Dundee Utd1–1Kilmarnock

United fielded the same 3-5-2 starting line up that saw them to victory in last week’s derby. Grant Brebner managed to overcome injury with the help of an intensive warm-up with club physio Jeff Clarke. The news on other injury doubt, “super-sub” Jason Scotland, was not so good and he failed to make the squad.

Stuart Duff has taken on a more attack-minded role of late, and he had United’s first real chance after a slow start two the match. McIntyre took a pass to feet at the heart of the Kilmarnock box and when the ball broke to Duff he mis-hit wide from 15 yards. United looked more threatening and Jim McIntyre was involved in creating a number of opportunities, linking well with Crawford. McIntyre’s deflected shot allowed Robson to get a header in on goal, and then McIntyre himself was denied a tap-in when Dindeleux cut out Duff’s low cross. But the ex-Killie man was not to be denied. Wilson’s 17th minute corner found Jim McIntyre unmarked just six yards from goal and he headed towards goal. Peter Leven, guarding the far-post, booted the ball clear but immediately linesman Steven Craven ran towards half-way to signal that the ball had crossed the line – though it took referee McCurry a good twenty seconds to spot him and award the goal!

With his second string strikers struggling, few would have been surprised by the half time appearance of Kris Boyd for a warm-up, and he duly replaced Nish before the second half commenced. Killie re-started in the ascendancy, a Gary Wales header being deflected wide, and United conceding a number of corners. The Terrors seemed to have survived the storm, but on 53 minutes the teams were level – and it was that man Boyd scoring his eighth of the season against the Tangerines. David Lilley’s header rebounded from the post leaving Kris Boyd with the easiest of tap-ins from about four yards. Despite some late pressure Kilmarnock left Tannadice with a draw, and overall there could be few real complaints about the result.