TOMMY Wright has challenged his St Johnstone players to press Hearts and Aberdeen for a top three place this season.

But the Perth side failed to seize their first opportunity to squeeze between their rivals after failing to extend an impressive winning sequence to six matches.

They recovered from an early Kane Hemmings strike with a David Wotherspoon equaliser but were unable to fashion a third successive comeback win.

Ever tenacious Dundee, meanwhile, clocked-up their fifth draw in the last six starts in a hard fought Tayside derby which fizzled out after the early excitement.

Perth manager Wright gave a vote of confidence to the team which secured three points in a derby win over Dundee United at the weekend, with midfielder Liam Craig again suspended and striker Graham Cummins sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Rival boss Paul Hartley was forced to re-shape the Dark Blues line-up which had prised a point from Hearts, with captain Kevin Thomson posted missing and Nicky Low called into action.

Fans were still filing into the stadium when the visitors crafted the first opening of the contest.

With less than a minute on the clock, Northern Ireland international keeper Alan Mannus was tested by a low strike from Kane Hemmings, with Rory Loy providing the cross from the right flank.

It heralded an impressive and productive opening spell from the white-shirted Dens men.

Loy was encouraged to let loose from 30 yards, although Mannus was alert to the danger.

But it was third time lucky in as many minutes for the enterprising visitors.

Greg Stewart and Hemmings combined with a slick passing sequence which dissected a bemused Perth central defence and the former Barnsley centre forward calmly slotted a low shot beyond Mannus into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

With Saints struggling to get going, Hemmings was given licence to advance unchecked and Mannus was relieved to usher his miscued trundler wide of the target.

Their previous two games required comebacks from the loss of first-half goals and when the Perth side finally stirred they did so in style, producing a classy equaliser.

Chris Kane and Joe Shaughnessy linked-up to release Michael O’Halloran on the right wing, with full-back Jason Holt left in the winger’s slipstream as he surged to the line.

The cutback was inch-perfect and David Wotherspoon’s powerful 12-yard strike crashed into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Dens duo Julen Etxabeguren and Paul McGowan were yellow carded in quick succession before Saints midfielder Murray Davidson volleyed over in the 33rd minute.

But home fans held their breath minutes from the interval when Steven Anderson was short with a passback and Mannus only just prevented Hemmings taking advantage.

Dundee fans behind the Perth goal were demanding a spot-kick soon after the re-start when Anderson and Loy tangled but referee Muir wasn’t convinced.

Seconds later Anderson intervened in the heart of the penalty box to mop up the danger posed by the ever dangerous Loy’s run and cutback.

Misplaced and mistimed passes at crucial times undermined both sides’ attacking endeavours as the saturated McDiarmid Park turf began to cut up, having been subjected to rain and a brief flurry of snow earlier in the match.

Another troublesome Anderson passback caused anxiety for Mannus but the agile Northern Ireland international hooked it to safety.

In the 65th minute Dundee manager Hartley was first to look to his bench, opting for the guile of Gary Harkins at the expense of the more mobile Nicky Ross.

Perth goalscorer Wotherspoon required treatment in the 73rd minute when Dundee keeper Scott Bain slithered into him but while he recovered Dundee’s Spanish defender Etxaberguren limped off to be replaced by Thomas Konrad, with Kane replaced by John Sutton as Saints freshened-up their attack.

The most clear cut chance to break the deadlock came seven minutes from the end but Mannus managed to hold Stewart’s curling shot at the second attempt.