United are the kings of the smash and grab against us, but this time it was ourselves who can count ourselves lucky to get a point. United were well on top in the second half but a fine Sean Lynch goal had somehow given us the lead. However, United continued to apply pressure and the equaliser arrived with just a couple of minutes to go. Another late goal conceded then, but as we didn't deserve to be in front we can't really argue.
Despite United dominating, I thought this was pretty good from us. We didn't buckle under the pressure during the second half, the new players looked good and we managed to pick up a point against one of the top sides from last season. Not bad at all, and plenty of encouraging signs.
Those of us who sit in a certain part of the main stand will be used to the shout of "Get Dargo on" from a certain punter in recent years, but sadly his injury meant we were to be denied the seasonal début of that particular chant. Instead, it was Gareth Wardlaw and Paul McGowan who were picked to lead the line. There were also débuts for Jure Travner, Sean Lynch and Darren McGregor and a second debut for David van Zanten, seven years after the bench. The injuries to Dargo and Paul McQuade, as well as Michael Higdon's suspension, robbed us of any strikers on the bench, meaning Wardlaw would probably be asked to play the full game. As expected from the Scottish Cup winners, Peter Houston named a strong United side that didn't really have any weaknesses or any players that immediately struck you as potential comedy acts. Mind you, a pink shirt for Paul Gallacher and some shocking boots from various players meant our team provided everyone with a laugh before we'd even started.
We almost had something equally as comical after a few minutes when John Potter nearly scored from a Steven Robb free-kick. After that there was some nice passing stuff from Saints and, unlike with the previous manager, it did seem to go somewhere and have a purpose. However, it still failed to create chances so we had to settle for Wardlaw thinking he was not a 31-year-old ex postie when he tried his luck from very long range and only succeeded in giving the away fans another ball to go with their beach ball for a few seconds. At the other end, Craig Conway's free-kick was met by Darren Dods but he headed wide.
Conway's next free-kick was also pretty good as someone in black and white produced a brilliant flick-on for Garry Kenneth, whose header was somehow kept out by the quick thinking of Paul Gallacher. In the aftermath, Jon Daly got himself a booking for flattening Potter. Worryingly, a few minutes later Gallacher took a nasty knock and had to get treatment, but fortunately he was able to continue. It took over half an hour for the first proper Saints chance to arrive and it fell to Steven Thomson after good work by McGowan. The midfielder was at a tight angle, but that doesn't explain how he somehow managed to hit his shot away from the goal! Surprised by the direction it was travelling in, United defender Paul Dixon could do nothing as it smashed off his arm. There were, unsurprisingly, cries for a penalty, but it was as clear a case of ball to hand (or arm) as you'll ever see. One wonders if the chap wearing the number eight shirt last season would have shown such poor finishing if he'd been presented with a similar opportunity - he'd at least have got the ball to go towards goal!
That let-off (if it can be classed as one) seem to give United a bit of hope and they began to look the more likely to score as the interval came closer. Dods managed another chance from a corner, but his free header was woefully off target. A late tackle by van Zanten on Bauben gave Conway a chance from a free-kick, but Gallacher seemed untroubled as the ball sailed wide. Conway was arguably United's best player at this stage and his cross in first-half stoppage time nearly resulted in a goal as McGregor tried to chest it to safety - in the direction of his own net. Fortunately for him - and us - it missed the target.
Something hit the woodwork at the Railway End minutes into the second half, but whether it was Steven Robb's poor cross or the body of United keeper Dusan Pernis isn't clear. There was an unbelievable let-off for Saints at the other end when van Zanten tried to win the ball and missed, allowing Conway to get to the byline. His cross to David Goodwillie was perfect, but he somehow managed to put his header wide.
United were now in the driving seat, Gomis seeing a shot cleared at the near post from a corner before McGregor got himself a booking after a foul on Goodwillie. Our rather depleted striking options then took a further blow when Wardlaw - who'd actually looked pretty decent - had to go off with injury. Lee Mair was the rather surprising choice to take his place. United tried to take advantage of our unfamiliar shape, Daly having a good shout for a penalty turned down after a nudge from Vanzy. It was one way traffic, although how the officials thought Sean Dillon's shot didn't deflect on its way behind is a mystery. They couldn't really miss Gallacher having to tip over a shot from Daly after he'd skinned Travner before Vanzy was rather harshly booked for handball.
When a team is on top and seeming likely to score at any time, it's usually us and usually we suffer. This time, it was our turn. Vanzy's cross was knocked behind for a corner and it was only cleared to Shuggy. He played a short pass to the ineffectual Lynch, who produced a rather tame shot. Fortunately, it was on target and miles away from Pernis, so ended up in the top corner! Lynch had done absolutely nothing until this point and it's hard to think of him doing anything else noteworthy, but scoring goals is the most important thing in football and fortunately he'd done it.
United replaced Scott Robertson with Jennison Myrie Williams before another perfect cross from Conway was missed by both McGregor and Daly. Youngster Ally Love then got a début when he replaced the tiring Robb, before Conway was surprisingly taken off, former Everton man Danny Cadamarteri replacing him. Love got his first touch after being laid off by McGowan and when play stopped Kenneth was booked for clattering McGowan off the ball.
You know the script by now. We're minutes from beating the Arabs then they somehow manage to stop it. And, with two minutes remaining, a cross from Gomis was inadvertently knocked down by Travner and Dally finally scored as he thumped the ball home. This time, there could be no complaints - and it needed a stunning tackle from Potter on Goodwillie in stoppage time to stop him laying the winner on a plate for his team-mate.
A good performance and I'm more than happy with a point. Perhaps a draw against last season's third placed team will quieten down a few of the moaners.