Given lifeline to comes to end

Cammy Kerr cross dropping just past the far post before the ball was in the net again.

Mulligan thought he had his first Premiership goal – and a belter of a finish it was, too, as his header crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.

Unfortunately, the linesman’s flag was up to spoil his moment.

With half an hour left on the clock, club captain Charlie Adam was sent on alongside Luke McCowan.

The latter played a pivotal role in the second strike for the Dark

Blues – this time a Mulligan header counting.

Jordan Marshall with excellent work down the left, dug out a cross for McCowan to head back across goal and there was 19-year-old Mulligan to nod in his first Dundee league goal.

Those two combined once more on 69 minutes as McCowan headed a corner back into the area and Mulligan saw his header cleared off the line. Seconds later he had another hacked off the line with the youngster in full flow.

Chances were coming thick and fast for the hosts with Rudden a minute later fluffing a glorious opportunity to extend Dundee’s lead, sclaffing a left-foot shot wide.

That frenetic pace couldn’t be sustained but any late nerves were calmed by skipper Adam.

With his contract ending in the summer, this may be the former Scotland man’s finale at Dens Park.

And, if it is the end, what a way to finish it off as he smashed a beauty of a left-foot strike into the corner from 25 yards.

their first win at Dens Park in 2022.