ANYONE passing Dens Park about 4.48pm yesterday might have felt obliged to cover their ears.

A wave of indignation cascaded from the stands towards referee Bobby Madden as he signalled full-time. The match between Dundee and St Johnstone finished level, but an uneven display from the official drew anger from all sides of the ground.

Dundee manager Paul Hartley suggested later that it had been "a game to forget" for the referee, while his St Johnstone counterpart Tommy Wright spoke only of "decisions on both sides".

Dundee supporters seemed certain that those decisions were weighted predominantly against their team, their frustration already piqued by witnessing their side falter against their Tayside rivals after going ahead.

The Dens Park club, though, had won three consecutive matches before yesterday and they remain unbeaten in four, this latest result lifting them into sixth place in the SPFL Premiership table.

It has started to seem as though a fight to avoid relegation will be beneath them this season. Dundee have not simply joined elevated company this term, but have risen to meet them.

The home side treated the opening exchanges yesterday as though they had been invited for a square go.

A low shot from Gary Harkins forced a smart save from St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus. David Clarkson was also presented with opportunities to score following errant passes from Gary McDonald.

The first, a bizarre lofted pass in behind his own defence after six minutes, allowed Clarkson to lift the ball over Mannus, who collided with the Dundee striker as Dens Park screamed for a penalty. Madden stood silently and booked Clarkson for simulation. Clarkson was incredulous at a yellow card which has tinged his hitherto immaculate record at Dundee.

He has scored six goals in six matches since signing in September, but his short time on Tayside has been marked by more than an ability to put the ball in the net.

At 29, Clarkson has become an astute centre-forward and he has discerned how best to serve his side's attacking ambition.

A back-heel flick during the first half yesterday allowed Harkins to break forward before another sharp pass presented Martin Boyle with a chance to shoot from the edge of the penalty area.

But Clarkson himself took the chance that gave Dundee the lead, drifting into space after 41 minutes to steer a shot into the net following Greg Stewart's cutback.

Clarkson is a prominent figure at Dens Park but the most compelling performance came from Madden.

The official dismissed a strong claim for a penalty from Stewart when the forward appeared to be fouled as he broke into the penalty area after an hour and the decision to punish Clarkson earlier continued to rankle with Hartley afterwards. "That was a stonewaller and would have been a sending-off [for Mannus] too," he said. "It was an incredible decision. Clarkson was taken out. It's a game to forget [for Madden], I think. If he's getting assessed then there were some bad decisions today."

Hartley did not dispute the decision to award St Johnstone a penalty after 52 minutes when James McPake tugged at Brian Graham as the pair jostled beneath a cross.

The striker - jeered persistently by the home support as he continues his loan spell from Dundee United - forced his spot-kick underneath Scott Bain to equalise. "That goal spooked us," said Hartley.

It also exorcised St Johnstone of their apprehension, with Lee Croft scudding a shot at goal and Michael O'Halloran steering an effort wide after a run from his own half. St Johnstone will hope that such a revival can be maintained since they have won just two of their last eight league matches.

Manager Tommy Wright. "The second half was much better for us and I felt that, after that, we fully deserved a point."