Unsurprisingly Killie, on the back of three consecutive 3-0
victories, were unchanged from the team that defeated Hamilton in
midweek, with defender Frazer Wright shrugging off a back injury to take
his place in the starting XI.
After an impeccably well observed minute's silence in honour of
Remembrance Day, the match kicked off with David Goodwillie, full of
confidence after receiving his first call-up to the Scotland senior
squad, trying an audacious shot from the halfway line that fellow
Scotland Squad Team Member Cameron Bell managed to gather at the second
attempt.
United's positive start continued as Prince Buaben's driven cross was
headed just wide by his skipper Garry Kenneth.
The
Scotland defender created the home side's next opening when he showed a
terrific piece of skill to control an awkward long pass before sending
an enticing cross into the box for Russell, who should have done better
than head wide.
The visitors weathered the early storm and had a goal ruled out when
Wright headed home an Eremenko corner for a foul on Kenneth.
And the Ayrshire side opened the scoring after 22 minutes when
striker Conor Sammon raced onto Taouil's intelligent
through-ball and the Irishman drilled the ball past Slovakian stopper
Pernis.
But United restored parity within 60 seconds when Russell was
quickest to react to Buaben's cute pass into the area and prodded the
ball past the advancing Bell.
Paul Dixon prevented the visitors restoring their advantage when he
slid in to prevent Craig Bryson tapping into an unguarded net after
Pernis had made a fine save to keep out Sammon's powerful left-foot
drive.
Eremenko's curling free-kick bounced back off the upright before
United made an enforced change on the half-hour mark when Scott
Robertson limped off to be replaced by Stuart Armstrong.
United ended the half on top, with Killie defender Mahamadou Sissoko
making a last-ditch block to cut out Morgaro Gomis' goalbound effort
before Douglas whipped a free-kick inches past the post.
Eremenko was cautioned within five minutes of the restart for
simulation after he fell to ground too easily under pressure from
Kenneth.
The omnipresent Finnish midfielder was then unfortunate to hit the
side-netting after some direct running from playmaker Taouil.
United still looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Russell
using great control to dart away from full-back Ben Gordon, but Bell was
equal to his low shot.
The visitors continued to push for the winner with United keeper
Pernis relieved to watch an Eremenko effort take a wicked deflection of
Ghanaian midfielder Buaben and bounce out for a fruitless corner.
With 11 minutes remaining substitute Armstrong was replaced by Danny
Swanson, who was making his comeback from injury.
Both sides survived a few scares in the closing stages, with United
substitute Jon Daly guilty of spurning two excellent chances, to each
take a deserved point from an exciting 90 minutes.
22 mins
