Two goals in two minutes meant the Tayside derby ended in stalemate, though St Johnstone will be aggrieved that their superior play did not bring victory.

Sandy Clark's men showed no hangover from last week's League Cup final defeat to Rangers by dominating United almost from the start.

Saints had three ex-United players in their team. Left-back Gary Bollan had an outstanding game and earned his side the spot-kick which gave them their equaliser.

St Johnstone almost went ahead as early as the fifth minute when ex-Dundee full-back John McQuillan provided the cross for Miguel Simao to test Combe with a ten-yard header.

It was all Saints without much goalmouth action but after 21 minutes United did have a worthwhile effort when veteran Maurice Malpas sent Kjell Olofsson away and the big Swede shot past the post from 25 yards.

John O'Neil took advantage of Darren Patterson's mistake to set up Philip Scott and his angled 16-yarder hit the face of the bar and went over.

Patterson and Bernard Pascual then got involved in a mix-up and Paul Kane swung in an inch-perfect cross which eluded Simao's head when the striker had a gaping goal in front of him.

Two minutes from the break, United engineered their first real chance when Jamie Dolan sent an outswinging cross for Dodds to get in a header but Alan Main was right on the spot to save.

One minute after the restart O'Neil picked out Simao with a fine cross but the striker's six-yard effort was saved by Combe.

Back came United and a Billy Dodds cross saw Olofsson get in front of his marker only to send his eight-yard volley past the post.

Combe then produced his best save with a superb one-handed stop when Roddy Grant shot from 12 yards.

The visitors were to regret the miss when a superb move involving ex-Ipswich striker Alex Mathie, Olofsson and Dodds ended with Dodds sweeping home the Swede's cross from eight yards.

United's lead was short-lived, however, and a superb crossfield ball by Simao allowed Bollan to race into the box where he was brought down by Craig Easton.

After Combe was booked for dissent, Grant converted the penalty, although he was booked afterwards for his gestures to the home crowd.

With 10 minutes remaining Saints almost snatched a winner when ex-Manchester City defender Alan Kernaghan saw his overhead kick cleared off the line by Pascual.

Dundee Utd: Combe, Malpas, Patterson, Olofsson, Zetterlund, Dolan, Easton, Mathie, Dodds, De Vos, Pascual. Subs: Dykstra, Miller, Thompson, Skoldmark, Paterson

St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Dasovic, Kernaghan, Scott, O'Neil, Grant, Kane, Bollan, Dods, Simao. Subs: McMahon, Griffin, Robertson, McAnespie, Lowndes.