Sunday, January 21, 2024

Kilmarnock 2, Dundee 0, Rugby Park, Scottish Cup 4th Rd, 20th January 2024

Dundee made several changes to their team with Adam Legzdins and Lee Ashcroft came in for the injured Trevor Carson and Aaron Donnelly. Dara Costelloe made his debut, replacing the departed Owen Beck.

Dundee got of to woefully start losing a soft goal in the first minute when the ball should have been cleared. It got worse 2 minutes later when from a free kick Kilmarnock got their second goal when Marley Watkins headed home when the defence could have been tighter.

It gave dundee a massive mountain to climb and it was them that needed the next goal. They did have the ball in the net on six minutes when Luke McCowan shot home but the flag was up for offside. It looked tight but you have to get on with it.

After 37 minutes Dundee’s defence was disrupted when Adam Legzdins had to go off with an injury. Harrison Sharp came on to replace him. Losing a keeper is always worrying, but Sharp was impressively calm and safe for the remainder of the match.

At least Dundee had a go at Kilmarnock but failed to create anything clear as chances went. In first half injury time the Dark Blues put together their best move of the game when McCowan played neat exchanges with Josh Mulligan and Bakayoko to run clear, only to screw his shot wide.

Second half and it was much the same Kilmarnock happy enough to keep things tight and hit Dundee on the break. Dundee kept at it but too many long balls failed tp produce anything of note.

Curtis Main and Owen Dodgson came on for their debuts. Both fitted in, but the pattern of the game was already well set. Charlie Reilly put in a lively cameo for the last quarter of an hour, showing pace and skill to trouble Kilmarnock in wide areas, but the defence always dealt with his crosses.

So as the game ended Dundee were out the cup again early and we can only hope they push forward in the league games coming up.

Dundee: Legzdins (Sharp 37), Ashcroft, Shaughnessy (c), McGhee, Howley (Dodgson 57), Mulligan, Sylla, McCowan, Costelloe (Reilly 77), Tiffoney (Main 57), Bakayoko (Robinson 77). Unused Subs: Astley, Cameron, Robertson, Boateng.

Referee: Don Robertson

Att: 5,425