Killie's run of 140 matches without a scoreless draw came to an end today.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was boosted by the return of skipper Gary Locke from a knee injury.

The veteran midfielder replaced Peter Leven and striker Gary Wales came in for Steven Naismith who started on the bench.

Dundee United started brightly and carved out a good chance after only a minute played. Fernandez was set up by midfielder Grant Brebner 10 yards from goal but fired his shot well wide.

In a quick break at the other end seconds later, a James Fowler cross to the back post found Wales but the former Hearts player could not steer the ball back towards goal from close range.

Then, after a Fowler shot had been blocked in a packed Tannadice penalty area, Wales had a snap-shot from 16 yards parried clear by United goalkeeper Derek Stillie.

It was shaping up to be a compelling tussle with the Ayrshire side shading possession and pressure although United's defence remained solid.

There was a penalty claim from the home side in the 18th minute when midfielder Canero went down in the the Killie box but referee Craig Mackay waved play on.

Then Fowler broke quickly from defence to latch on to a fine Allan Johnston through ball but the Kilmarnock defender volleyed over from 20 yards out.

The home side gradually gained the ascendancy but like Killie earlier, they couldn't fashion a clear-cut chance in front of goal.

Just before the half hour mark some indecision by Killie keeper Alan Combe in coming for an aimless punt allowed Jim McIntyre to cause panic in the penalty area but the visitors escaped unscathed.

The game was becoming bogged down in the middle of the park with Fernandez, always a threat with his movement and guile, ploughing a lone furrow up front for United.

The hosts upped the tempo towards the end of the half, forcing a couple of corners but it was Kilmarnock who at least had an effort on goal a minute before the interval when Danny Invincibile fired high over the bar from a Wales cross.

The fans could only hope for improvement in the second half and the early signs were encouraging.

In the 48th minute Garry Hay's cross from wide on the right fell kindly to Kris Boyd only six yards from goal.

The Killie striker quickly swung his leg at the ball which looked net bound but Stillie was smartly off his line to make a terrific block.

At the other end a Barry Robson cross from the left found Peter Canero unmarked but the former Killie midfielder headed over from close range.

The tempo of the game had increased but as the game approached the hour mark there was still no sign of a breakthrough.

Killie manager Jim Jefferies was becoming increasingly animated at the side of the pitch and had to be almost physically restrained by fourth official Colin Brown.

In the 65th minute United's Barry Robson sent a curling free-kick from 35 yards over the bar to typify the lack of danger both keepers were facing.

Kilmarnock substituted Wales for Colin Nish in the 72nd minute and the gangly striker knocked a half chance over the bar from close range before midfielder Gary McDonald was equally wasteful, slicing wide from 12 yards.

In the 85th minute there was a stonewall penalty claim, this time for the visitors, when Stillie first flapped at a Locke cross then cliped the heels of Kris Boyd as they both chased the ball out of the penalty area. Again the referee waved play on.

With four minutes to go United substitute Colin Samuel, on earlier for McIntyre, slammed a 20-yard shot off the post, the ball rebounding to safety.

But if any team should have won the game then it was Killie, who were thwarted by good goalkeeping, poor finishing and one of a number of poor decisions on the part of referee Craig Mackay.

Boyd and Wales were each denied by fine saves from Stillie, while James Fowler and Gary McDonald passed up decent openings.

But their most obvious undoing was Mackay’s decision not to award the above mentioned spot-kick when Stillie missed with an attempted punched clearance and collided with Boyd, denying the Killie man a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

The keeper’s body language betrayed the fact he thought he had given away a spot-kick, yet the referee waved play on.

“It was a penalty,” insisted Boyd. “I had the ball so why would I go down?

“Stills has reacted to dropping it and fallen on top of me. I had a moan at the ref, although he’s not going to chance his decision. But it was the wrong decision.”

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