Gary Mackay-Steven scored his first Premiership goal since November 2021
For the fourth time this league season, Dundee and Kilmarnock couldn’t be separated as they both finished successful seasons with a draw at Dens Park.
After a slow start, Kilmarnock took the lead through Gary Mackay-Steven - who was making his first start on possibly his final appearance for the club.
Dundee hit back when Scott Tiffoney sprung the offside trap and played Luke McCowan in, with the deputising captain firing in. The effort was initially disallowed but VAR intervened to award the goal.
Kilmarnock hit the bar twice in the second-half and had Robbie Deas sent off for a second yellow, while McCowan missed a penalty to seal victory for Dundee in the 88th minute.
The result of all that, was that yet again there was no way to split old colleagues Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty.
Until Mackay-Steven scored, this game had a real ‘last day of school’ feel to it. Never mind a shot on target, there wasn’t a single shot before the first goal.
It came from Fraser Murray’s run down the left. The rarely-seen winger jinked inside and had a shot blocked, but Mackay-Steven reacted quickest to hook the loose ball into the net.
It looked more likely that the visitors would get a second, but Dundee hit on the counter through Tiffoney, who laid on the ball on a platter for McCowan.
No sooner had the ball hit the net than the offside flag was up, but a lengthy VAR check determined that Tiffoney was onside.
All three league meetings before this one had finished 2-2, so more goals were expected.
Marley Watkins forced Jon McCracken into a fine save with a low drive, before he connected with a Murray cross to glance a header onto the crossbar.
Murray then rattled the woodwork himself, curling the ball onto the bar from a 30-yard free-kick.
The tide turned when Deas was sent off. Having already been booked for a poor tackle on Malachi Boateng, he was booked again after VAR had confirmed it was he, not Stuart Findlay, who had committed another foul.
It looked like Kilmarnock’s day was about to be spoiled when Liam Donnelly then fouled Dara Costelloe in the box.
This was the chance for McCowan to end Dundee’s winless run - but he shot wide from the penalty spot.
Player of the Match - Fraser Murray (Kilmarnock)
Superb on a rare outing, offering a creative spark when Kilmarnock were sorely lacking
Sides sign off hugely successful seasons - analysis
If you told either Docherty or McInnes where their teams would finish at the start of the season, they'd have absolutely snapped your hand off.
Dundee recorded their best league position since 2015, and they did so with a ropey defence and no clear goalscorer. If they can solidify that, they'll be in a decent position again next season.
Kilmarnock gave away another leading position, and they'll be disappointed not to win having dominated large swathes of the game.
But they won't really care. McInnes had a beach ball tucked defiantly under his arm after full-time, and he'll look forward to the chance to top up his tan on their European sojourn next year.
What they said
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "They were better first half, we didn't do a lot. I asked the players to be braver and they were. We should have got our just rewards.
"It's important that we identify things we've done well and things we can do better, there's still loads of room for improvement.
"To have achieved top six is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the staff and players."
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Although the result was important, the priority was getting some game time for some of the lads.
"We've now gone a full six months having only lost to Rangers and Celtic in the league, and we wanted to hang on to that.
"That's a remarkable record for a club like Kilmarnock and it was important to us."
What's next?
Dundee are digging up their troublesome pitch immediately, while Kilmarnock are making sure their passports are all up to date for a trip to Europe.
