The meagre crowd at Tannadice had little to cheer in a very scrappy
and sluggish opening period.
United's Barry Robson managed a header on goal from 10 yards out
after 15 minutes but visiting goalkeeper Alan Combe saved comfortably.
But a minute later Combe was beaten when Robson's in-swinging corner
was met by by former Killie man
Jim
McIntyre.
The striker's header was kicked clear by Killie midfielder Peter
Leven but linesman Steven Craven ruled that the ball had crossed the
goal-line.
The match briefly lit up in the 37th minute when United defender Mark
Wilson sent in a curling 30-yard free-kick which Combe did well to save
at his right hand post.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies brought on top scorer Boyd for the
ineffective Nish at the interval.
The substitution inspired the visitors and they laid siege to the
United goal immediately after the re-start, the short burst of pressure
ending when Wales sent a 20-yard shot wide of the target.
There was no real surprise when Boyd, who had scored seven times
already this season against the Taysiders including five in in the
5-2 victory at Rugby Park in September, got the equaliser in the
53rd minute.
Leven's cross came in from the left and Wales rose inside a packed
penalty area to get in a header which beat Tony Bullock and crashed off
the far post.
As
the home defence hesitated, the rebound fell to
Kris Boyd, (right)
who hammered the ball into the net from a couple of yards out.
United began to impose themselves on the game pushing the visitors
further back towards Combe.
But, in the 65th minute, it was Boyd again who came close to putting
Kilmarnock into the lead with a dipping shot from 25 yards, which landed
on the roof of the net.
Moments later, Killie defender Dindeleux headed a Gary Locke corner
just over the bar from close range with the United defence sleeping.
In the closing seconds McIntyre hit the side netting,
after a slight touch by Alan Combe
This was the first time Killie had trailed at the half, and NOT
gone on to lose all season long in the SPL.
Kilmarnock: Combe, Hay, Fowler, Lilley,
Greer, (Naismith 63 mins) Dindeleux, Leven,
Locke, McDonald, Wales, (Johnston 90
mins) Nish (Boyd 45 mins)
Subs: Smith, Murray, Dodds,
Hamill, Naismith
Attendance: 6,576
