Dundee United and Kilmarnock served up a dire goalless draw in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League in a match which was devoid of excitement as well as goals.

Even a late red card for Paul Dixon failed to inject any real drama into this clash at Tannadice, with chances few and far between for both sides.

Both teams still had plenty to play for, with United chasing a European spot for next season and Killie desperate to avoid being dragged any further into a relegation battle but between them they conspired to serve up a poor spectacle.

There was mixed news on the injury front ahead of the clash at Tannadice. While United were boosted by the return of Warren Feeney and Morgaro Gomis, Kilmarnock were without hat-trick hero Kevin Kyle.

The striker was understood to have suffered a hamstring strain in training earlier in the week and was a big loss for the visitors after netting three goals in last week's crucial win over Falkirk.

Real chances limited in the opening spell of the game but United did offer some hope when Craig Conway slipped a lovely ball through to Feeney who raced to the by-line before attempting to deliver to Francisco Sandaza at the back post but goalkeeper Alan Combe was able to intercept and the chance was lost.

At the other end, Danny Invincibile collected a back-heel pass from David Fernandez in the box but for all his nice movement failed to produce a clear shot and the United defence were able to clear the danger.

Conway then tried his luck from distance but his effort was well off-target and failed to trouble Combe in the Kilmarnock goal.

Craig Bryson did slightly better with a 25-yard drive, drawing a decent save from Lukasz Zaluska with his well-struck shot.

Kilmarnock could have had a penalty shortly before the break when Garry Kenneth appeared to trip Gavin Skelton in the box but referee William Collum signalled for play to continue, perhaps aided in his decision by the lack of appeals from the Killie players.

However, assistant boss Billy Brown clearly disagreed with the decision and he earned himself a lecture from the match official for his complaints. Gary Locke also appeared to quiz the referee when leaving the pitch at half-time.

There was another blow for Killie when Simon Ford, despite taking part in a warm-up session at half-time, was forced out of the action after picking up a knock in the first half and replaced by Frazer Wright.

United were more dangerous after the restart and had a great chance to open the scoring when Paul Caddis pounced on a long ball from Zaluska and embarked on an impressive run.

He decided to have a crack at goal himself but his effort lacked power and was comfortably smothered by Combe.

The home side then had another decent chance to snatch victory when Conway teed up the shot for Dixon and he blasted a thunderous shot into the side-netting.

Killie provided a reminder they were still in with a chance of claiming all three points when Invincibile set up Mehdi Taouil and his ferocious right-foot volley forced a good save from Zaluska.

The Rugby Park side's chances of a late victory when bolstered when Dixon was shown a straight red card for a last-man foul on Invincibile but Garry Hay hooked the resultant free-kick wide as both settled for a share of the points.

Teams:

Dundee Utd Zaluska, Caddis, Wilkie, Kenneth, Dixon, Wesolowski, Buaben, Gomis (Swanson 62), Conway, Feeney (Shala 80), Sandaza (Goodwillie 86).

Subs Not Used: McGovern, Dillon, David Robertson, Kovacevic.

Sent Off: Dixon (86).

Booked: Wesolowski, Wilkie.

Kilmarnock Combe, Clancy, Lilley, Ford (Wright 46), Hay, Bryson, Taouil, Hamill, Skelton, Fernandez (Gibson 84), Invincibile.

Subs Not Used: Rascle, O'Leary, Flannigan, Sammon, Kelly.

Booked: Gibson.

Att: 6,627

Ref: W Collum (Scotland).