Safety in Dee sight

PLAYERRATINGS Haber header enough for fine victory at Kilmarnock

DUNDEE’S revival under Neil McCann continued as a first clean sheet of 2017 set up a deserved 1-0 victory at Kilmarnock.

At Rugby Park, the Dark Blues looked a completely different animal to the team that couldn’t buy a point, never mind a win, just a couple of weeks ago.

Even if that animal was a bit toothless like Dundee were in the first half on Saturday with a number of good chances wasted, the effort and application in defence to keep Killie out laid the foundation for a fine win.

In the opening period, the visitors were by far the better side but couldn’t turn their superiority into goals.

Inside the opening 20 minutes, Faissal El Bakhtaoui had a goal-bound shot blocked with goalkeeper Freddie Woodman stranded before the French-Moroccan set up Dundee’s best opportunity of the first half-hour.

With a fine cross-field pass, El Bakhtaoui picked out Mark O’Hara in acres of space on the left but he was a tad slow in finding striker Marcus Haber who came under pressure when shooting and Woodman saved.

Then came the unique sight of a referee’s assistant throwing up on the sideline.

Despite being shown a red card by referee Craig Thomson, the poorly official carried on.

Bizarre to say the least and, had Dundee not defended the following corner, it would have left a bad taste in the mouth, pardon the pun.

However, as they did all afternoon, the Dark Blues rearguard did their jobs confidently and with a desire that had been missing since the turn of the year.

And, by keeping the Killie attack at bay, it meant Dundee only had to take one of their chances at the other end.

Converting an opportunity was the only thing missing from their first-half display, with Haber the biggest culprit in missing a free header inside the area.

However, the big Canadian kept his head and used it to devastating effect early in the second period.

The work done by Paul McGowan can’t be underestimated in setting up the big moment.

Twisting and turning on the left wing, he fooled his marker into thinking the ball was going to left-back Kevin Holt, only to turn and chip in a tantalising ball for Haber.

And the frontman didn’t need to be asked twice as he powered in his ninth goal of the season.

O’Hara had the chance to seal the victory just after the hour mark against his old team but could only head wide from Tom Hateley’s cross.

Much of the rest of the contest, however, showed there is still some guts in that Dundee side.

Killie came close on a couple of occasions but the Dark Blues defence never looked like they were going to be beaten as they worked hard to keep that priceless clean sheet.

And when the home side did find a way past the defence, Scott Bain was there to stop them.

The keeper was in fine form, earning a first clean sheet since the 3-0 win over St Johnstone on Hogmanay.

Sean Longstaff had a tester for Bain after a good run before the keeper pulled off a superb stop to deny Greg Kiltie on 78 minutes.

And he was equal to the deadly Kris Boyd with five minutes to go, too, pushing a low effort wide and, in the process, securing a big win for his side.

Dundee have rediscovered their hunger and don’t look like they are satisfied just yet.