Dens men 6 missers

PLAYERRATINGS Dundee pass up another chance to reach top-half

DUNDEE’S hopes of claiming a top-six slot in the Premiership were put on hold yet again as they were held to a draw by Kilmarnock at Dens Park.

The Dark Blues had chances to win the game but, in fairness, so, too, did the opposition and, in the end, a share was probably the right outcome on a bitingly-cold day i n the City of Discovery.

At the end of the 90 minutes, it was Killie who claimed the much-coveted top-half spot but, with only seven points from the Ayrshire outfit down to Inverness Caley at the foot of the table, guessing just who will grab sixth place at the split is still too difficult to call.

The likes of Motherwell, Ross County and now Killie have been in pole position but the pack is so tightly grouped, they all have a realistic hope of joining the elite for the final five games of the season.

It’s like a 1,500m race and everyone is jockeying for position. No one is prepared to make a move which will be decisive and burst the pack wide open.

It’s certainly there if someone can string two or three wins together on the bounce but that looks as if it won’t happen until we’re on the final bend and, that being the case, we are in for a titanic scramble for the line through March and into April.

The prize at stake is huge — and we’re not talking about the obvious financial benefit for finishing in the top half.

The biggest incentive for claiming sixth spot is the fact relegation will be negated. Because, make no doubt about it, with so little between the teams at the foot of the table, the dogfight to see who finishes bottom and who finishes in the play-off place looks like it will go right to the wire.

That will be a nerve-shredder for fans and players alike and, surely, something to be avoided at all costs.

Anyway, let’s get down to the action at Dens on Saturday.

The visitors started the brighter and it was no surprise when they edged ahead after only nine minutes.

Kris Boyd’s scoring exploits need no explanation but, even in his pomp when he was bagging goals for fun at Rangers, he could never be described as a speed-merchant.

So the sight of the 33-year-old galloping away from the Dundee defence in the ninth minute must have had Paul Hartley’s alarm bells ringing.

And, Boyd duly grabbed the opportunity, clipping the ball past the advancing Scott Bain and into the net.

To their credit, after a shaky start, Dundee clawed their way back into the game but their equaliser came from an unlikely source.

Cammy Kerr swung a hopeful left-footed cross into the box and, with the Killie keeper and defence posted missing, Kevin Holt planted a volley low into the empty net.

Holt deserves praise for executing the finish with aplomb and also for getting into the box from the wide area.

After that, Dundee had chances, Henrik Ojamaa seeing a low shot well saved and a Marcus Haber header, which seemed goal-bound, cannoning off a visiting defender and away to safety.

After the break, Ojamaa and Kostadin Gadzhalov went close but, so, too, did Conor Sammon for the visitors, his effort being stopped by Bain.

So the race is still on for the top six but who will claim it remains anyone’s guess.