A controversial penalty from Eamonn Brophy consigned Dundee to a 12th home defeat of 2018 as Kilmarnock came from behind to win 2-1 on Tayside.
Brophy netted the winner in the 54th minute after Jordan Jones – who had levelled for the visitors in the 17th minute – went down under minimal contact from Cammy Kerr.
Referee Steven McLean handed Kilmarnock another penalty later in the game but former Dundee player Greg Stewart saw his effort saved by Elliott Parish.
Dundee had ended a run of seven consecutive defeats with their first Ladbrokes Premiership points of the season when they won at Hamilton the previous weekend.
Adil Nabi gave Neil McCann’s side the perfect platform to build on that victory when he grabbed his first goal for the club inside 10 minutes. The former Peterborough forward capitalised on a poor clearance to rifle an 18-yard finish into the bottom corner.
Nabi soon set up Elton Ngwatala after Karl Madianga had dispossessed Aaron Tshibola but the wide player took a heavy first touch and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald came out to make a brave and crucial intervention.
Killie showed signs of life when Jones came close with a half-volley and the winger was celebrating moments later. He took Stephen O’Donnell’s pass inside the Dundee box and drove a shot which looped up off Andy Boyle and over the head of Parish.
The visitors threatened to build on their equaliser and Boyle was very fortunate to escape a blatant shirt pull right in front of the referee as Boyd volleyed Jones’ corner just over.
Stewart dragged a shot wide as Killie kept up the pressure and Boyle survived another penalty shout when he slid in to block O’Donnell’s low cross amid handball claims.
There was a lull in the latter stages of the half but Killie came out in determined fashion after the restart and got their first penalty when Jones collected a pass on the overlap and went down with Kerr chasing at close quarters. Brophy tucked his finish into the corner.
Jones had a shot saved before Calvin Miller conceded a 73rd-minute penalty. Stewart had to wrestle the ball away from Tshibola and saw his strike pushed over the crossbar.
But Dundee could not capitalise on their lifeline and Killie saw out the closing stages in the opposition half to move third in the table as their fans chanted: “We’re gonnae win the league”.
