SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 9 hrs 17 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
KL
Scottish Premiership Playoffs | Final | 2nd Leg
May 24, 2021 at 7.45pm UK
BBSP Stadium Rugby Park
DL

Kilmarnock
1 - 2
Dundee

Lafferty (69' pen.)
Tshibola (55'), McKenzie (73'), Whitehall (87')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Mullen (7'), Ashcroft (12')

Kilmarnock 1-2 Dundee: Tommy Wright's side relegated from Premiership

:Headline: Kilmarnock 1-2 Dundee: Tommy Wright's side relegated from Premiership:
Lee Ashcroft scored against his former club at Rugby Park as Dundee earned promotion.
Sports Mole

Lee Ashcroft returned to Rugby Park to haunt Kilmarnock as his crucial strike sank their 28-year top-flight run and restored Dundee to the Scottish Premiership.

The former Killie defender found himself cut loose by ex-boss Lee Clark despite helping the Ayrshire side beat the drop back in 2016.

But it was his goal which sealed the fate of Tommy Wright’s team as the Ayrshiremen found themselves plunged back down to the second tier for the first time since 1993 after a 4-2 aggregate defeat in the play-off final.

Trailing 2-1 from Thursday’s opener at Dens, Killie were desperate for a positive start as they sought to turn the tie around.

But instead they found themselves two down inside 12 minutes as Danny Mullen and Ashcroft put James McPake’s men within touching distance of promotion.

Kyle Lafferty pulled one back from the penalty spot midway through the second half but it was nowhere near enough to deny Dundee their ticket back to the Premiership two years after being relegated.

While Dundee become just the third Championship side to upset the odds and clinch promotion through the end-of-season shoot-out with back-to-back 2-1 wins, Wright’s future at Rugby Park now looks uncertain.

The former Scottish Cup-winning St Johnstone boss has another two years left on his contract but it remains to be seen if he has the desire to stay on next season and lead Killie’s bid to escape the lower leagues.

Killie’s last brush with the play-offs saw Clark’s side survive thanks to a 4-0 second-leg romp over Falkirk back in 2016.

But it was Dundee who ran riot early on to put the tie beyond doubt.

The 500 home fans granted access to the East Stand burst to their feet in loud applause as they won the game’s first corner five minutes in.

But 90 seconds later they were silenced as Mullen put Dundee 3-1 ahead on aggregate.

Ross Millen’s aimless throw-in was booted upfield by Charlie Adam. But instead of dealing with it, Brandon Haunstrup – whose late Dens strike had handed Kilmarnock a lifeline – headed straight against Mullen.

He compounded his error by retreating backwards and Paul McMullan was left unchallenged as he drove forward to slip in Mullen for the precious opener.

Wright was brought in by Rugby Park chief Billy Bowie back in February to solve the Ayrshiremen’s chronic lack of goals and their open-door policy at the back.

But only two of the six Premiership clean sheets Killie have recorded this season have come under the Northern Irishman’s watch and those defensive frailties were glaring again as they fell further behind in the 12th minute.

Not for the first time, centre-backs Kirk Broadfoot and Zeno Rossi got in each other’s way as Paul McGowan sent over a corner, leaving Ashcroft to put another nail in his old side’s coffin.

Wright knew he had to roll the dice, so he sacrificed Haunstrup for Danny Whitehall as he gambled on leaving three at the back.

But that just left McMullan space to surge down the right and throw over a cross which Jordan McGhee came agonisingly close to converting as his angled header looped onto the bar.

When Chris Burke failed to convert Mitch Pinnock’s ball to the back post just before the break, the furious home fans let rip.

Adam also felt the wrath of his team-mate McGowan midway through the second half after the Dundee ace tried one of his trademark attempts from halfway when he had the option to release Mullen.

Killie were huffing and puffing with little luck, with Dundee’s defence eating up their long-ball approach.

But Lafferty did get on the scoresheet with 21 minutes left as Dee keeper Adam Legzdins brought down Rory McKenzie in the box. Lafferty rammed the spot-kick down the middle to give the hosts faint hope.

There was no fairy tale finish, however, as Dundee’s players roared with delight at the final whistle.

body check tags ::

amp_article__448941 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-24 22:06:52:
html db last update - 2021-05-24 22:06:52 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Title blow! Man City lose five in a row as four-goal Spurs dismantle the champions
"He's been unfairly judged" - Have the critics been too harsh on Arsenal's Merino?
Saturday's Scottish Premiership predictions including Hearts vs. Celtic
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic1211103543134
2Aberdeen12101125121331
3RangersRangers12723179823
4Dundee UnitedDundee Utd135531914520
5Motherwell126151616019
6St Mirren145361923-418
7Dundee134362225-315
8Ross County143651222-1015
9St Johnstone144191727-1013
10Kilmarnock133371526-1112
11Hearts142391524-99
12Hibernian131571222-108
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Sunday's Premier League predictions including Ipswich Town vs. Man United

NEW

1

SP

European escape: National champions 'escalate' pursuit of Chelsea contract rebel

2

EE

Sunday's Turkish Super Lig predictions including Besiktas vs. Goztepe SK

NEW

3

ST

Sunday's Eredivisie predictions including Ajax vs. PEC Zwolle

NEW

4

SE

'Not good enough': Man United chiefs have 'serious doubts' over summer arrival

5

'G

Flick stunned! Ten-man Barca pegged back by Celta late on in Vigo

6

FS

Team News: Ipswich vs. Man Utd injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

7

TN

Another Ruben reunion? Man United add 'fan favourite' to left-back shortlist

8

AR

Why Liverpool have a psychological edge over Manchester City in the title race

9

WL

How could a Liverpool coach help star seal shock 2025 transfer?

10

HC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .