Dundee United missed out on a great opportunity to move up to second place in the Championship table with this stalemate against Dumbarton at Tannadice.
With Falkirk only drawing earlier in the afternoon against Queen of the South, the Tangerines knew a victory over the Sons would put them into pole position for the play-offs with just one game of the normal season remaining.
However, despite taking the lead against Dumbarton, they were pegged back and then fell behind before hitting an equaliser to secure a precious point.
Tangerines boss Ray McKinnon made two changes from the side that beat St Mirren last week with Wato Kuate coming in for Scott Allardice with Coll Donaldson replacing the suspended William Edjenguele.
Sons manager Stevie Aitken kept faith with the same starting XI that beat Queen of the South last time out.
United had a superb opportunity with just 40 seconds on the clock when the ball broke kindly to Simon Murray in the Dumbarton box but he shot over from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy.
The striker had another great chance in the sixth minute when Blair Spittal fizzed a low cross in from the left but Murray could not guide the ball towards goal at the back post.
Dumbarton were struggling to establish a foothold in the game but they had a half chance when former Dundee striker Christian Nade hit a snap shot just wide from 18 yards.
However, United deservedly took the lead in the 22nd minute. Spittal fired a corner in from the right with Tony Andreu producing a bullet header six yards out at the near post high past Dumbarton goalie Alan Martin.
Murray had another opportunity when Thomas Mikkelsen sent an inviting cross in from the right but Martin pulled off a superb diving save to keep out his header.
And United were left ruing that missed chance in the 35th minute when Dumbarton levelled. A corner from the left was only half cleared and when the ball was played back in, Sons front man Robert Thomson – who started his career at Tannadice – could not miss with a point-blank header.
The home side then had a let-off when on-loan Raith striker Lewis Vaughan hit the side netting with a shot.
The home side did come agonisingly close to taking the lead once more in the 57th minute when Murray hit a low controlled shot just inches past Martin’s left-hand post.
However, the home support were stunned in the 65th minute as the Sons took the lead. Sam Stanton pounced on a poor pass and drove forward before playing the ball out right to Vaughan with the striker producing a superb chipped finish over United keeper Cammy Bell from a tight angle.
Murray then had another chance but his shot on the turn was fired straight at Martin who easily gathered.
The keeper though could not prevent United equalising in the 79th minute. Sub Ali Coote hit a shot from 20 yards that Martin could only parry with Mikkelsen on hand to gleefully fire the rebound home.
The Tangerines piled forward looking for a winner and they had a great chance in the 90th minute but Mikkelsen headed over when he should have hit the target.
For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
