The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Killie draw was not a bad result: O’Hara
Midfielder rues missed chance as Dark Blues fail to build on perfect start
Dundee’s Mark O’Hara admits that on reflection, it was a point gained for his side rather than two lost after drawing against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The Dark Blues stormed into an early lead but could not build on that advantage against a nervous home outfit.
Killie ultimately equalised with Dundee having to be content with a share of the spoils.
While disappointed not to take all three points, O’Hara admitted that a draw in Ayrshire was not a bad result, especially coming on the back of last week’s home victory over St Johnstone.
The former Kilmarnock player said: “We obviously won last week so we have taken four points out of six including one in an away game so that is not too bad.
“It is a bit gloom and doom just now but hopefully we will look back in a few weeks and consider it a good point.
“Right from the start, they (Kilmarnock) were a bit shaky.
“We should have made the most of that but we didn’t.
“But they have good players at Kilmarnock and I am sure they will work things out.
“I am not sure why they are so bad at home. On the whole for us, I think it will be a point gained rather than two dropped.
“Hopefully with the backing of the fans we can get another three points at home to Hearts next week.”
Paul McGowan missed Saturday’s game with a groin strain.
KILMARNOCK 1 DUNDEE 1
Dundee’s Mark O’Hara admits his side need to find a ruthless streak and put the opposition to the sword when they are on top.
The Dark Blues made a perfect start at Rugby Park on Saturday against a Kilmarnock side still searching for their first league victory of the season, taking an early lead through Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
However, they could not build on that bright beginning with the home side equalising and Neil McCann’s men breathing a huge sigh of relief when the normally deadly Kris Boyd passed up a gilt-edged chance deep into stoppage time.
All of which left O’Hara – who came off the bench in the 53rd minute – ruing the fact his side had not built on the foundation of that early lead.
The 22-year-old said: “Both teams didn’t perform well but the manager has told us that it wasn’t good enough from us and we had passed up a chance to get three points. “I think it was an opportunity missed. “After we scored, we sort of slacked off a wee bit instead of really kicking on.
“Fair play to Killie, they kept going but we simply didn’t perform well enough. “We should have been a lot better. “When we are in these situations, we need to be far more ruthless.
“We had a couple of chances in the second half that we really needed to take.
“We were ahead and that would have put the game to bed.”
Dundee stormed into their early lead in just the fourth minute.
Roarie Deacon sent a cross in from the right, finding Scott Allan who played the ball into the path of A-Jay Leitch-Smith. The striker’s shot was saved by Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald but El Bakhtaoui was on hand to rifle home the rebound.
Killie then had a big chance of their own when Lee Erwin found himself straight through on goal but Dundee keeper Scott Bain made a vital block with his feet.
McCann’s men had the first opportunity of the second 45 when El Bakhtaoui played in O’Hara 20 yards out but his powerful shot flew just wide.
Just before the hour mark, Killie’s Calum Waters was incredibly lucky to escape with just a yellow card for a shocking challenge on Dundee’s Jack Hendry that sent the defender flying.
Then in the 64th minute, Killie finally equalised. A corner from the left was headed back across goal by sub Kris Boyd with Gordon Greer smashing the ball past Bain.
The Dark Blues then came mighty close to taking the lead once more when El Bakhtaoui fizzed a shot with MacDonald making a fingertip save to push the ball on to the crossbar.
Then in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Boyd passed up a huge chance to secure all three points for his side but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
O’Hara admitted his heart was in his mouth when he saw the former Rangers and Scotland striker pull the trigger.
He said: “Yes it was. He doesn’t usually miss those so it was a lucky break for us.
“At that stage, we definitely would have taken a point.”
McCann admitted his side’s efforts against Celtic in the Betfred Cup last Wednesday night had caught up with them in Ayrshire.
And he also believed the “car crash” challenge on Hendry could easily have resulted in a red card for Waters.
The manager said: “It was very frustrating because I am expecting a lot better from us.
“To come away with a point I’m reasonably pleased because, on review of the game, I’m not sure if Kilmarnock shouldn’t have had three points.
“I’m happy with the point because it could have been none.
“A lot of the performance, the slackness, giving up possession, no spark in the game, was probably down to our efforts on Wednesday night.
“It was a big game for us on Wednesday and the boys went at it 100% against a top Celtic side and I think it caught up with us.”
He added: “It could have been a red card. The fourth official is saying he mistimed it.
“For me, it was like a car crash. He was going in at such a speed.
“I know you can say he mistimed it but there was a clear split second when he (Hendry) knocked it past him and then the impact.
“It could have been a real serious one.”