KILMARNOCK have played their football at the highest level in Scotland for the past 28 years. 

But the Rugby Park outfit are now under severe threat of losing their top-flight status after going down 2-1 to Dundee at Dens Park last night in the first leg of Scottish Premiership play-off. 

James McPake piled the pressure on his counterpart Tommy Wright ahead of next Monday’s return leg, but the away side kept their hopes of survival alive with a late onslaught in the city of discovery. 

The hosts were in front after just five minutes, and it was Charlie Adam who proved key to opening the Killie defence. The experienced midfielder lobbed a ball over the top for Cammy Kerr who centred for Danny Mullen. The striker failed to find the back of the net with his header, but defender Jordan McGhee was on hand to bundle home. 

Supporters were welcomed back to Dens and the 500 lucky home fans were on their feet after the early strike and they almost had more to cheer about just five minutes later.  

Brandon Haunstrup got in all kinds of problems after an aimless Adam through ball, and Paul McMullan took advantage. 

The attacker latched on to the free ball, but he failed to double his team’s advantage as Colin Doyle produced a fine stop to deny the onrushing striker. 

Kyle Lafferty looked brightest for Wright’s Kilmarnock, who grabbed control of the game after falling behind early doors. 

The former Hearts and Rangers man curled one wide from the edge of the box on 15 minutes before sending a free-kick into the stands shortly after. 

Both attempts were half chances at best and Wright looked a frustrated figure on the touchline as he attempted to spark his team into life.  

Dundee had the final chance of the opening 45 minutes when McGhee almost added to his tally for the evening. The former Hearts man diverted a Danny Mullen cutback towards goal, but it ended up in the side netting following a deflection. 

The Dens Park support rightly enjoyed the early opener and as the second half got underway, they were once again dancing in celebration. 

McPake’s team were at it from the off as the second period began, and their counterparts were quite simply the opposite. 

McMullan robbed Gary Dicker of possession before hitting the byline with his impressive turn of speed. The forward delivered a low cutback into the path of skipper Adam, who calmly slotted home past Doyle. 

A knee slide in front of the adoring home support followed and it was quite a sight considering their 437-day absence from watching their team in the flesh. 

A third was nearly added when Mullen left Kirk Broadfoot for dead in the final third, but his strike was tipped over the bar well by Doyle. 

There was an eery silence, barring the dozen or so visiting directors, as Killie grabbed a late goal to give themselves a fighting chance at home next week. 

It was Haunstrup who delivered at the top end of the park after having a shaky performance in defence for the vast majority of the 90 minutes. The full-back was fed on the overlap by Alan Power before drilling a shot home at the second time of asking. 

Killie almost grabbed an equaliser through the dancing feet of Chris Burke just minutes later. The winger tricked his way into the box before his cross was deflected behind for a corner off the toe of Liam Fontaine.  

The match petered out in a scrappy ending, but it is Kilmarnock who have it all to do at Rugby Park next week.