Both teams had plenty to play for, with United
chasing a European spot for next season and Killie desperate to avoid
being dragged any further into a relegation battle but between them they
conspired to serve up a poor spectacle.
There was mixed news on the injury front ahead of the
clash at Tannadice. While United were boosted by the return of Warren
Feeney and Morgaro Gomis, Kilmarnock were without hat-trick hero Kevin
Kyle.
The striker was understood to have suffered a
hamstring strain in training earlier in the week and was a big loss for
the visitors after netting three goals in
last week's crucial win over Falkirk.
Real chances limited in the opening spell of the game
but United did offer some hope when Craig Conway slipped a lovely ball
through to Feeney who raced to the by-line before attempting to deliver
to Francisco Sandaza at the back post but goalkeeper Alan Combe was able
to intercept and the chance was lost.
At the other end, Danny Invincibile collected a
back-heel pass from David Fernandez in the box but for all his nice
movement failed to produce a clear shot and the United defence were able
to clear the danger.
Conway then tried his luck from distance but his
effort was well off-target and failed to trouble Combe in the Kilmarnock
goal.
Craig Bryson did slightly better with a 25-yard
drive, drawing a decent save from Lukasz Zaluska with his well-struck
shot.
Kilmarnock could have had a penalty shortly before
the break when Garry Kenneth appeared to trip Gavin Skelton in the box
but referee William Collum signalled for play to continue, perhaps aided
in his decision by the lack of appeals from the Killie players.
However, assistant boss Billy Brown clearly disagreed
with the decision and he earned himself a lecture from the match
official for his complaints. Gary Locke also appeared to quiz the
referee when leaving the pitch at half-time.
There was another blow for Killie when Simon Ford,
despite taking part in a warm-up session at half-time, was forced out of
the action after picking up a knock in the first half and replaced by
Frazer Wright.
United were more dangerous after the restart and had
a great chance to open the scoring when Paul Caddis pounced on a long
ball from Zaluska and embarked on an impressive run.
He decided to have a crack at goal himself but his
effort lacked power and was comfortably smothered by Combe.
The home side then had another decent chance to
snatch victory when Conway teed up the shot for Dixon and he blasted a
thunderous shot into the side-netting.
Killie provided a reminder they were still in with a
chance of claiming all three points when Invincibile set up Mehdi Taouil
and his ferocious right-foot volley forced a good save from Zaluska.
The Rugby Park side's chances of a late victory when
bolstered when Dixon was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul
on Invincibile but Garry Hay hooked the resultant free-kick wide as both
settled for a share of the points.
