Dundee manager Paul Hartley heaped praise on his side after watching them step up their top-six bid with a 1-0 SPFL Premiership win over struggling Kilmarnock.

The Dark Blues came out on top against Killie by recording their first clean sheet since late October and the performance was topped off by Greg Stewart's first-half penalty after Jim McAlister was brought down by Manuel Pascali.

Hartley said: "It was a good performance, but also a clean sheet and we've not had that for a while, so it was pleasing.

"There were some good individual performances and Scott Bain made a couple of good saves in the first half and we had some good opportunities to make the scoreline a bit more comfortable.

"But we will settle for 1-0 and the three points. At 1-0 there is always the danger that you may concede but we held out.

"We had a spell where we couldn't win at home but now we have found a way to win at Dens.

"We are happy with that and it puts us nearer the top six also. There's a fight to get into that top six and we are right in amongst it."

Meanwhile, Killie boss Allan Johnston felt his side could have had something more to show for their efforts on the night.

He said: "Their keeper has pulled out two great saves early on when we needed the first goal. Then we gave the ball away cheaply in the middle of the park.

"The penalty? I'd need to see it again, but it looked like a rash challenge.

"However, we controlled the majority of the second half, but we need to work their keeper more.

"We are getting into great areas in the final third but we need to put more pressure on opposing defences.

"We looked the better passing team against Dundee but there needs to be a cutting edge at the end of it."