DARREN'S BUSY AT WOODWORK.

Byline: DAVID RINALDI

ST MIRREN ................0 DUNDEE UTD ............0

ARABS skipper Darren Dods had a day of mixed fortunes with the frame of the goal after being denied then saved by the woodwork in either half.

The big defender volleyed against the underside of the bar in the first half but then looked on after the break as Garry Brady's shot deflected off him and clipped a post before going behind.

Dods said: "The first one I caught well and I was hoping it would come down over the line but it wasn't to be.

"For the one in the second half I was stretching and it flew off my boot and luckily hit the post and came back out.

"So I was happy with the woodwork in the second half but disappointed with it in the first half.

"We hoped to stamp our authority on the second half but we never really got on top. We had a couple of half chances but no-one did enough to win it and it was a fair result."

Organised Tannadice boss Craig Levein said: "It was two well organised, hard-working teams and I think only a mistake or a piece of magic would have led to a goal. But I didn't think our strikers did well enough to provide that magic and a draw was a fair result."

Buddies are still looking for their first league win at their new home since their January flit but striker Billy Mehmet insists that doesn't concern them.

He said: "Everyone keeps talking about getting that first league win here but we're not talking about it as we've won here in the cup and are just focusing on each game.

"We've proved it in the cup games and hopefully it will come soon enough."

United enjoyed the bulk of the early possession without threatening while at the other end Craig Dargo was a real nuisance as he hung on the shoulder of the last man. Four times in the first half the pintsized hitman was flagged offside and on each occasion the decision was marginal.

Midway through the first half United had a strong penalty shout turned down when Danny Swanson tumbled in the box under a challenge from Hugh Murray but ref Dougie McDonald pointed to the corner flag.

The Buddies created the best opening of the game in 27 minutes when Mehmet rose to meet a terrific Jack Ross cross but the Londoner's header flew wide.

Arabs went close in 34 minutes when Paul Gallacher could only push Paul Dixon's free-kick behind for a corner.

Dixon took the resultant kick that was met by Dods 12 yards out but the stopper's volley came off the underside of the bar and Saint Mirren scrambled it clear.

Stephen McGinn's dipping volley drifted past from the angle of the box and the sides went in level at the interval.

Both teams were cancelling each other out at the start of the second half, although David Goodwillie twice went close with efforts from distance.

Sub Damian Casalinuevo glanced a header just wide for the Tayside men moments after replacing Danny Cadamarteri only to have to go off after suffering a cut head to be replaced by Andis Shala.

Brady hit the outside of the post for The Buds late on via Dods but neither side could conjure up a winner and a draw was a fair result over the piece.

REF WATCH REF WATCH

DOUGIE MCDONALD had one major shout and it came in the first half when he waved away a United penalty claim after Danny Swanson went down. It looked like the right call. Rating 7/10.

CAPTION(S):

All bar in: St Mirren keeper Paul Gallacher can't stop Darren Dods' effort but the defender is beaten by the woodwork