Dour Tayside derby remains scoreless

The Tayside derby ended scoreless as neither team could break the deadlock in a scrappy encounter between Dundee United and managerless St Johnstone at Tannadice.

Following a 3-3 draw in their previous meeting in August, fans may have expected another entertaining contest but were in the end to be left disappointed.

On loan Finnish striker Lauri Dalle Valle had an early attempt saved by visiting goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, whose opposite number Dusan Pernis held onto an effort from Kevin Moon before Marcus Haber couldn't find the target.

Defender Keith Watson supplied a cross headed over for the hosts by Dalla Valle, who then failed to make a firm connection with a Barry Douglas delivery before Frazer Wright headed Liam Craig's free-kick over in reply after earlier looping an attempted clearance dangerously towards his own goal.

Home midfielder John Rankin had an effort taken by Enckelmann ahead of the break, while Tangerines defender Garry Kenneth soon clipped the top of the crossbar from a fierce 35-yard free-kick following the restart.

Both Dalla Valle and Douglas were then wide with further headers as the hosts pressed before Pernis saved from Dave MacKay at the opposite end to ensure the scoreline remained blank.

Dundee United: Pernis, Dixon, Kenneth, Watson, Douglas (Russell 65), Gunning, Flood (Allan 81), Robertson, Rankin, Daly, Dalla Valle (Dow 77)

subs (unused): Banks, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Barrett

St Johnstone: Enckelman, MacKay, Davidson, Wright, Anderson, Morris, Millar, Craig (Gibson 80), Moon, Sandaza, Haber (Finnigan 65)

subs (unused): Mannus, Maybury, Durnan, Caddis, May

Ref: Muir

Att: 6,707

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