The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Dark Blues fall apart in second half
Goalkeeper Hamilton bemoans team’s capitulation after the break as Dundee prove match for Kilmarnock early on
KILMARNOCK 3 DUNDEE 1
He may have made a string of important saves throughout the game but Dundee keeper Jack Hamilton was the first to admit that the team had let themselves down in the second half at Kilmarnock on Saturday.
The Dark Blues had matched Steve Clarke’s top-of-the-table side in the first 45 but once Kirk Broadfoot had scored a scrappy opener for the hosts, Dundee folded and Killie ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.
Hamilton admitted conceding poor goals and failing to take their own opportunities had been a fatal combination for Jim Mcintyre’s men.
The former Hearts goalie said: “I thought the boys did well in the first half. We had a couple of really good chances that we didn’t take and it came back to bite us in the second half.
“It just wasn’t a good performance after half-time.
“Kilmarnock are a good team, I think everyone would agree. Their position in the league proves that. And if you give them chances they will take them.
“We had been four games unbeaten going into the game and that gave us a bit of confidence.
“As I said, the first half was positive. But in the second half we let ourselves down a bit. I had a few saves but I am disappointed with the way the game went and losing three goals.”
Hamilton added: “Goals win games. If we are conceding like we are, then you can’t go on and win games if you are not scoring.
“We have a big game on Tuesday at Aberdeen and we need to concentrate on that. We will look to see what we can do to tighten up.
“It wasn’t a nice goal to lose (Broadfoot’s) after putting so much into the game until that point. It was scrappy. After it went in, it was downhill. We needed a reaction after that and we never got it.”
Considering the bitterly-cold conditions, it was no surprise this game was a slow burner to get going with players from both sides taking their time to find their feet – sometimes literally.
There were early chances for the home side’s Jordan Jones and Greg Stewart before Dundee’s Kenny Miller had a superb opportunity in the 19th minute but he steered his shot wide from six yards.
Eamonn Brophy then hit a 25-yard free-kick inches past Hamilton’s lefthand post.
On the half-hour mark Dundee had another two great chances through Jesse Curran and Andy Boyle but they were denied on both occasions by Killie keeper Daniel Bachmann.
Hamilton came to the rescue for Dundee in the 31st minute when he pulled off a wonderful stop after Stewart was played clean through on goal by Gary Dicker.
Shortly before the break, Killie had a big scare when home defender Stephen O’donnell came close to scoring an own goal when he got a touch on a Miller cross with the ball looping up on to the roof of the net.
However, it was the home side who took the lead in the 54th minute.
Stewart swung in a corner from the right and following an almighty scramble Hamilton was unable to hold on to the ball and it was stabbed home from close range by Broadfoot.
Shortly after, Hamilton had to look lively to save another dangerous Brophy free-kick.
However, Killie did extend their advantage in the 67th minute when Brophy sent in a dangerous cross from the right and Genseric Kusunga turned the ball into his own net.
Clarke’s men looked to turn the screw even more with Stewart being denied by Hamilton and then Brophy firing wide when he should have hit the target.
The Dark Blues keeper came to the rescue once more to deny Jones as he arrowed in on goal but it seemed certain that the third would come and so it proved in the 79th minute when Boyle misplaced a pass straight to Chris Burke who teed up Stewart for a simple finish.
There was a late consolation goal in the first minute of stoppage time as Miller stabbed home from close range past Bachmann.
Incredibly, Dundee then came close to adding a second when sub Adil Nabi’s shot was cleared off the line.
However, it was all too little too late.