Kilmarnock 0
Dundee 4
League (Premiership)

Match Report

Dundee thrilled the twelve hundred travelling supporters with an outstanding performance in a 4-0 thrashing of Kilmarnock. Greg Stewart and Rory Loy got the season off to a perfect start with two goals apiece in a game that the Dark Blues totally dominated from start to finish. The whole team was superb and played some beautiful football to leave their hapless hosts chasing shadows.

Paul Hartley opted for twin strikers, Rory Loy and Kane Hemmings, with Greg Stewart roaming in the hole in front of the midfield, where Kilmarnock never got to grips with his skill, vision and movement.

James McPake was suspended, but the central defensive pairing of Thomas Konrad and Julen Etxabeguren didn't allow Killie a chance all game, and Scott Bain didn't have to make a single save.

Home keeper Jamie MacDonald was into action in the third minute, saving from Hemmings after a slick move through the middle. This set the pattern for the whole game and MacDonald was by far the busier goalie.

Three times in the opening minutes Stewart unnerved the home defence finding space and driving forward. Hemmings had another early attempt with a fizzing 22 yarder that MacDonald held at the second attempt.

After 10 minutes Stewart jinked into the penalty area and MacDonald was happy to see the fierce shot cannon to safety off his chest. Stewart had another attempt from 22 yards that MacDonald saved well, and the keeper almost immediately had to pull off another good save from Harkins attempt. Hemmings was next to test MacDonald as the Dee piled on the pressure with some delightful attacking play.

Hemmings should have put the Dee ahead after half an hour, but mishit his shot from six yards after Stewart and Ross had opened up the defence.

The Dark Blues finally scored the goal their play deserved, and it was a goal of stunning beauty, well worth waiting for. After more patient passing in the midfield McGinn burst past Boyd on the right and played the ball in for STEWART, who raced into space 22 yards out and curled his shot into MacDonald's top corner. Another great move ended with Hemmings shooting wide from 18 yards after a clever build up between Holt and Harkins.

It was no surprise when Dundee added a second goal just before half time from yet another fine move. Stewart and Holt combined to win the ball on the left wing and set up the attack. Harkins played the ball wide for Holt who fired over a fierce low cross to the near post where LOY's flick sent the ball screaming into the roof of the net.

Killie tried to reorganise with three substitutions at half time, but the Dark Blues rammed home their superiority with a killer third goal only two minutes into the second half. The home defence was in disarray as Harkins waltzed into the penalty area, surviving a collision with Stewart, drawing the keeper and lofting the ball to the far post where LOY won the race to nod the ball into the net. The away support had been noisily singing their delight at half time, and a third goal right in front of them was the perfect opening to the second half.

Dundee eased up on Killie for a spell after that, but the home side looked utterly bereft of ideas. They had no way of breaking down the Dundee defence, or breaking the Dark Blues' stranglehold on the midfield where Gary Harkins, Nick Ross and especially captain Kevin Thomson were running the game.

Thomson was withdrawn after an hour of pulling the strings in midfield, but Paul McGowan's arrival didn't give Killie a moment's peace as Dundee remained firmly in control.

After 71 minutes the home fans cheered sarcasticaly when a weak Boyd header bounced softly into Bain's gloves for what might have counted as Killie's first effort on target.

The well deserved fourth goal came after 78 minutes, and was a result of Dundee's determination to keep pressing aggressively all over the park. Higginbotham tried to bring the ball out of defence, but McGinn hounded him and pinched the ball. Loy's quick pass sent STEWART into the penalty area to cut inside for a better angle and shoot high into the net.

The rest of the game was spent with Dundee keeping possession impressively and Killie failing to worry the Dark Blues' defence, which never looked like allowing them a consolation goal.

The last time Dundee won on the opening day in the top division was back in 2003 when they won 3-0 at Motherwell. This was a better performance than that win, and it must be a very long time since the Dee put in such an impressive and dominant display away from home. If anything the final score could have been even worse for Killie. Dundee's team work, movement, passing and finishing were all excellent, and the applause from the Dee support was long, loud and fully deserved at the final whistle. Today the Dark Blues were outstanding.

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website