Kenny Miller missed an agonising injury-time penalty as Dundee had to settle for a 2-2 Ladbrokes Premiership draw with Kilmarnock at Dens Park.

Miller had the chance to seal victory with the last kick of the match, but instead shot right at Kilmarnock keeper Daniel Bachmann after being brought down by the Rugby Park number one.

Andy Nelson's first-half brace looked all set to give Jim McIntyre's side victory and boost their survival bid.

The big striker opened the scoring after eight minutes and added a second on 20 minutes after Conor McAleny had pulled one back for Steve Clarke's fourth-placed side.

But Dundee's hopes of climbing even further away from bottom-club St Mirren were dashed when former Rangers star Chris Burke stepped up to snatch a draw for Killie with a cracking 53rd-minute free-kick, before Miller failed from the spot.

It was the relegation-threatened hosts who struck first when Nelson turned neatly inside the box and angled an impressive low shot into Bachmann's far corner of the net.

But Killie levelled after 18 minutes when Kirk Broadfoot's through pass was perfect for McAleny and the on-loan Fleetwood man was quick enough to escape the offside trap and send a shot past Seny Dieng.

However, Nelson restored the hosts' lead two minutes later. Latching onto possession, the 21-year-old had nothing else on his mind other than going for goal and he fired past Bachmann from 18 yards.

Dundee remained on top until half time and just prior to the break, defender Ryan McGowan tried his luck, but his effort lacked the necessary purchase to seriously trouble Bachmann.

There was a feeling of more goals in the game and so it proved within eight minutes of the restart.

McGowan's trip on McAleny gave their opponents the opportunity which they were careful not to waste.

Burke's curling free-kick from 25 yards caught out Dineg who, despite getting a touch, could not keep the ball out as Killie got themselves back on level terms.

Killie finished the stronger side in the dying stages but there was one final twist when Miller, who had been fouled by Bachmann, stepped up but hit his penalty low into the goalkeeper's arms.