Match ends, St. Mirren 1, Dundee United 1.
St Mirren 1-1 Dundee United
By Andy Burke
BBC Scotland
- From the section Football
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Dundee United came from behind to earn a point at struggling St Mirren but missed the opportunity to move up to third in the Premiership.
Second-bottom St Mirren took the lead through an outstanding first-half strike from Kenny McLean.
But the lead did not last long as Stuart Armstrong levelled with another fine finish before half-time.
United's Nadir Ciftci wasted an excellent chance to move his side ahead of Inverness with a late header.
Keith Watson's weak backpass inside the opening five minutes allowed McLean to intercept, but United keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak was out quickly to block his effort.
Armstrong had the first sight of St Mirren's goal, but he could not get the necessary power on his shot to trouble Mark Ridgers.
Then Yoann Arquin - available to play after appealing against his red card against Ross County - was set through on goal and although his shot lacked power, Cierzniak only partially saved before the ball was cleared off the line.
Ciftci had the ball in the Buddies' net on 15 minutes but the goal was ruled out.
Jim Goodwin made a hash of a backpass and Ciftci brushed off Goodwin and fired past Ridgers - but referee John Beaton ruled the Turk's challenge on the Irishman was a foul.
In the 38th minute Arquin flicked a header into the path of McLean, who coolly knocked the ball over the head of United defender Conor Townsend before guiding a half-volley into the corner of the net.
Ciftci should have equalised when Armstrong found him in space with a cross into the box, but the striker's header from six yards was straight at Ridgers.
But United did gain parity moments later, with Celtic-bound Gary Mackay-Steven the creator.
The winger - who has signed a pre-contract agreement to move to the Glasgow club in the summer - drove at the Buddies defence before squaring for Armstrong, who spun and fired into the bottom corner from inside the box.
The second period began more subdued before Buddies captain Marc McAusland headed just over from a Stephen Mallan corner.
St Mirren pressed for the three points that would have taken them level with Motherwell and McLean had a good opportunity 12 minutes from time but pulled his effort wide from the edge of the area.
Mallan found the head of McAusland with another corner, but again the centre-back's effort went wide.
The skipper appealed for a penalty moments later, adamant his shot in the box had struck the hand of Townsend, but referee Beaton was uninterested.
Armstrong got to the byline in the 90th minute and hung a cross up to the back post and although Ciftci climbed highest he put his header narrowly over the bar.
Line-ups
St Mirren
- 12Ridgers
- 2Naismith
- 4McAuslandBooked at 76mins
- 6Goodwin
- 22Tesselaar
- 31Mallan
- 15Arquin
- 13OsbourneSubstituted forMclearat 67'minutes
- 3Kelly
- 7McGinn
- 8McLean
Substitutes
- 11Wylde
- 14Reilly
- 16Ball
- 28Kello
- 30Baird
- 32Mclear
- 34Morgan
Dundee Utd
- 1Cierzniak
- 2Dillon
- 12Watson
- 5FojutBooked at 25mins
- 3Townsend
- 6PatonBooked at 85mins
- 8RankinSubstituted forTelferat 64'minutes
- 11Mackay-Steven
- 10Armstrong
- 17ErskineSubstituted forAnierat 63'minutes
- 7Ciftci
Substitutes
- 18Dow
- 20Butcher
- 21Telfer
- 22Connolly
- 24Spittal
- 26Szromnik
- 30Anier
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 2,511
Match Stats
Home TeamSt MirrenAway TeamDundee Utd
- Possession
- Home47%
- Away53%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home11
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away8
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, St. Mirren 1, Dundee United 1.
Foul by John McGinn (St. Mirren).
Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.
Booking
Paul Paton (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card.
Sean Kelly (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Paul Paton (Dundee United).
Attempt blocked. Marc McAusland (St. Mirren) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Stuart Armstrong.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Sean Dillon.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Conor Townsend.
Attempt missed. Jason Naismith (St. Mirren) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Paul Paton.
Attempt missed. Kenny McLean (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Paul Paton.
Sean Kelly (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Marc McAusland (St. Mirren) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United).
Corner, St. Mirren. Conceded by Paul Paton.
Booking
Marc McAusland (St. Mirren) is shown the yellow card.
Hand ball by Marc McAusland (St. Mirren).
Foul by John McGinn (St. Mirren).
Charlie Telfer (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Stuart Armstrong (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Yoann Arquin (St. Mirren).
Jaroslaw Fojut (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Marc McAusland.
Attempt blocked. Paul Paton (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Foul by Yoann Arquin (St. Mirren).
Jaroslaw Fojut (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, St. Mirren. Lewis Mclear replaces Isaac Osbourne.
Hand ball by Yoann Arquin (St. Mirren).
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Jeroen Tesselaar.
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Jim Goodwin.
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee United. Charlie Telfer replaces John Rankin.
Substitution
Substitution, Dundee United. Henri Anier replaces Chris Erskine.
Attempt missed. Conor Townsend (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.