St Mirren blew a string of chances to book a Scottish Cup quarter-final berth as Dundee United struggled in their first match since captain Barry Robson's move to Celtic.

The teams now face a Tannadice replay on Tuesday, February 12 to see who will progress to the last eight.

Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska kept the home side at bay in the first half, with poor finishing thwarting their second-half display.

United were hugely disappointing and will have been glad to take the tie back to Tayside when they should have been reflecting on their exit from the competition.

Both managers made two changes to their starting XI from last weekend.

Saints boss Gus MacPherson restored Gary Mason and striker Craig Dargo to his line-up after neither featured in the 4-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox last week.

Skipper Hugh Murray dropped to the bench and Garry Brady was left out.

New Buddies striker Jim Hamilton was cup-tied after his arrival from Dunfermline.

Meanwhile, United boss Craig Levein selected his first side since Robson's exit. United reluctantly let Robson leave, and they clearly missed the man who had hit seven goals in his last five appearances for the club.

Levein promoted Prince Buaben from the bench and found a place in defence for Lee Wilkie, who captained the side, with Garry Kenneth missing out from the side that defeated Aberdeen last week.

The home side made a fine start and Mark Corcoran won them an early corner inside four minutes but his delivery from the set-piece evaded everyone.

Just three minutes later David Barron rushed down the right wing and his cut-back saw Andy Dorman warm Zaluska's hand with a shot from inside the angle of the box.

Saints looked as though they would be forced into an early change when midfielder Mason took a heavy challenge, but he was able to carry on after treatment.

However, Mason only lasted a few more minutes with what looked like an ankle injury before he was replaced by Murray after a quarter-of-an-hour.

United struggled to create anything significant but Craig Conway's progress down the left looked like the most promising source of success.

On the half-hour mark he left two Saints defenders trailing but his deep cross was caught comfortably by goalkeeper Chris Smith.

Corcoran's challenge on United skipper Wilkie cost him a yellow card after 31 minutes as the winger let his frustration get the better of him.

Saints' best chance of the half arrived after 36 minutes following good play down the right.

David van Zanten produced a curling cross which Corcoran volleyed back across the face of goal. But the ball was just out of Billy Mehmet's range as it drifted harmlessly wide.

MacPherson's men looked hungry and Zaluska was forced into a great diving save to keep out Corcoran's first-time volley from Ian Maxwell's cross.

The game opened up further and the hosts were stretching the visitors, with Corcoran causing havoc for Dods and Wilkie.

Yet on each occasion the Buddies threatened they were thwarted by either the assistant referee's offside flag or poor finishing.

Dargo, the summer signing who MacPherson bought to score goals, was replaced by Stewart Kean with seven minutes to go as the Buddies attempted to force a victory.

Zaluska was forced into a one-handed save to deny Will Haining a spectacular goal in the dying minutes.

But United held on, and their focus will now turn to Tuesday's CIS Insurance Cup semi-final against Aberdeen, knowing a repeat of this performance would play right into the Dons' hands.

Teams

St Mirren Smith, van Zanten, Maxwell, Barron, Haining, Dorman,Mason (Murray 18), Potter, Dargo (Kean 84), Mehmet, Corcoran.

Subs Not Used: Howard, Miranda, McGinn.

Booked: Corcoran, Haining.

Dundee Utd Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Grainger,Gomis (Swanson 58), Flood, Kerr, Buaben, Hunt (Odhiambo 82),Conway (De Vries 61).

Subs Not Used: McLean, Kenneth.

Booked: Dods.

Att: 3,945

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).