THIS was a terrific game won by a superb Kilmarnock team.
Rugby Park is a great place to watch a game these days. The second-half belonged to Steve Clarke’s men who continue to play some lovely stuff.
Dundee should have scored in the first-half, Kenny Miller and Jesse Curran missed really good chances, but while the unbeaten stretch did get to the five-game mark, the Dens men are better.
It was cold but so enjoyable.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR PEOPLE TO STOP BEING SURPRISED BY KILMARNOCK
From front to back, this is a superb team that could finish second and, honestly, it is not outrageous to suggest they can push for first place if they stay clear of injury and don't have too many suspensions.
They are solid at the back. The much-maligned Kirk Broadfoot is proper defender and terrific organiser.
The clever Gary Dicker sits deep and plays passes all day, Jordan Jones can blow hot and cold but is a talent, while Greg Stewart is a lovely footballer. Eamonn Brophy has never played better and Chris Burke is playing as well as he ever did.
They believe in themselves, are brimming with confidence and are arguably the organised in the league.
Their three games before the break see them away to Hamilton and Motherwell, and then home to St Mirren. Kilmarnock could easily take nine points from that. They could finish 2018 top of the Premiership.
WILL SOMEONE COME IN FOR STEVE CLARKE?
Maybe. Probably. Hey, plenty of managers all over Britain will be sacked before the end of this season and Clarke is surely going to be a target for some chairman.
However, he seems really happy. Well, not that Clarke ever looks happy – I still say this dour persona is an act - so I’m taking an uneducated guess that he is in no rush to leave Ayrshire.
Clarke has been one of the best things to happen to Scottish football for some time and it would be a shame if a bigger club did tempt him away.
But I honestly believe the 55-year-old has found his home.
JORDAN JONES STAYED ON HIS FEET AND WAS DENIED A CLEAR PENALTY
The winger was vilified for taking a dive against Dundee earlier in the season.
So, now that he's a good boy, on Saturday he was pushed in the back by Dundee defender Genseric Kusunga as he made his way in the box. It was enough to put him off and that was why he didn’t get score.
Jones said: “Do I feel unlucky? It was a penalty and if I’d gone down I’d probably have got it but I tried to stay on my feet and it wasn’t given.
"That’s what happens when you don’t go down. I’d taken a touch and gone across him and he’s pushed me. I tried to keep my balance and didn’t get the penalty.
“I said to the ref that, if I’d gone down, he’d have given it. But I tried to stay up and I didn’t score because I’ve lost my balance as a result of the shove. I’ve been fouled but refs have a hard job and you’ll get some and not others and I didn’t get this one.
“That’s fair enough, it’s all swings and roundabouts. Our fans will give me stick for not going down but that’s how it goes. We were 3-0 up at the time and maybe that had something to do with it.”
THIS WASN’T REALLY A STEP BACK FOR DUNDEE
They should have scored three times in the first-half, which isn’t to say Kilmarnock didn’t have chances, and played some good football before the break.
There were enough good things for Jim McIntyre to believe that a corner remains turned.
Kenny Miller was good, again, and scored late on. McIntyre will strengthen in January. Dundee should be okay.
YOU DON’T WANT TO GO ON ABOUT REFEREES BUT….
Kevin Clancy had a strange day.
He allowed a couple of bad challenges to go unpunished, there were what seemed blatant free-kicks missed by the ref who was a few yards away.
And how he didn’t award Jones a penalty was astonishing.
It is at least a free-kick, the foul was obvious, and probably a penalty. Why else did Jones stumble as he was about to score a goal?
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