Dundee United all but wiped away their relegation blues at Tannadice today after picking up a vital point.

Only a series of bizarre results involving Dunfermline in the last two games will deny Premier League status next season.

United could have secured only their third home League victory of the season this afternoon but Jason de Vos was twice out of luck in the closing stages.

Kilmarnock's hopes of a UEFA Cup place hang by a thread and they face rivals St Johnstone in a crucial clash at Rugby Park next Saturday.

Today's game only went ahead after a lunchtime inspection with part of the pitch flooded following heavy overnight rain.

The mood among some home supporters was stormy as well with the UFC group again voicing their dissent with the club's directors.

They used a van outside the ground to demonstrate their protest with a poster on the side of the vehicle reading: "Back the team, change the board."

Kilmarnock, who have enjoyed playing in Europe the last two seasons, played five of the first six minutes with 10 men.

Central defender Kevin McGowne needed treatment in the dressing-room for a head wound after an aerial collision with Steven Thompson.

Kilmarnock carved out an opening after eight minutes with Scot McCulloch forced to make a hasty clearance after Gary Holt tried to pick out Mark Roberts with a good through ball.

United hit back when John Eustace was put clear by Billy Dodds only for his shot to end up safely in the arms of Gordon Marshall.

Kilmarnock set the pace, however, and John Henry knocked a shot wide of the post in a good position.

Then Holt delivered a good cross into the path of Jerome Vareille but he was off balance and his shot drifted off target.

Vareille was again at the heart of things in the 32nd minute when he got away from McCulloch.

However the Kilmarnock striker delayed his shot and David Worrell scrambled his shot off the line.

United were being pressed back for long spells but broke forward on the stroke of half-time when David Hannah's shot was blocked after fine work by Dodds and Craig Easton.

Vareille, still struggling for match fitness after a long-term shoulder injury, again came close to making the breakthrough.

He got on the end of a poor clearance from de Vos only to see his volley go wide of the post.

United struggled to cope and Worrell scrambled the ball clear after a miskick by Magnus Skoldmark had given Henry a chance.

Kilmarnock defender McGowne sent a 25-yard shot whistling narrowly wide of the post and Roberts fired a shot off target in a good position.

United, however, re-grouped and started to take control of the game in the later stages, knowing Dunfermline were losing to Celtic.

Kilmarnock keeper Marshall made a superb save from de Vos' diving header following a corner from Hannah.

And on the stroke of full time Mark Reilly cleared off the line from another de Vos effort.

Teams:

Dundee Utd: Combe, Olofsson, Hannah, Easton, Dodds, Thompson (Murray 77), Skoldmark, De Vos, Eustace, McCulloch,Worrell.

Subs Not Used: Mathie, McNally, Gallacher, McConalogue.

Booked: Worrell.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, McGowne, Henry, Reilly, Holt, Durrant, Vareille (Burke 78), Baker, Roberts (Mitchell 78),Lauchlan.

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Mahood, McCutcheon.

Att: 7,190

Ref: J Rowbotham (Kirkcaldy).