One of the most dramatic climaxes to a Premiership match in the current campaign saw Dundee leading with only five minutes remaining only to then need to snatch a point with an equaliser in the final minute of stoppage time.

It was a roller-coaster of an ending to a contest which took time to catch light but could not be accused of lacking excitement.

All that seemed very unlikely during a sluggish opening period, although a  superb finish from Luke McCowan at least helped the travelling spectators to forget about the drudgery of the 34 minutes which had preceded it.

Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson had looked favourite to come out on top as he and McCowan contested a loose ball but the latter clearly wanted it more and, after gaining control, he swept it behind Will Dennis from 20 yards.

The goal had been coming. The hosts had started brightly enough but once Dundee established a foothold in the game they looked the sharper side and McCowan could have made it 2-0 in the 48th minute if he had shown more composure instead of slashing a shot wide from 12 yards.

Josh Mulligan was then guilty of an even worse miss. Released by Scott Tiffoney, he outpaced Lewis Mayo and was left one-on-one with Will Dennis. Inexplicably, he took too long to make his mind up and failed to get a shot away.

They were to pay for their profligacy during the closing stages. Killie had been piling on the pressure and restored parity in the 85th minute when Joe Wright headed home after goalkeeper Trevor Carson and captain Joe Shaughnessy had collided while attacking Gary Mackay-Steven’s corner.

Owen Beck then hit the bar for Dundee with an angled drive before substitute Rory McKenzie fired the hosts ahead in the third of four added minutes when a Mackay-Steven cross was deflected into his path.

That looked likely to hoist Kilmarnock level on points with third-placed Hearts but there was to be a devastating denouement for the elated home support when Beck’s floating corner was allowed to travel to the far post where the unmarked Shaughnessy powered home a header to earn his side a point.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes was disappointed that referee David Dickinson had allowed that corner to be taken.

"The equaliser was a sore one but it happens,” he said. “The fourth official told me that as soon as the long throw was over, that was it.

"That didn't happen. We still had to defend the corner and we're disappointed we didn't see it out, but I couldn't be more pleased and proud of my players with the effort they’ve shown.

"In the second half it was all about spirit for us. There was a real collective desire to not accept the situation that was in front of us. It was a momentous effort from them.

"The game is never over until it's over. We lost a similar goal late on at Dens Park with a mistake as well.

"Dundee are a team that score around half their goals from set plays. They looked a real threat, particularly with big Joe doing well.

"Joe Wright was allocated to pick him up, going size-for-size, and, unfortunately for us, we've not managed to see that last passage out.”

His Dundee counterpart (and former assistant), Tony Docherty, had more to be happy about regarding the outcome but admitted he was still processing the events and his emotions when he appeared to speak to the media.

“I know Derek [McInnes] and I know his Kilmarnock team,” he said. “I knew they were going to throw everything at us in the second half and they did.  

‘Up until five minutes to go, we withstood that pressure. I was gutted we lost the equaliser and equally so when the second goal went in but, listen, I can’t criticise those boys.

“I made four changes from the defeat against Celtic and it’s important for a manager to know that when he rotates his starting XI there isn’t a drop in quality, especially when you have a run of games like we do over the festive period.

“Although we could have managed the second half a little better, their spirit and mentality is like gold dust and that can carry you through a season.”