Dundee Utd0–0Dunfermline

It was a case of missed opportunity again at Tannadice, as United and Dunfermline Athletic shared the points for the second time this season. The point pushed United into first place in the Championship though, with Raith Rovers stumbling.

Three changes were made to the starting eleven with new signing David Wotherspoon making his debut. Returning were Craig Sibbald, coming back from suspension, and club captain Ross Docherty playing his first game since December 9th.

United set out to attack and they threatened early on with a couple of chances for Craig Sibbald thwarted. Then, on the quarter hour mark, Kai Fotheringham had a shot on goal blocked after good work from Glenn Middleton to send the ball into the box.

On 22 minutes, Ross Graham will have felt he could have done better with a header he sent over the bar from a corner. It was United's fifth corner of the match.

It was mainly one way traffic as the half wore on and the best chances fell to Liam Grimshaw, who almost curled a shot in at the far post, before it was headed to safety.

A Kevin Holt chance almost dipped under the bar after the defender had carried the ball from own half, but his shot from outside the box was blocked and landed just over the bar.

The last significant action of the half resulted in the visitors registering their first shot on target, Sam Fisher hitting a left footed shot from outside the box to force a save from Jack Walton to the bottom right corner.

The opening stages of the second period were as drab as the score would suggest, with limited chances to speak of.

But it was Dunfermline who came closest to breaking the deadlock when a Michael O'Halloran low cross was deflected on to the post by after a shot from Craig Wighton.

Looking to liven things up, United made four substitutions in the space of eight minutes, but it took until the final moments for the game to kick into life.

In stoppage time, substitute Archie Meekison almost grabbed the headlines when he forced former United stopper Deniz Mehmet to pull off a tremendous save with a curling effort from the edge of the box.

Louis Moult came close after a ball into the area had been deflected into a danger area, but shortly after United's final throw of the dice, time ran out on the game.

Another disappointing point on home soil is not what the manager would have wanted, but solace will be taken from nearest rivals Raith Rovers falling to defeat at home to Inverness. For this week at least, United have opened a gap at the top of the division.