Dundee and Kilmarnock fought our a goalless first half at Dens Park at a match which produced plenty of effort and commitment but little goalmouth action.

The visitors however, came closest to scoring with two Ally McCoist headers, one saved by Dundee keeper Rab Douglas and the other flashing past the post.

The home side went into the game defending an unbeaten home record whilst Kilmarnock were looking to continue the fine recent form, five wins in a row, which has seen them climb to fourth spot in the table.

So the fans who turned up at Dens Park looked forward to an entertaining and intriguing game.

Both sides went to each other straight from the kick off and there was a corner at either end in the first couple of minutes.

There was an early scare for the visitors in the fifth minute when Dundee defender Barry Smith swung over a dangerous cross but Kilmarnock stopper Frederick Dindeleux headed clear with Willie Falconer ready to pounce at the back post.

Most of Dundee's attacks were coming down the right-hand side where Allessandro Romano and Javier Artero were linking well.

First shot of the game came after 12 minutes when Romano tried his luck from the edge of the box but his effort was weak and Kilmarnock keeper Gordon Marshall saved easily.

At the other end the veteran striker McCoist came close with a header from a Gus McPherson cross.

The ball looked to be going in low at the near post but Dundee keeper Douglas reacted well to get down to his left to save.

The game was swinging from end-to-end and Marshall had to leap to save a 20-yard shot from Dundee midfielder Patrizio Billio as the home side went for the elusive opening goal.

The first half progressed however, neither side could gain the upper hand and both sets of attackers were finding it difficult to find space against the two tight-marking defences.

But the opener nearly came in 27 minutes when McCoist again latched onto a cross, this time from Ian Durrant, but his header went wide of Douglas' left-hand post.

On the half-hour mark Kilmarnock defender Gary Hay decided to come up the park and have a go himself at making the breakthrough.

Picking up a pass from Paul Wright, the left-back drove a 20-yard shot at the Dundee goal but keeper Douglas was well placed to save at his right-hand post.

The Kilmarnock defence were operating an offside trap and the home fans were enraged as Falconer and Artero were caught in quick succession.

Five minutes from the break Artero's beat a couple of defenders near the byline and sent a dangerous low cross into the box.