of corners but they came to nothing.

But as half time was approaching Dundee scored again the run of play. Kevin Holt fired in a cross into the Motherwell box and Haber and Samson went up for it at the back post. Luckily for Dundee Samson parried it straight to Mark O'Hara who smashed it into the net from six yards to give the Dark Blues the lead. Motherwell would have felt if they were mugged but the big Dundee supporters enjoyed the vital opening goal.

With news at half-time that Hamilton were getting beat 2-0 it was good to hear.

Dundee went 2-0 up four minutes into the second half with a well worked goal,
Kevin Holt ran into the Motherwell box along the by line and when he cut the ball back to O’Hara who shot was blocked before it fell to Marcus Haber who stabbed it into the net.

Motherwell pulled one back minutes later after Bain had done well to tip a Frear cross from the right over the bar. When the corner came over it fell to Moult at the back post and he fired the ball into the roof of then net from a tight angle.

Dundee were quick to restore their two goal when on 56 minutes Craig Wighton chipped a lovely ball in from the left and Mark O’Hara stooped to head it home but with Samson looking like he might save it, the ball hit Marcus Haber on the knee and deflected into the net.

Motherwell scored again with 10 minutes to go when Cadden scored from close range to make it 3-2, just before it Hateley had knocked one off the line when it looked over but the linesman kept his flag down.

Dundee put on subs to run down the clock to the delight of the big Dundee support. With 4 games to go it's a vital win but we need to keep it going with all roads leading to Kilmarnock next week.

Dundee: Bain, Holt, Vincent, O’Dea, Hateley, O’Hara (Higgins 81’),  Ross (El Bahktaoui 84’), McGowan, Haber, Wighton (Williams 63’), Gomis. Subs:  Mitchell, El Bahktaoui, Ojamaa, Gadzhalov, Smith

Ref: Steven McLean

Att: 4,919