Dundee found themselves frustrated at Dens Park as they were held to a 1-1 draw by 10-man Hamilton Accies.
With both sides chasing a top six finish, the game looked like it would swing in the hosts’ favour when Dougie Imrie was shown a straight red card early in the second half.
Accies remarkably took the lead with five minutes to go through player boss Martin Canning, although Greg Stewart levelled three minutes later to set up a frantic finish.
But Paul Hartley’s men just could not capitalise on the extra man advantage and had to settle for a point in the end keeping them tucked in behind sixth-placed St Johnstone in the table.
The home side made two changes from the team that beat St Mirren last time out, with David Clarkson and Alex Harris starting in place of the injured Iain Davidson and Gary Harkins.
New signing Stephen McGinn made his debut as a second half substitute after completing his loan move from Sheffield United, while Accies included both new signing Jason Scotland and Stephen Hendrie fresh from signing a pre-contract with West Ham in their line-up.
Dundee would have wanted a good start but they could and perhaps should have been behind in less than 60 seconds as Anthony Andreu curled a shot off the inside of Scott Bain’s left-hand post.
The hosts had a decent shout for a handball against Hendrie in the box turned down midway through the half, although it was Accies who created the better chances in the first period.
Player boss Canning headed over from close range in 42 minutes, before Scotland somehow ballooned an effort over the bar from 10 yards when it looked easier to hit the target.
Accies were reduced to 10 men eight minutes after the restart when Imrie was shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident involving Greg Stewart, and Dundee began to dominate.
Stewart and Jim McAlister were among those going agonisingly close, but it looked like they would be punished when Canning headed Accies in front with five minutes left.
However, Stewart grabbed a crucial equaliser three minutes later with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box.