By Clive Lindsay BBC Scotland

Dundee United and St Mirren cancelled one another out in a fairly uneventful goalless draw at Tannadice.

Jon Daly sent a header wide and came close to connecting a couple of times in front of goal as United edged the early stages.

Johnny Russell forced a fine save from Buddies goalkeeper Craig Samson in a second half of few chances.

Nigel Hasselbaink and Dougie Imrie had late efforts to claim a victory that St Mirren barely deserved.

The draw meant United find themselves leapfrogged by Kilmarnock, who move into the top six after their surprise win away to administration-hit champions Rangers, while St Mirren remain ninth.

Sean Dillon came into United's defence in place of the injured Garry Kenneth.

St Mirren were without top scorer Steven Thompson through suspension, so Imrie was handed a start, while Steven Thomson came into midfield, with Hasselbaink dropping to the bench.

The match started brightly, with both sides trying to win dominance through their normal passing game.

However, it was United who gradually established control as the game became more disjointed.

Referee Brian Winter was not impressed by claims for a penalty from the home fans when Stuart Armstrong was blocked by Jeroen Tesselaar.

It was 24 minutes before a clearcut opportunity was created and Daly failed to get enough purchase on his header when found in the clear only 10 yards out by Paul Dixon's cross and the ball flew well wide.

There was more frustration for Daly when he just failed to make contact with a Gavin Gunning header across the face of goal from a Dixon free-kick.

United were now the dominant force, with the Buddies making only sporadic forays into their opponents' half.

However, the visitors survived to go in goalless at half-time after Marc McAusland made a fine last-ditch black to prevent Johnny Russell firing on target.

It took 25 minutes of the second half before either side were able to escape the other's grips sufficiently to fire an effort on target.

Russell made some space for himself 22 yards from goal and his powerful effort was tipped wide by the outstretched hand of Samson and United midfielder Rankin had a shot deflected wide.

However, it was the Buddies who had the final efforts that failed to break the deadlock.

Substitute Hasselbaink could have netted a late winner for the Buddies, but the Dutchman could not turn Imrie's cross past Pernis.

There was still time for Imrie to test Pernis from distance, but the Slovakian goalkeeper was equal to the winger's low drive.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (3)

Dundee Utd

  • 01 Pernis
  • 02 Dillon
  • 03 Dixon
  • 18 Gunning
  • 26 Neilson
  • 08 Robertson
  • 11 Rankin Booked
  • 16 Armstrong (Lacny - 60' )
  • 17 Mackay-Steven
  • 09 Daly
  • 15 Russell

Substitutes

  • 13 Banks
  • 12 Watson
  • 14 Douglas
  • 06 Flood
  • 07 Ryan
  • 20 Lacny
  • 22 Dow

St Mirren

  • 01 Samson
  • 03 Barron Booked
  • 05 Mair
  • 14 McAusland
  • 22 Tesselaar
  • 06 Goodwin Booked
  • 08 Thomson
  • 10 McGowan Booked
  • 21 Teale (Mooy - 64' )
  • 23 Carey (Hasselbaink - 64' )
  • 27 Imrie Booked

Substitutes

  • 12 Smith
  • 02 van Zanten
  • 37 Naismith
  • 15 Mooy
  • 40 Jon Scullion
  • 11 Hasselbaink
  • 39 Reilly
Ref: Winter
Att: 6,363

Match Stats

Shots

6 3

On target

2 1

Corners

8 3

Fouls

10 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:06 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +0:30

A cross is delivered by Jon Daly.

89:01

Shot by John Rankin from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

88:51

Robbie Neilson sends in a cross, clearance made by Jim Goodwin.

87:26

Foul by David Barron on Gary Mackay-Steven, free kick awarded. Paul Dixon takes the indirect free kick.

86:40

Douglas Imrie takes a shot. Save by Dusan Pernis.

83:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jim Goodwin on Gary Mackay-Steven. Paul Dixon takes the free kick.

83:42

Jim Goodwin challenges Gary Mackay-Steven unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Dixon takes the free kick.

82:43

Effort from just outside the area by Paul McGowan goes over the target.

82:22

Douglas Imrie takes the free kick.

82:22 Booking

Booking John Rankin is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

81:56

John Rankin challenges Douglas Imrie unfairly and gives away a free kick.

80:10

John Rankin challenges Steven Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Mair restarts play with the free kick.

79:42

The ball is sent over by Douglas Imrie.

75:54

Gary Mackay-Steven takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Lee Mair.

75:25

Short corner worked by Gary Mackay-Steven.

74:44

Outswinging corner taken by Gary Mackay-Steven, Steven Thompson makes a clearance.

73:20

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jon Daly. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Samson.

72:21

Corner taken by Gary Mackay-Steven from the right by-line, clearance by Marc McAusland.

70:35

Inswinging corner taken by Gary Mackay-Steven, Headed effort from inside the area by Jon Daly misses to the left of the goal.

70:16

Johnny Russell takes a shot. Save by Craig Samson.

69:14

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Aaron Mooy from the left by-line, Headed effort from inside the area by Jim Goodwin misses to the left of the goal.

69:07

The ball is crossed by Jeroen Tesselaar, clearance by Robbie Neilson.

63:45 Substitution

Substitution Gary Teale leaves the field to be replaced by Aaron Mooy.

63:45 Substitution

Substitution Nigel Hasselbaink comes on in place of Graham Carey.

66:44 Booking

Booking Jim Goodwin goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

66:37

Foul by Jim Goodwin on Gary Mackay-Steven, free kick awarded.

63:45 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Mooy on for Douglas Imrie.

63:45 Substitution

Substitution Nigel Hasselbaink comes on in place of Graham Carey.

61:56

John Rankin challenges Steven Thompson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

59:30

Dusan Pernis takes the indirect free kick.

59:30 Substitution

Substitution Milos Lacny is brought on as a substitute for Stuart Armstrong.

59:30

The referee blows for offside against Douglas Imrie.

58:11

Foul by Jon Daly on Jim Goodwin, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.

57:00

Unfair challenge on Douglas Imrie by Robbie Neilson results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Graham Carey, A cross is delivered by Gavin Gunning, Gavin Gunning manages to make a clearance.

57:00

Robbie Neilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Douglas Imrie. Graham Carey restarts play with the free kick, The ball is swung over by Gavin Gunning,

55:33

Gary Teale takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Scott Robertson.

55:24

The ball is crossed by Graham Carey, Paul Dixon manages to make a clearance.

54:09 Booking

Booking Douglas Imrie is shown a yellow card for dissent.

53:20

Long range shot by Gary Mackay-Steven goes wide left of the target.

52:32 Booking

Booking The referee shows Paul McGowan a yellow card for dissent.

51:31

Gary Mackay-Steven takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Paul McGowan.

51:03

David Barron challenges Gary Mackay-Steven unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Dixon crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jeroen Tesselaar manages to make a clearance.

48:23

The official flags Douglas Imrie offside. Dusan Pernis takes the indirect free kick.

47:21

John Rankin takes a shot. Save made by Craig Samson.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +0:14 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

44:02

Centre by Jeroen Tesselaar, save by Dusan Pernis.

43:20

Jim Goodwin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Johnny Russell. Paul Dixon crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, clearance made by Marc McAusland.

42:10

Gary Mackay-Steven gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Teale. Free kick taken by Graham Carey.

41:06

Foul by Stuart Armstrong on Jim Goodwin, free kick awarded. Craig Samson restarts play with the free kick.

38:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jim Goodwin on John Rankin. Paul Dixon delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Paul McGowan manages to make a clearance.

37:12

Corner taken by Graham Carey, Unfair challenge on Dusan Pernis by Douglas Imrie results in a free kick. Dusan Pernis restarts play with the free kick.

35:28

Stuart Armstrong concedes a free kick for a foul on Graham Carey. Free kick taken by Craig Samson.

34:42

The official flags Douglas Imrie offside. Dusan Pernis takes the free kick.

34:12

John Rankin gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul McGowan. Free kick taken by Jim Goodwin.

33:15

Paul Dixon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Teale. Indirect free kick taken by Craig Samson.

32:25

Gary Mackay-Steven fouled by Gary Teale, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Dixon takes the free kick.

30:52

Corner from right by-line taken by Gary Mackay-Steven.

30:01

David Barron challenges Gary Mackay-Steven unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Paul Dixon from left channel, Lee Mair makes a clearance.

28:46

Foul by Graham Carey on Stuart Armstrong, free kick awarded. The ball is swung over by Paul Dixon, Close range header by Gavin Gunning misses to the right of the target.

26:11

Corner taken by Gary Mackay-Steven played to the near post.

23:02

The official flags Jon Daly offside. Craig Samson takes the indirect free kick.

22:48

The ball is crossed by Paul Dixon.

18:05

Gary Mackay-Steven delivers the ball.

9:37

Gavin Gunning restarts play with the free kick.

9:37 Booking

Booking David Barron goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

9:25

David Barron gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Mackay-Steven.

7:20

A cross is delivered by Sean Dillon, save by Craig Samson.

5:16

Centre by Gary Mackay-Steven.

4:15

Paul McGowan produces a cross.

3:40

The offside flag is raised against Gary Mackay-Steven. Craig Samson takes the free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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