Kilmarnock 0-4 Dundee: Match Report

01 August 2015 05:01

Dundee open with emphatic win

Greg Stewart and Rory Loy both scored twice as Dundee kicked off the new Ladbrokes Premiership season with a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Saturday.

Stewart opened the scoring in the 34th minute and added his second in the 78th, either side of Loy's double on his Dundee debut for a comprehensive victory.

It was a case of all hands to the pump for Kilmarnock from the kick-off, with goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald producing a handful of early saves.

Within four minutes, Dundee debutant Kane Hemmings could have made the perfect start when Stewart sent him through the middle but the striker's low shot was held by MacDonald.

A minute later Hemmings tried his luck from the edge of the box but his shot was straight at the keeper.

The Kilmarnock stopper's hectic start continued and after 10 minutes great footwork from Stewart carried him through the home defence, only to cannon his shot off MacDonald's chest.

By comparison, Killie posed little threat, taking 15 minutes to earn their first corner, with Scott Bain comfortably holding Kallum Higginbotham's cross in front of huge Tayside support.

At the other end MacDonald was at full stretch to push away another effort from Stewart before he denied ex-Killie man Gary Harkins.

A goal for the visitors was long overdue and it should have arrived on the half hour mark. Stewart made for the byline before cutting the ball back to Hemmings in the middle of the goal, but from eight yards he scooped his shot embarrassingly wide of the target.

His blushes were short-lived when Dundee opened the scoring three minutes later. This time Stewart cut in from the left side of the penalty box before curling a superb shot beyond the helpless MacDonald.

That failed to inject any life into the home side and on the stroke of half-time, the Dens Park men doubled their lead when Loy lashed home Kevin Holt's low cross.

Kilmarnock boss Gary Locke rang the changes at the interval bringing on Rory McKenzie, Mark O'Hara and Dale Carrick. However, before the trio could influence the game, Dundee effectively wrapped up the points with a third goal.

As the ball bounced at the corner of the six-yard box, Harkin's path to goal seemed blocked, but his lob to the back post found Loy, who climbed above his marker to nod the ball over the line in the 47th minute.

The frustrated home fans sarcastically celebrated their side's first attempt at goal after 71 minutes, when Kris Boyd headed the ball weakly into Bain's hands.

Six minutes later Dundee rounded off a perfect afternoon when the outstanding Stewart calmly guided his shot high beyond MacDonald from the edge of the box to make it 4-0.


Source: PA