Dundee 2-2 Kilmarnock: Visitors drop to fifth despite late leveller
- Published
Scott Tiffoney's strike led to a Will Dennis own goal for Dundee's opener
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes said he is "scunnered" with VAR after his 10-man team snatched a "brilliant point" with an injury-time equaliser against Dundee as the sides fought out another Scottish Premiership thriller.
In the third 2-2 league draw between the teams this season featuring a late leveller, Luke McCowan's penalty following Lewis Mayo's red card looked to have given Tony Docherty a win over his former boss McInnes.
But Robbie Deas struck in the 91st minute to earn an unlikely point.
Will Dennis' unlucky own goal had given the hosts the lead early on before Marley Watkins equalised with a tap-in.
"Having seen it back, there's no infringement in the box," the Kilmarnock boss said of Mayo's red card - which he plans to appeal.
"How Greg Aitken in VAR doesn't ask the referee to come and look at that is beyond me. Here we are again, with such a pivotal decision.
"I don't even think it's a foul and I don't think the referee gives a penalty if he sees it again. It's a coming together.
"They get involved when they shouldn't and don't get involved where they should. I am just scunnered with it."
Despite the late leveller, Kilmarnock drop to fifth after St Mirren's victory over Aberdeen, while Dundee remain seventh.
It was Dundee who made the better start as they looked to extend Kilmarnock's troubles on the road.
Tiffoney cut in from the left and his marker Liam Polworth slipped, allowing the forward to crash a shot off the post which hit Dennis and trundled in.
It was an unfortunate goal to concede but Kilmarnock barely fired a shot until their leveller. Danny Armstrong crafted it, jinking to the byeline and hanging a ball to the back post where Joe Wright headed down for Watkins to tap in.
That lifted the visitors, and Armstrong went close from a free-kick before going down in the box after the resulting corner. Nothing given.
They had a superb chance to go ahead when Watkins burst through one-on-one, but he didn't have a finish to match and Jon McCracken made a good save.
Kilmarnock were made to pay at the other end when Mayo hauled down Tiffoney in the box, with the defender sent off as he made no attempt to play the ball. McCowan tucked the spot-kick away.
Dundee could have made it comfortable when Josh Mulligan teed up Michael Mellon on the edge of the area, but the substitute could only hit the post with his lashed effort.
Perhaps it should have been no surprise when Deas bundled in from a late Kilmarnock corner, given the record between these sides this season.
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Cat and mouse between McInnes and Docherty once more - analysis
No one was leaving this game early, as every league game between these sides has had at least one goal in injury time.
It really didn't look like it this time. After Kilmarnock went down to 10 men, they struggled to create much as Dundee sat in.
But McInnes again found a way past his former number two, as both managers toyed and tinkered with their sides throughout the game.
Kilmarnock were the first to change their shape and it worked as they soon found an equaliser.
Similarly, when Owen Dodgson replaced Lyall Cameron for Dundee, Docherty got one over McInnes - but it would not last.
What they said
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "You've got to be disappointed. I thought we were the better team by a long way. In the opening period, we were excellent. Moved the ball well, numerous opportunities to get into final third.
"It was a decent, well-fought game. But when we get the opportunity with the penalty, it should be enough. We had opportunity to go 3-1 up and we never took them. That's three 2-2s now and the games have all been quite similar."
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: ""I'm pleased with my team's efforts - everyone has to do their bit and more and we did that. We have to dig ourselves out again, coming from behind with 10 men."
What's next?
Dundee host Aberdeen on Wednesday, 13 March (19:45 GMT) while Kilmarnock welcome St Mirren the following Saturday (15:00).