Whatever the ins and outs of Scott Bain’s unexpected ejection from the Dundee first team, Neil McCann’s bold decision carried the potential to backfire on his side’s bid to arrest their Premiership decline.
But Bain’s replacement, Elliot Parish, has so far banished any fears that goalkeeper will become a problem position.
In his first home start, the Englishman was the dark blue hero with a top-notch late one v one save that has ended a miserable run of league defeats.
And the fact that the stop from Lee Erwin came after 80-odd minutes of relative inactivity, made it all the more impressive.
“It’s just about concentration, isn’t it,” he said.
“Don’t make his mind up. If I come rushing out it makes it easy for him.
“So I just put the emphasis on him.
“For me, he panicked. I got a good shape and pulled off the save.
“Concentration is the biggest thing for a goalkeeper. I can’t remember having actually touched the ball with my hands in the first half.”
Parish, who didn’t let anyone down a fortnight ago at Easter Road either, added: “I just wanted to come in and get some confidence into the team.
“My job is to get clean-sheets. That’s my second game and I’ve got one.
“It will be another tough game against Rangers on Friday but that will be the goal again.”
Parish would understand if Dundee fans needed convincing that he is up to the job of replacing one of the most consistent keepers in the league.
“Especially since I’ve played all my football down south,” he said.
“It’s up to me to install confidence in everyone at the club.
“I’m a very optimistic person and I probably kidded myself that I was going to come here and this would be an equal battle. That wasn’t the case, and rightly so because Bainy was in great form.
“In my head, I want to be number one. I wanted that jersey and it’s nice to finally get it.”
In the context of Dundee’s season, Parish is hoping that Saturday was a corner turned.
“It was important, absolutely,” he said.
“You want three points, of course you do.
“I know the fans were getting a bit frustrated. They wanted us to go and get the goal and the win. That’s great, they’re passionate.
“But when we had a man sent off it becomes game management. We dug in and showed a bit of grit which maybe we haven’t done as much in the past and got the clean-sheet and the point which has stopped the rot.”
Erwin’s glorious chance was followed by Darren O’Dea’s sending off. Understandably, Kilmarnock were the team pushing for a late goal thereafter and they very nearly got it when a stoppage time Eamonn Brophy header crashed off the bar.
Parish is keen to impress but he couldn’t claim any responsibility for keeping that one out.
“We were in the dressing room and Garts (Graham Gartland) said ‘great touch’. I said ‘I got absolutely nowhere near it!’
“I was in the net when it came back out. What a header. It’s little things like that which can help. That could have gone off the underside of the bar and in. All of a sudden it would have been a terrible day.
“We’ve got the point and now we have to make it a great point next week.”
McCann, who will now be without O’Dea for Friday night’s visit of Rangers, had no complaints with O’Dea’s double yellow sending off or the eventual result.
He said: “Towards the end when you go down to 10 men you’re fearing the worst and Elliot’s had a super save.
“It’s our first clean-sheet of the season, which we’re really pleased about.
“That’s important for the group. They’ve embraced extra work, and that’s encouraging.
“When you’re not keeping clean-sheets and not scoring goals you have to put in the effort. When you get a reward on a Saturday it’s pleasing.”
He added: “I felt we dominated large parts of the match without really penetrating too much. We had lots of crosses and I was disappointed we weren’t getting people across the front post area.
“It ends up a good point and I think it was a fair point. I’m pleased with it. Now we need to build on it and get the goals that will get us three points.”
The return of Scott Allan – a second half substitute – is another reason for optimism.
“It’s good to have him back,” said McCann.
“You can see he’s still not quite firing on all cylinders but it’s difficult coming into match when you’re trying to get up to speed.
“I’m delighted he’s back because he’s a big player for us. He can come up with imagination and guile in the final third.”
