United earn a point after a performance where we should have took all three points. However we were lucky not to lose after Burchill missed a penalty in the first half.

Dunfermline held Dundee United to a goalless draw at Tannadice, but should have left with all three points after Mark Burchill missed a first-half penalty for the visitors. The Pars' striker won the spot kick in the 18th minute after being fouled by Alan Archibald, but struck the post with a left-footed effort.


David McCracken had the best chance for the home side early in the second half, but saw his close-range header from Collin Samuel's cross saved by Roddy McKenzie. Surprisingly, the first notable incident in a tepid opening to the match resulted in two players having to return to the changing rooms for treatment after a brutal clash of heads.

Dunfermline's Stephen Simmons challenged Archibald for a high ball in the sixth minute and both were forced to leave the pitch, returning six minutes later. In the meantime United missed a great chance to take the lead in the ninth minute, when from Barry Robson's inswinging free-kick Samuel could only shoot tamely at McKenzie from six yards out.

However, the away side were afforded an even better opportunity to open the scoring shortly afterwards when Archibald clipped the heels of Burchill in the box and referee Mike Tumilty awarded a penalty. Burchill stepped up to take the kick but despite sending United keeper Derek Stillie the wrong way, the striker saw his effort rebound off the base of the post and roll away to safety.

The Pars then suffered another blow seven minutes later when Simmons could not continue and had to be replaced by Darren Young, before the home side wasted an opening created by the hard work of Samuel. The Trinidad & Tobago forward did well to win the ball from Scott Wilson near the byline on the left-hand side of the visitor's penalty area, but from Samuel's pass Stuart Duff blasted his effort well over the crossbar from 18 yards out.

Four minutes before the break Pars' manager Jim Leishman had to make his second substitution of the afternoon when Scott Muirhead had to depart the pitch after picking up a knock and Aaron Labonte took over the left wing-back position. Following a disappointing first half, the home side started the second period in determined fashion and immediately set about attacking the Dunfermline backline. In a frantic 60-second spell, McCracken had the first opportunity for United in the 53rd minute, sending in a downward header from six yards which was well saved by McKenzie.


The away side remained under pressure, though, and following a blistering surge past Labonte by Samuel, this time the forward's centre reached the far side of the penalty area, where Duff turned the ball back across goal. It was a fantastic sidefooted cross that was perfectly placed towards McKenzie's back post, but thankfully for the Pars Wilson was well placed to clear and the visitors survived the onslaught unscathed.

That was the end of the action until the closing stages of an evenly contested match when the home side launched another blitz at Dunfermline. In the final minute Robson saw a 25-yard free kick fantastically saved by McKenzie, before a surging run from Steven Robb in injury time nearly ended in a winning goal, but the substitute placed his effort wide.

Dundee United: Stillie, Proctor, McCracken, Archibald, Kalvenes, Duff (Conway 85), Kerr, Cameron (Robb 85), Robson, Samuel, Hunt. Subs Not Used: McLean, Kenneth, Gardiner, Easton, Robertson.

Dunfermline: McKenzie, Scott Wilson, McGuire, Bamba, Woods, Mason, McCunnie (Owen Morrison 87), Simmons (Young 25), Muirhead (Labonte 41), Burchill, Tod. Subs Not Used: Devries, Craig Wilson, Ross, Smith. Booked: Woods, Scott Wilson, McGuire, Young.

Att: 6,171