The Dark Blues suffered a rollercoaster 3-2 loss at Rugby Park and now face a massive game at home against Ross County.

Following a controversial 3-2 defeat to Kilmarnock, Dundee still has a lot of work to do to ensure they play Premiership football next season.

A rush of blood from Seb Palmer-Houlden allowed the Rugby Park team to take the lead with Danny Armstrong’s 31st-minute penalty.

And, just as the Dark Blues drew level through Lyall Cameron’s well-crafted equaliser, the curse of their defensive lapses struck again as Bruce Anderson gave Killie the lead.

Robbie Deas’ third goal in the 91st minute appeared to seal the game, but Cameron speared in his second four minutes later.

A grandstand finish failed to pay off in the final five minutes of stoppage time.

Courier Sport was in Ayrshire to evaluate the action.

More VAR confusion.

Another game, and yet another VAR controversy for Dundee.

The decision to rule out Antonio Portales’ strike against Motherwell may have been subjective, but this was a different scenario.

Tony Docherty, the Dark Blues’ manager, says he does not want to be the manager who constantly complains about referee decisions.

He certainly has a reputation in that regard, but he had good reason to do so again.

When VAR official Gavin Duncan summoned Don Robertson to the video screen in the 66th minute to review a potential push on Simon Murray, there appeared to be only one possible outcome. That is usually how it works.

Except that Robertson never saw what piqued Duncan’s interest in the first place because the whistleblower was denied access to any footage.

Docherty was informed that it had been determined that the incident occurred outside the box. However, confusion persisted even after the full-time whistle.

If the potential push on Murray was not in the box, why was Robertson brought to the monitor and left standing awkwardly?

The Dens Park Club has every right to an explanation.

Again, defensive flaws proved costly.

Whether a penalty at that point in the game would have changed the outcome is debatable.

Dundee did, however, draw level ten minutes later.

Fin Robertson capitalised on Liam Donnelly’s error, and Seun Adewumi made an excellent pass through for Cameron’s supporting run.

But parity lasted only a few seconds after the restart.

Official decisions may not help, but the Dark Blues are failing to ‘control the controllables’.

How did Donnelly manage to loft a cross from the left? How did Bruce Anderson, who isn’t the tallest striker at 5’8”, end up on the receiving end of it?

 

Even with time remaining for a leveller, conceding such a simple goal as Killie’s third from Armstrong’s corner was just another lapse in a season littered with them.

The stakes are high for questionable decisions by officials, but the Dens Park men remain in trouble in tenth place due to the worst goals against column in the Premiership.

The question is whether they can finally develop defensive tenacity when it is most needed.

Win or lose?

Clearly, no one at Dundee expected to be fighting for their place in the top flight this season.

The hope was that progress would be made from last season’s top-six performance.

However, with only two games remaining, Docherty’s team must confront the harsh realities of their current situation.

Their fate is in their own hands as they look for the bright side.

Dundee have plenty to contemplate before their clash with Ross County. Image: Rob Casey / SNS Group.

They prefer their current position over St Johnstone’s bottom spot or Wednesday’s opponents, Ross County, in 11th place.

It’s clear what they need to do. One win in midweek will keep them out of the relegation zone, and nerves will not be frayed in a last-day match against St Johnstone.

With only three wins in their last 12 matches, they must muster 90 minutes worthy of saving their season.

It is now up to whoever is chosen to face County to demonstrate both character and quality in order to keep the club in the top division.

Personnel poser

Dundee’s team selection for the match against the Staggies will be intriguing.

Docherty made two changes to his line-up against Killie, after the side collapsed in the second half to lose to ten-man Motherwell.

Clark Robertson was left out due to his role in the defeat, but his replacement, Aaron Donnelly, was responsible for both of Kilmarnock’s second-half goals.

The Dark Blues were once again defeated by the simplest of goals from their opponents, with Palmer-Houlden, the other man brought in, conceding a silly spot-kick.

Seun Adewumi (left) sparked some life into Dundee’s attack in the second-half and assisted Lyall Cameron’s equaliser. Image: Rob Casey / SNS Group.

It could have been worse late on if custodian Trevor Carson hadn’t justified his place on the plastic pitch with three outstanding saves in the final five minutes of regulation time.

At the other end of the pitch, nothing clicked until Adewumi came off the bench in the 57th minute to replace the misfiring Scott Tiffoney.

Adewumi demonstrated more attacking intent than the starters.

Dundee must find the right combination to maximise Murray’s potential against his former club on Wednesday night.

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