Dundee secured a potentially-precious point in the battle to retain their top-flight status thanks to this draw with high-flying Kilmarnock at Dens.
However, the home side passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to snatch a dramatic late win as they missed a penalty deep into stoppage time.
This was the proverbial game of two halves with the Dark Blues on top in the opening 45 with Killie in charge after the break.
Dundee striker Andrew Nelson hit a brilliant first-half double with Killie also netting through Conor McAleny. The Ayrshire side then struck back in the second half thanks to Chris Burke to ensure they took a share of the spoils.
Dens boss Jim McIntyre made just one change from the team that drew against Hamilton on Saturday with Nelson replacing the injured Ethan Robson.
Killie manager Steve Clarke handed a debut to striker McAleny who signed on loan from Fleetwood Town last month.
Dundee were quick out of the blocks, snapping into tackles but Ryan McGowan overstepped the mark in just the seventh minute when he chopped down Killie’s Jordan Jones as he looked to break down the wing and was booked by referee Kevin Clancy.
However, the Dark Blues stormed into the lead a minute later. Craig Curran headed the ball down to Nelson inside the Killie box with the striker wrong footing two defenders before sending a low shot into the far corner of Daniel Bachmann’s net.
McIntyre’s men looked to build on that great start with the opposition giving away a succession of free-kicks as they struggled to cope.
However, Killie stunned Dundee in the 18th minute when they equalised with their first real attack of the night. Kirk Broadfoot slid a pass into McAleny in the home box and he made no mistake hitting an angled drive into the corner of goalie Seny Dieng’s net.
Just two minutes later though, the Dark Blues regained the lead once more and it was that man Nelson again. The former Sunderland striker advanced on goal before rifling a low drive past Bachmann from the edge of the box for another superb finish.
Just before the half-hour mark, Dundee had another chance as Andy Dales embarked on a cross-field run before hitting a shot but this time Bachmann comfortably gathered.
Nelson then came agonisingly close to securing a first-half hat-trick. Dales went on another rampaging run before sending a cross into the box with Nelson producing a great header that looked certain to end up in the back of the net but he was denied by Bachmann diving full length, low to his left.
However, Dundee still trotted off down the tunnel at the break deservedly in the lead after what had been a pulsating first half of football.
Killie had the first opportunity of the second 45 as Jones tried his luck from long range but his shot was straight at Dieng who made a comfortable catch.
But Clarke’s men did equalise in the 54th minute when Burke hit a curling 25-yard free-kick that flew into the back off the net off the inside of Dieng’s right-hand post.
Killie tails were up and Greg Taylor struck a fierce drive from 20 yards that rippled the outside of Dieng’s net.
Dundee were struggling to reproduce their dynamic first-half performance with the away side increasingly bossing proceedings as the game moved past the hour mark.
Killie came close once more in the 71st minute when Gary Dicker hit a rising shot from the edge of the Dark Blues’ box with Dieng producing an acrobatic save to deny him.
The keeper again came to Dundee’s rescue when he made a vital stop with his legs from a shot by Killie sub Liam Millar.
However, in the fourth minute of injury time, Dundee had a great chance to take all three points.
Sub Kenny Miller broke from inside his own half into the Killie box and was brought down by Bachmann with Mr Clancy awarding a penalty.
Miller stepped up to take the spot kick but the keeper dived to his left to make a vital save and ensure the game ended even.
Attendance – 4,694.
Dundee – Dieng, Ralph, Woods, Kusunga, Wright, R. McGowan, Dales, Nelson (O’Dea, 74), Curran (Miller, 65), Hadenius (P. McGowan, 54), Horsfield.
Subs not used – Parish, Kerr, O’Sullivan, Moore.
Kilmarnock – Bachmann, O’Donnell, Taylor, Broadfoot, Power, Dicker, Jones (Millar, 76), McAleny (Ndjoli,78), Findlay, Tshibola (Mulumbu, 57), Burke.
Subs not used – MacKay, Bruce, McKenzie, Boyd.
Referee – Kevin Clancy.
