Well 1 point gained or 2 points dropped? The good
news regardless is that Killie go into the SPL break with a decent
result, and that there unbeaten record at Tannadice since 1997 remained
intact! Even better news is that Killie are now 8 points clear of 7th
placed Dundee, with only 9 matches remaining to the "split"!
Jim McIntyre's injury time goal gave United a
share of the points after it had looked as though Billy Dodds' goal on
his return to United had been in vain.
Peter Canero gave Killie the lead before
prodigal son Dodds drew United level.
Andy McLaren looked to have given the visitors
all three points until McIntyre popped up with his injury-time goal to
give United a vital point.
United looked sharp in attack in the opening
stages and they created the first opening after only three minutes when
a sloppy clearance by Shaun Dillon allowed Derek Lilley a sight of goal.
The
striker spotted Gordon Marshall off his line and tried to chip the ball
over his head but put too much power on it and the chance sailed just
over the bar.
Stephen O'Donnell hit a curling free kick high
over the bar as United dominated.
However, Kilmarnock took the lead in the 21st
minute against the run of play.
Peter Canero cut inside from the
left channel and powered a shot in on Paul Gallacher's goal.
The keeper looked to have the effort well
covered but somehow let the ball slip past his hand and into the bottom
right corner of the net.
United hit back ten minutes later through Dodds
who got the goal with a trademark poacher's finish.
Gordon
Marshall kept his side level with five minutes remaining of the half
when he brilliantly saved a Paterson volley from close range.
United started the second half well and created
a chance with only two minutes gone, Stephen O'Donnell firing over the
crossbar.
Kilmarnock took the lead for the second time in
the match, once again during a time when United were dominating, and
again the blame could be laid at the door of Gallacher.
Kris Boyd broke down the right flank and played
the ball back through the penalty area for Andy McLaren.
The one-time United player positioned himself
15 yards from goal and fired in a shot.
His effort was fairly weak and it looked as
though Gallacher would save easily but he somehow failed to make it to
the ball and watched as it squirmed past him and into the net.
Kilmarnock looked content to sit back and allow
United to attack them in the hope that they themselves may benefit from
hitting them on the break.
However, United struck late in injury time with
the last kick of the ball, to grab a point.
McIntyre found space in the six-yard area to
nod home a Paterson cross and beat Marshall.
Kilmarnock: Marshall, Canero, Shields,
Innes, Dillon, Fowler, Mahood, Fulton, McLaren, Boyd, Dargo (Mitchell
87). Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Dindeleux, Hay, Di Giacomo.
Booked: Dillon, McLaren, Innes.
Att: 7,183
Ref: Hugh Dallas
