Dundee United 0-0 Kilmarnock

Both side created a number of good scoring chances

Both sides showed plenty of endeavour but in the end had to settle for a share of the spoils at Tannadice.

David Fernandez came close to giving United the lead after only a minute but he fired wide from 10 yards.

At the other end, Kris Boyd thought he had scored after the interval but Derek Stillie denied him with a great block.

With five minutes to go the United 'keeper appeared to send Boyd tumbling in the box, but referee Craig Mackay refused to bow to the appeals.

The omission of Scotland international striker Lee Miller signified a certain gamble from United boss Gordon Chisholm.

However, the Tannadice men started brightly enough, carving out a good chance after only a minute played.

David Fernandez initiated a decent move in conjunction with strike partner McIntyre but after the Spaniard was eventually set up by midfielder Grant Brebner 10 yards from goal, he fired his shot well wide of the target.

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

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

The fans inside Tannadice could only hope the second half would improve as the teams emerged for the second half.

In the 48th minute Rugby Park full-back Hay's cross in from wide on the right evaded Kilmarnock defender Gordon Greer but the ball fell kindly to 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 before Mark Wilson took the ball away from the danger zone.

The match sparked into life and 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.

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

In the 85th minute there was a more than decent penalty claim when Stillie first flapped at a Locke cross then appeared to clip the heels of Boyd as they both chased the ball out of the penalty area but again Mackay played on.

Then, with four minutes to go, United substitute Colin Samuel slammed a 20-yard shot off the post.

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Dundee Utd: Stillie, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Canero (Miller 81), Brebner, Kerr, Robson, Fernandez, McIntyre (Samuel 75). Subs Not Used: McLean, McInnes, Duff, Kenneth, Cameron.

Booked: Canero, Fernandez.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Greer, Ford, Hay, Johnston, McDonald, Locke, Invincibile (Naismith 54), Boyd, Wales (Nish 72). Subs Not Used: Smith, Lilley, Dodds, Dillon, Campbell.

Booked: Locke.

Att: 6,915

Ref: C MacKay