SPL: Dundee United 1 Dundee 1

An incident-packed Dundee derby ended in a share of the spoils on Sunday.

Relegation-haunted Dundee played for 70 minutes without skipper Gary Irvine who was sent off for a reckless challenge on Richie Ryan.

United have held the upper hand in all three meaningful games between the sides this season, with their latest triumph coming two weeks ago when they won 2-1 at Dens Park in the Scottish Cup with Gary Mackay-Steven scoring what turned out to be the winner.

The draw means Dundee are now 13 points behind 11th-placed St Mirren while United join Hibernian on 40 points but with a slightly inferior goal difference.

After Irvine’s dismissal, Mackay-Steven’s diving header crashed against the bar from a fine cross by United left-back Barry Douglas.

United skipper Jon Daly had the ball in the net 10 minutes into the second half with a looping header over Steve Simonsen but he was ruled offside.

It was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 67th minute through midfielder Ryan Conroy who fired home a Brian Easton cross.

United had to wait until the 89th minute for their equaliser and it was Daly who made the goal, nodding the ball across the goalmouth for Michael Gardyne to slam home.