Kilmarnock salvaged a last-gasp 2-2 draw against Dundee at Dens in the cinch Premiership.
The hosts took the lead courtesy of an own goal by goalkeeper Will Dennis with the visitors equalising before the break through Marley Watkins.
Kilmarnock’s Lewis Mayo was sent off after conceding a penalty on the hour mark, with Luke McCowan converting the spot-kick, but the Ayrshire men rescued a point deep into added time with Robbie Deas bundling home.
It is the third time the teams have drawn 2-2 against each other in the league this season, with the result seeing Dundee drop out of the top six.
How the game played out
The Dark Blues made six changes from the side that were thrashed 7-1 by Celtic in midweek with goalkeeper Jon McCracken, Aaron Donnelly, Lyall Cameron, Josh Mulligan, Mo Sylla and Scott Tiffoney coming in for Trevor Carson, Ricki Lamie, Jordan McGhee, Finlay Robertson, Malachi Boateng and Amadou Bakayoko.
Killie made just one change from the team that lost narrowly to Rangers on Wednesday night with Deas replacing Stuart Findlay.
Dundee made all the early running and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 11th minute. Tiffoney cut in from the left and hit a snap shot that cannoned off the post but hit the luckless Dennis and bounced back into the net.
However, Killie stunned the home side when they equalised in the 35th minute.
Danny Armstrong swung a cross in from the right with Joe Wright heading the ball down to Watkins who netted from close range for his 10th goal of the season.
After the break, Watkins embarked on a barnstorming solo run from halfway into the Dundee box before hitting a shot with McCracken having to make a vital block to deny the striker.
However, Dundee took the lead again in the 63rd minute. Tiffoney was bundled over just inside the Killie box by Mayo with referee Colin Steven awarding a penalty and then flashing a red card at the defender.
The official’s decision was rubber-stamped after a VAR check with McCowan stepping up to take the spot-kick, hitting it into the back of the net off the inside of the post.
Dundee came agonisingly close to making it three in the 85th minute but substitute Michael Mellon’s 25-yard shot crashed off the crossbar.
However, Killie rescued a point in the 91st minute when Deas reacted first at a corner to bundle home.
What the managers said:
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: “We had to dig ourselves out of a hole after a refereeing decision. I went in to see him. There is no infringement in the box, if there is a foul?
“It’s a bit untidy because Mayo has his eyes on the ball, it bounces and he gets himself in a bad position, but at no time does he pull Scott Tiffoney down.
“Tiffoney falls down and it doesn’t look great. I can’t understand why Greg Aitken and the VAR team haven’t asked the referee to look at it.
“I think if he does, he doesn’t give the penalty and I think it actually makes him think twice as to whether there is a foul there or not. If he does get called over and sticks by his decision then we can have a go at the referee.
“I don’t understand. They get involved when they shouldn’t and don’t get involved where they should. I am just scunnered with it.”
Dundee boss Tony Docherty: “I think the overriding feeling is disappointment.
“We have just had a good discussion as a group. I think the thing I want to emphasise is that we had a difficult night on Wednesday.
“But we won’t be defined by a result like that but what we will be defined by is our reaction to it.
“I thought our reaction today was fantastic but we should have seen the game out.”
What’s next?
Kilmarnock’s attention turns to the Scottish Cup with a quarter-final tie against Aberdeen on March 9. Kick-off 12.15pm.
With Dundee already out of the cup, their next match is at home to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership on March 13. Kick-off 7.45pm.
