Livingston have suffered from late goals scored against them in recent weeks, but The Lions battled to the final whistle on Tayside and earned a point against a Dundee United side who upped the tempo in the second half.
Mo Sylla cleared off the line and Livi goalkeeper Jerome Prior was once again prominent as United went searching for a lift following a 2-0 defeat at home to Kilmarnock the previous weekend.
That was a game in which United manager, Jim Goodwin, felt that his side could have played for hours and not scored.
He was hoping for an improved performance to erase the memory of the Killie reverse and he argued that his men were flat in the first half last weekend. They disappointed in the first 45 minutes again.
His counterpart, David Martindale (pictured), felt his men should have got something out of their home game against Rangers and articulated that the 2-1 defeat was hard to take, but it was a fighting performance against the Ibrox men and the West Lothian side started on the front foot on this occasion, forcing United back.
Indeed, the visitors forced the first corner in this William Hill Premiership clash after five minutes and it was aimed at the back post but far too high for ex-Dundee player Mo Sylla.
Minutes later, Lewis Smith picked up the ball near half-way and darted forward, cut inside and shot, forcing Yevhen Kucherenko into a diving save to his left. He parried the ball and Stevie May was close to picking up the rebound.
Mahamadou Susoho was busy in midfield for Livi, picking up loose balls and distributing them intelligently, keeping the ball moving, and Macaulay Tait, on loan from Hearts, made a good run down the left, but Smith was inches away from connecting inside the six-yard box.
United responded and Daniel Finlayson cleared for a corner but the Tayside team wasted their first opportunity and Livi were next to threaten, putting Dundee goalkeeper Kucherenko under pressure as the home side attempted to work the ball out of defence.
Too many passes failed to count for both side inside the final third, but a poor clearance from Livingston saw Nikolaj Moller latch onto the ball and lash it high and wide. He should have done much better.
Ex-St Johnstone forward May then required lengthy attention after a heavy challenge inside the United half but, eventually, the striker walked off, allowing a corner to take place, Smith whipping in into the danger area. Again, there was no reward.
Frustrated Goodwin reacted by bringing on midfielder Julius Eskeson and removing Lauri Lovo making a midfield five as the manager changed shape and Martindale consulted his coaching staff as May swung in a free-kick from the right.
Skipper Danny Wilson met it but sent the ball wide, a chance gone, and United replied, skipper Will Ferry sending in a deep cross, then a long throw from lively Ferry threatened the Livi rearguard, but it was scrambled away.
Krisztian Keresztes, however, was forced into a late challenge to prevent Scott Pittman having a shot from close range, and it was Pittman who capitalised on a United blinder in defence by sliding the ball home inside the six-yard box.
Defender Bert Esselink was robbed by busy May wide on the left and he cut inside before unselfishly stabbingh the ball off towards Pittman. He side-footed the ball home. Time 34 minutes.
That joy was tempered seconds later when Tete Yengi was brought on to replace crocked Lewis Smith who received treatment on the pitch before walking off.
However, Livi continued to press and Connor McLennan sent a cross from the left to the back post. Yengi nodded it across the box only for Pittman to hit his shot wide of United’s right-hand post. A good chance to double the lead.
The Lions were on top at this stage and Goodwin’s expression in the United dugout spoke volumes. He looked desperate to get his troops back into the dressing-room at the break, but he had to wait as four extra minutes were signalled.
United pressed forward and a Luca Stephenson cross was batted away, then Vicko Sevelj had a clear chance at the back post from a Zac Sapsford corner on the right. The ball flew across the six-yard box, evading the visiting defenders.
And, with Livi goalkeeper Prior struggling to make up ground, the defender headed inches wide to the clear frustration of the United fans.
Ivan Dolcek gave them hope when he powered down the right and his dangerous cross was once again dealt with, not convincingly.
The scoreline stayed the same until the break and Goodwin made another change with midfielder Craig Sibbald on for Ivan Dolcek and he introduced Amar Fatah in place of Panutche Camara.
Fatah made an impact, forcing McLennan to bring him down in a dangerous area deep on the right hand side. Ferry sent the ball into the box. It was missed by the Livi defence and Keresztes lashed the ball home from the left hand side after controlling the ball on his chest. Prior had no chance. A VAR check was held but the goal stood and the United fans were now in full voice. Time 49 minutes.
United were now playing towards The Shed end and the early goal was just what disappointing Dundee were looking for.
Martindale made a move, Andy Winter coming on to replace McLennan who was booked for his challenge on Fatah which led to the United equaliser.
Signal an all-out assault by the orange shirts on Livi who defended doggedly. Martindale was in full voice from the dugout, urging his players to get a grip of the game, and Yengi forced a corner on the right.
It failed to produce and United raced up-field. Industrious Ferry sent a high cross into the box but it was cleared before Montgomery was forced to concede a corner. Another Ferry cross also threatened but Livi reacted.
Susoho was harshly awarded a free-kick against him for handball, but United wasted the opportunity, however, the home side kept on coming, pressing hard, with Livingston rarely seen in attack. It was backs to the wall for the men in black.
Then, Sapsford fed Fatah on the left and Prior got down low to save. Stephenson’s frustration saw him receive a yellow card and substitute Fatah was causing Montgomery problems down the right. He earned a corner.
The stoppage allowed Livi to bring off May and bring on Jeremy Bokila while Kristijan Trapanovski was introduced for United, the player returning after injury, and the midfielder made an immediate impact, bursting forward, forcing Livi to retreat quickly.
More pressure from United into the final 20 minutes and Stephenson’s rocket from 16 yards was parried by Prior before Sylla cleared off the line after a stramash in front of goal.
Martindale was on the bawl at the edge of his technical area as Livi struggled to make any real impact, United players hunting down any black shirted player with the ball, and the ball broke to Sevelj who drove forward before firing from the edge of the box, forcing a diving save from Prior.
It was tough going for the men from The Home of the Set Fare as the Tannadice team kept a tight grip on proceedings, forcing play, the orange wave continuing to flow towards Prior.
Sapsford then fired low to the near post but Prior collected low but a rare breakaway saw Yengi fire a weak shot towards the United goal as most of the 8,146 fans roared on their favourites who continued to dominate.
Trapanovski continued to influence play, his quick feet and darting runs causing problems, and he set up a chance which was thwarted by Prior, and Goodwin made another change, bringing on Dario Naamo for Sevelj.
At the other end, in a rare foray upfield, Tait broke free down the left and found Yengi, but the ball was cleared and then Bokila had a sight of goal but he failed to test the goalkeeper.
Four added minutes were signalled and the stop-start nature of the late play frustrated home fans, but Susoho broke free down the right and sent a looping ball towards the far post. The ball hung in the air before bouncing to safety from the crossbar. The United goalkeeper was struggling.
United tried again but found Sylla ice cool at the back, earning a free-kick following the close attention of Sapsford, and Livi held out, earning a valuable point.
Dundee United: Kucherenko, Esselink, Iovu, Sevelj, Camara, Sapsford, Ferry, Dolcek, Stephenson, Keresztes, Moller. Substitutes: Richards, Strain, Trapanovski, Eskesen, Sibbald, Amarfatah, Naamo, Cleall-Harding, Constable.
Livingston: Prior, Montgomery, Susoho, Pittman, McLennan, Smith, May, Finlayson, Sylla, Tait, Wilson. Substitutes: Hamilton, Blaney, Carey, Winter, Muirhead, Yengi, Robinson, Shinnie, Bokila
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
