As is often the case when a game is drawn, both Dunfermline and Dundee United felt they deserved to have won.
Certainly on balance of chances created and the fact that the Pars’ impressive keeper Sean Murdoch was named man of the match, then the Tangerines had the more convincing case.
However, leaving aside all the ifs, buts and maybes, the simple fact remains that they both had to settle for a point, a result neither side wanted.
Dunfermline though have increased their unbeaten run to 11 games and look to have put their early-season woes well behind them while United can take heart from the performance, especially after last week’s 6-2 drubbing in the Highlands against Ross County in the Scottish Cup.
Ray McKinnon’s men, though, have now fallen eight points behind league leaders Hibs and the Tannadice team’s dream of automatic promotion back to the Premiership is fading.
As the players and manager said after the Dunfermline draw, all they can do is try to pick up as many wins as they can and hope that Hibs get the jitters as the season edges to a conclusion and start dropping points.
It is another vital game for United next week at home to struggling Raith Rovers while the Pars have an important fixture of their own at Falkirk.
Going there will not be easy but Dunfermline know a win over the Bairns would take them to within five points of Peter Houston’s side in the fourth play-off spot.
