Matty Kennedy's stoppage-time strike was the "perfect ending" to Kilmarnock's incredible turnaround at Dens Park, according to Derek McInnes, after they trailed 10-man Dundee by two goals with 10 minutes to go.

The late goal also gave Kilmarnock their first win of the season after a run of seven games without a victory.

Strikes from Ziyad Larkeche and Oluwaseun Adewumi looked certain to give Dundee manager Tony Docherty a first win over his former boss, despite being reduced to 10 men when Mo Sylla was harshly sent off just before half-time.

The decision left Docherty furious and his mood darkened further when late strikes from Kennedy and Bruce Anderson restored parity before the former tapped in at the back-post to turn the scoreline on its head.

"We did it the hard way," McInnes told BBC Scotland. "The second goal came out of nothing. We had a lot to do at that point with so few minutes left. But, boy, we did it.

"It was a brilliant turnaround. There's things we need to be better at. It wasn't perfect, but it was a perfect ending."

Both sides now sit on six points after seven games, with Dundee sitting one place ahead in eighth on goal difference.

Given three of the four meetings between these sides finished 2-2 last season, it felt almost predictable when Kilmarnock grabbed their 88th-minute equaliser. Little did we know there was more to come.

Dundee dominated the opening proceedings and got a deserved opener when Larkeche was teed up by Lyall Cameron, with the left-back lasering into the bottom corner.

The other talking point from the first-half was the sending off of Sylla. There was little doubt about his first yellow card - a crunching tackle on Kyle Vassell - but there was controversy around his second.

After an aerial battle with Kennedy, the Killie winger went down with a bloodied nose and referee Grant Irvine was quick to produce the second yellow for an apparent elbow.

However, when substitute Adewumi held off Jack Burroughs to chip the goalkeeper, the game appeared to be settled after 82 minutes.

Three minutes later, though, Kennedy’s left-footed strike squirmed under goalkeeper Jon McCracken to set up a tense finale.

Two minutes after that, Kilmarnock had the equaliser. Anderson had already hit the post and this time he went one better, nodding in Gary Mackay-Steven's cross at the back post.

Bobby Wales set up the winner, cutting back to an unmarked Kennedy to tap home and send the visiting support into delirium.

Just as he had mixed emotions last weekend, McInnes must feel both delighted and perplexed by his side's performance in Dundee.

Comfortably second-best for much of this game, they did what Dundee United did to them last week and fought back late on - going one better to score three goals in 10 minutes.

The 'never say die' attitude of this team has been written about before, but this match more than any before epitomised the mentality of McInnes' side.

This time, it was the unsung heroes who did the business. Much has been written about Danny Armstrong and David Watson, but they were both subbed off when Kilmarnock's comeback began.

Instead, it was Kennedy, Mackay-Steven, Anderson and Wales were able to pick off a tiring Dundee defence and steal all three points.

Dundee lost more points from winning positions last season than any other side in the Premiership - 25, if you were wondering. Had they held on to them, they would have been finished fourth by a distance.

That frailty has come back to bite them again.

Yes, they were perhaps harshly done-by when Sylla was sent off, but for most of the second half they weathered that storm and had a few chances to score earlier than they did.

Lyall Cameron had a terrific day, until the 94th minute when his terrible clearance allowed Kilmarnock one last chance. Those tired mistakes are continuing to cost them this season.

Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "It's the second time we've had this referee [Grant Irvine] making a mistake that changes the course of the game.

"Mo Sylla makes a challenge, he doesn't even know Matty Kennedy is behind him, he raises his arms - as you do to win a ball. The referee's line of vision is impaired, I don't think he sees it, but reacts to the player on the floor. It's never a sending off, it's never a booking."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Matty Kennedy carried the fight for us, always producing shots and crosses. Rory McKenzie and Brad Lyons ran the game and kept us going. Gary Mackay-Steven, Bruce Anderson and Bobby Wales were terrific.

"It's something I'm maybe guilty of - not making my forward changes quicker - and I accept that. We got the benefit of it today."