Dundee finally stopped the rot after a run of five successive defeats with a deserved draw against fellow strugglers St Mirren at Dens.
The Dark Blues had to come from behind to take a share of the points but on the balance of play, they probably should have secured a full haul from the game.
Dundee boss Jim McIntyre made three changes from the side that lost at Motherwell last week with Nathan Ralph, Martin Woods and Benjamin Kallman coming in with Sofien Moussa and Lewis Spence dropping to the bench and Andy Boyle, who needed stitches in his knee at Fir Park, missing out altogether.
There was a place in the St Mirren side for former Dark Blues favourite Paul McGinn with his brother Stephen, who also had a spell at Dens, one of the subs.
Not surprisingly, there was a frantic opening to the game with St Mirren keeper Craig Samson having to make saves from Kenny Miller and a Ralph long-range effort.
However, it was St Mirren who took the lead in the 21st minute after Simeon Jackson went down under a challenge from home right-back Cammy Kerr with referee Bobby Madden awarding a penalty to the Buddies.
The Dundee players were incensed by the decision but Jackson picked himself up and smashed the spot-kick into the back of Jack Hamilton’s net off the underside of the crossbar.
The Dark Blues had a great chance to equalise on the half-hour mark when Kallman squared the ball to Jesse Curran but his shot was blocked.
Four minutes later though, McIntyre’s men did draw level. Kallman did well on the right before hitting a superb low cross which Kenny Miller swept home from close range for his first goal for the club.
Dundee looked to build on that goal boost at the start of the second half but the first clear chance didn’t come until the 59th minute when Samson saved a long-range Curran effort.
Jackson then went down once more in the Dundee box but this time Mr Madden booked the Buddies player for diving.
With so much at stake for both sides, the game became a scrappy affair with clear-cut chances notable by their absence as the clock ticked down.
In the 85th minute, sub Paul McGowan tried his luck from 20 yards but his curling effort flew over.
However, the full time whistle blew with the sides level and the Dark Blues still bottom of the table.
For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
