Dundee United and Aberdeen showed all the commitment and passion associated with the SPL as they fought out an entertaining draw at Tannadice.

Craig Easton had fired the home side into a half-time lead with a well taken goal in the 29th minute.

But Aberdeen came out fired up after the break and Robbie Winters equalised from the spot after David Partridge had clearly fouled Eugene Dadi.

The visitors had the majority of possession in an end-to-end match but United held on for a deserved point.

The home side almost got off to a perfect start after only two minutes when midfielder Danny Griffen, picked up a loose ball and drilled a 25-yard shot which beat the despairing dive of Dons keeper Peter Kjael.

However, the ball crashed off the base of the post and was eventually cleared to safety.

Moments later, United's Hasney Aljofree was involved in nasty clash of heads with Dons' Derek Young and after a lengthy delay the midfielder was stretchered off to be replaced by Tassos Venetis.

More drama was to follow in the ninth minute when Eugene Dadi forced a good save from Paul Gallacher with a shot from 14 yards.

The waiting Derek Young picked up the rebound but shot wide from close range.

The game was fast and furious and the skill on show as supplemented with a fair sprinkling of crunching tackles to excite the fans.

Dadi was causing problems for the home side with his strength and power, allowing Derek Young to pick up the scraps and at times the Tannadice defence looked fragile.

But it was United who took the lead after 29 minutes when Stephen Carson picked out Craig Easton in the box in the crowded penalty area.

The youngster took a touch and drilled his shot into the far corner of the net, giving the diving Kjaer no chance.

United should have doubled their lead in the 38th minute after a bad mistake by Dons defender Kevin McNaughton.

The youngster stood on the ball in the centre circle allowing Stephen McConalogue to run clear through on goal.

The United youngster rounded Kjaer but took the ball too wide and his shot was stopped on the line by McNaughton, who had raced back to rectify his error.

The start of the second half was frantic as Aberdeen looked to snatch the equaliser.

But three minutes after the restart McConalogue made yet another clever run and almost latched onto a Jamie McCunnie through pass but the ball carried too much pace and ran through to the waiting Kjaer.

Again, the tackles were flying in from both sides and the constant stoppages for free kicks threatened to ruin the flow of the game.

United forced a series of corners which ended when Easton blasted the ball over the bar from the edge of the box.

In the 55th minute Aberdeen got a deserved equaliser after they were awarded a penalty when Dadi was fouled in the box by Partridge.

Robbie Winters stepped up confidently to blast the ball into the middle of the goal as Gallacher dived to his left, for his ninth goal of the season.

Aberdeen continued to dominate the play but as the second half wore on another goal, from either side was looking less and less likely.

The skill level of the games was raised when Aberdeen introduced Hicham Zerouali for Ben Thornley, who had run out of steam and United brought on Charlie Miller for the disappointing Jim Paterson.

With 10 minutes to go, Easton had a go from the edge of the box after Jim Hamilton had nodded the ball down to his feet, but the shot was poor and trundled wide of Kjare's right hand post.

In the end however, there were no more goals although it was United who looked happier with the point.

Teams

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, McCunnie, Lauchlan, Griffin, Partridge, Carson, Easton, Aljofree (Venetis 8), Paterson (Miller 73), McConalogue (Thompson 83), Hamilton.

Subs Not Used: Combe, O'Brien.

Booked: Partridge, Venetis.

Goals: Easton 30.

Aberdeen: Kjaer, Anderson, McGuire, Whyte, McNaughton, Winters, Darren Young, Bisconti, Thornley (Zerouali 72), Dadi (Guntveit 83), Derek Young.

Subs Not Used: Esson, McAllister, Tiernan.

Booked: Bisconti.

Goals: Winters 57 pen.

Att: 9,129

Ref: B Orr (Scotland).