The Dundee captain had batted away many Kilmarnock's advances before chaos broke out, then had his say with a late leveller to spare his side's blushes.
His leadership seems to be a key part of Dundee's success so far this season.
Image source, SNSThere's a bit of a shake-up from Derek McInnes' former assistant, as Tony Docherty makes four changes - and a potential system switch - from the Boxing Day defeat to Celtic.
Mohamad Sylla, Ryan Howley, Josh Mulligan and Scott Tiffoney come in, with Cammy Kerr, Lyall Cameron, Malachi Boateng and Zak Rudden making way.
Image source, SNS Lyall Cameron drops to the bench
Image source, BBC SportKilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Wright, Deas, Findlay, Armstrong, Watson, Lyons, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell
Substitutes: O'Hara, Ndaba, McKenzie, Sanders, Murray, Polworth, Donnelly, Dallas, Mackay-Steven
Dundee: Carson, Donnelly, McGhee, Shaughnessy, Beck, Howley, Sylla, Tiffoney, McCowan, Mulligan, Bakayoko
Substitutes: Ledgzdins, Kerr, Cameron, Ashcroft, Reilly, Robertson, Rudden, Boateng, Lewis
Image source, BBC SportKilmarnock forwards Matty Kennedy and Marley Watkins have brushed off fitness concerns while Liam Donnelly and Fraser Murray return. Innes Cameron and Kyle Magennis remain out with hamstring issues.
Dundee have Charlie Reilly back fit and will give Zach Robinson and Ricki Lamie as much time as possible to prove their fitness. Diego Pineda picked up a knock during the warm-up ahead of the Boxing Day defeat by Celtic and will miss out, while fellow Mexican Antonio Portales will not return until after the winter break with a hamstring injury.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSAfter being well-beaten by Celtic on Boxing Day, Dundee stalwart Cammy Kerr is asking his teammates to show resilience as they get set for a trip to in-form Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Feeling post-Celtic:
"Excited, it’s another tough challenge in front of us but we’re certainly looking forward to it.
"We’re looking to bounce back after the defeat against Celtic. We’re fine, it’s part and parcel of football to bounce back from defeats, we’ve done it before.
"Credit to Celtic, they came out in the second half and played some great football."
On Killie:
"The boys are confident, they still go about their work in the right way, the same manner every day in training, under no illusions how well Derek McInnes and Kilmarnock are doing.
"They’ve had a very strong season and they’ve beat Celtic on their home turf so we know how difficult it’s going to be but it’s like every game in this league.
"Every game is incredibly difficult but we’ve got to go there with confidence and try and put our stamp on the game and hope that we can get something."
Belief in squad:
"Every game is different in this league and every game is a challenge but we’re doing well. We know where we’re at and we know there’s always room for improvement.
"We don’t get too far ahead of ourselves at any time and we’re on that single track of trying to get better, trying to pick up wins or draws away from home and just keep trying to be better every week."
On morale:
"Everyone is fine, it’s part of your job to make sure that every time you go on the park you’re ready, every time you’re training you make sure you’re at it and there are good professionals in the changing room and everyone is raring to go."
Dundee face a tough test in Kilmarnock this weekend - an in-form Derek McInnes side sitting third, and a team the Dark Blues have not beaten in their last seven attempts.
Tony Docherty says the only way to take as many points as possible from their last two games before the winter break is to go "full throttle".
"It’s an important game, we’ve only got two games left until the winter break and it’s against a team I know well," Docherty said.
"That’s five of their last six they’ve won. They’ll be in a confident mood but I think it’s important that we stay in a confident mood as well.
"We’ve done well this season, yes we had a difficult game against Celtic but they were excellent, particularly their second half performance I thought they were relentless.
"It’s important that we’re full throttle, we’re pedal to the metal for this one and make sure that with these two games remaining, if we can come out with as many points as we can and real positive performances, that’s our aim."
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty has faced the media ahead of his side's match against Kilmarnock.
Here are his main points:
Expects Kilmarnock to be in a confident mood - but despite a 3-0 defeat to Celtic says his side should be confident too after good performances.
Celtic game been "firmly put to bed now" as they focus on bouncing back against Killie.
Wants Dundee to be "full throttle" to gain as many points as possible before the winter break.
Says his side have an internal points target, but the main thing is to maintain their performance level.
Charlie Reilly is back in the squad and fit, while Docherty is hopeful Zach Robinson and Ricki Lamie will train tomorrow and be available for the weekend. Diego Pineda is carrying "a little knock".
Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last 14 Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee (W5 D8), and are unbeaten in seven (W3 D4) since a 1-0 defeat in May 2017.
Dundee have lost both of their last two top-flight visits to Kilmarnock (both back in 2018); they had only lost one of their previous eight such trips beforehand (W4 D3).
Kilmarnock have won five of their last six home league games (L1), as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W5 D5 L4).
Excluding seasons in which they were relegated, Dundee have lost their final top-flight match of a year in nine of their last 11 such games (W2), including their last two in a row (0-2 v St Johnstone in 2018, 1-2 v Aberdeen in 2021).
Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes has never lost in 18 previous top-flight meetings with Dundee as a manager (W13 D5), winning his last six in a row at home (all six with Aberdeen).
Image source, BBC SportTony Docherty says he's fairly happy with the squad he's built, but should he be looking to make a few additions in January?
How do you see the window panning out for Dundee, and which areas would you like to see strengthened in reinforcements are to be brought in?
Dundee travel to Rugby Park on Saturday, looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat against Celtic.
Who would you pick to start if you were in Tony Docherty's shoes? Choose your Dundee XI here.
