Dundee United extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with a hard-fought draw at Raith Rovers that saw them play most of the second half with ten men.
Ray McKinnon’s Tangerines were up against it when Lewis Toshney got his marching orders in the 54th minute.
But after doing plenty of attacking despite being a man down, in the end United were worth their share of the spoils.
They went into this one not having conceding a goal in their last five-a-half-games, but that proud record came under threat in the 12th minute.
The home side attacked down the right and when the ball was worked to the back post, it reached Bobby Barr. He should have done better than shoot straight at Cammy Bell, who saved comfortably.
There was more danger from Raith when Ross Callachan surged forward from the middle of the park and unleashed a low 25-yarder Bell did well to get down to and hold.
United’s response was to go close as Kevin Cuthbert blocked a Tope Obadeyi effort and Iain Davidson did well to get his body in the way when Blair Spittal fired the loose ball towards goal.
Right on half time Raith went agonisingly close as veteran Rudi Skacel hit the bar from a Chris Johnston cross.
Early in the second half United were dealt a blow when Toshney, booked in the first half for a foul on Kyle Benedictus, picked up his second yellow and a subsequent red card for a tackle on Bobby Barr.
The decision didn’t go down well with the Tangerines players and staff. Before play resumed Mark Durnan was booked for his protests and coach Darren Taylor sent to the stand for something he said to the assistant referee.
Raith were pressing for the winner now and for a moment thought they’d got it when a Callachan header flashed a foot wide.
United were not spent as an attacking force and a low shot from Spittal was only inches away from giving them the lead.
And they should have been ahead when a Benedictus foul on sub Simon Murray earned them a 75th minute penalty, but Cuthbert brilliantly saved Tony Andreu’s kick.
Ultimately, though, this should go down as a decent result for the Tannadice men.
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