Dundee had to be content with a point from a game they could and probably should have won.
The Dark Blues took an early lead but were pegged back by a wonder goal before the home side were reduced to 10 men late on.
The big team news from a Dundee perspective was the inclusion in the starting line-up of new signing Tom Hateley while there was also a place in the team for young Craig Wighton.
And it was the former who was at the heart of things as the Dark Blues made a dream start taking the lead in just the seventh minute.
Dundee were awarded a free-kick wide right with Hateley producing a wicked delivery into the Killie penalty area with the ball finding its way to Faissal El Bakhtaoui, who made no mistake, shooting high into the net for his first goal for the club.
The home side looked to capitalise on that promising start and dominated the game without creating any more clear-cut chances.
Killie rarely threatened but they equalised with a wonder goal completely out of the blue in the 32nd minute.
Adam Frizzell sent a cross in from the right towards Souleymane Coulibaly loitering just outside the corner of the Dundee six-yard box with the Kilmarnock player producing an unbelievable overhead kick to fire past the helpless Scott Bain in the Dundee goal.
Two minutes into the second half, Dundee had a great chance to take the lead once more when Wighton was played through on goal but Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald made a vital double block to deny the striker.
Dundee then suffered a big blow in the 81st minute when Kevin Gomis was dismissed after a crunching challenge on Killie sub Charlee Adams which referee Don Robertson deemed late and worthy of a red card.
However, the Dark Blues came agonisingly close to scoring shortly after when El Bakhtaoui hit a thumping long-range effort which flew just inches wide.
Sub Yordi Teijsse then went close with a header but Dundee could not make the breakthrough and had to settle for a share of the spoils.
For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
