JUST three goals separated these teams in the table at the outset and the margin remained as slim at full-time following a 90 minutes of sweat and endeavour that leaves Dundee United the slight favourites for a European place if there is one to be had.

This pair were battling for the Scottish Cup just 12 months ago but this year it is fourth spot they are squabbling over. Even then, they can only sit back and hope for the right result in a cup final in which they will this time play no part.

Fourth will only provide a tangible reward if Inverness Caley Thistle, whose win over Dundee yesterday clinched them third, go on to duplicate their European qualification with an historic Scottish Cup triumph over Falkirk on May 30. It will be a match to which one of these teams will be glued as they dream of a summer trip to the continent for work and not just holidaying purposes.

The Tannadice side thought they had stolen a march on their Tayside rivals at McDiarmid Park, surging ahead midway through the second-half with John Rankin's opener. However, one glance at the Premiership table before the match would have given an indication of how evenly-matched the teams are and Murray Davidson's volley just nine minutes later leaves them neck-and-neck with just two matches remaining.

For Saints, penalty just seconds before half time missed by skipper Dave Mackay could be a defining moment in a season that began for them with a foray into the Europa League. "I don't think a point was a fair result," moaned manager Tommy Wright. "I thought we were the better side, had the better chances and I thought we should have won the game."

St Johnstone now face Celtic and Aberdeen, whilst United conclude their campaign against Inverness Caley Thistle and city rivals Dundee. "Its not finished," added Wright. "There's still a bit to go and no-one knows what's going to happen so we certainly haven't given up. It probably looks as if United have the slight edge, so this was an opportunity lost today. Three points in front going into the last two games would have given us the advantage. We wanted to win this game."

Saints had profligacy to blame for not taking all three points, none more so than when they were awarded a penalty just before the interval. United defender Callum Morris got himself into a tangle dealing with a bouncing ball and after heading it into the air collided with O'Halloran. Referee Kevin Clancy deemed it a foul and awarded a penalty but Mackay's spot-kick was too straight at Rado Cierzniak.

The impression was that St Johnstone would rue their misses and that feeling built still further when United surged in front in the 68th minute. Chris Erskine lofted in a cross from the right that striker Robbie Muirhead rose majestically to meet. The youngster's downward header clattered against the left-hand upright and with keeper Alan Mannus lying prostrate Rankin followed up to nod into the unguarded net.

However, Saints took only nine minutes to seek out an equaliser, and it really was simple. Danny Swanson's low cross picked out the run of Davidson and the midfielder's rangy left leg speared a volley into the bottom left-hand corner of Cierzniak's goal.

United claimed a penalty when Nadir Ciftci, who had struck the post with a stunning 35-yard rocket in the first-half, tumbled in the box and St Johnstone's reaction to what they believed to have been a dive was angry. However, despite railing against Clancy's display, both for giving Saints their penalty and denying his side one, Tannadice manager Jackie McNamara was the more satisfied once the dust had settled.

"Was it a fair result? Possibly," he commented. "It could have gone either way, with us going in front. I'm disappointed not to hang on to it but at the same time the keeper's made a good save at their penalty just before half-time.

"We've still got two games to go. Obviously St Johnstone are a few goals behind us. We're still ahead of them, which is important, but we need to make sure we do our job first and not worry about them getting results."