Far from being a nail-biter, it looked as though there was a real danger a game of football was going to break out at Dens Park as neither side registered any opportunities of note for nearly forty minutes with the spoils shared on the day.

However with the break fast approaching, play burst into life as Makenzie Kirk met a Sam Curtis cross to give visitors a lead, albeit hardly a surprising one.

What did catch fans off guard was the response from Tony Docherty’s men, the players looking as subdued as the supporters themselves were awoken as Simon Murray levelled after Joe Shaughnessy’s flick on from Aaron Donnelly’s throw in for his 11th league goal of the season.

Adama Sidibeh will not doubt be kicking himself into Monday as he let a golden opportunity pass through his feet, unable to set himself a yard out from goal to give his side the opener in the first-half.

With arguably an even greater opportunity was Murray, who profited from a lapse in concentration from Trevor Carson who picked up a back pass just a few metres from his goal line. As St Johnstone camped out on their line to defend, Murray opted for a low driven shot that was blocked by the rushing line of defence to spare the keeper’s blushes.

After providing the crucial assist, Curtis would see his header saved off the line in a second-half as both sides struggled to land the killer blow.

Against the run of play an excellent driving run from Cesar Garza teed up substitute Scott Tiffoney who lashed a shot past an oblivious Carson, who no doubt exhaled a huge sigh of relief as it rattled his post.

A point shared, both sides remain at the bottom of the table. The hosts looking to earn their first win in nine away to Dundee United next week as St Johnstone host Aberdeen.

Reliance on Murray a worry

Where once the striker was face of a side with resilience and threats from all angles of the park, Simon Murray has suddenly morphed into becoming the entire body.

No doubt fatigue is rearing its head as a congested month takes its toll. Seven games in the last four weeks would sap even the best stocked clubs.

But with a threadbare squad, barely strenghthened in the window, there was an alarming lack of impetus from Tony Docherty’s players.

Then came Murray, with his 17th goal in all competitions, the Dundee native prowled the box and found his opening. Not that he needs much of one anyway.

A point is not the end of the world, but it marks 1 from a possible 17 as the side continue to sleep walk into relegation. If they do not snap out of it soon, there won’t be a whole lot their talisman forward will be able to do to prevent a drop to the Championship.

Saints find new edge

It may not be three points, but compared to their performance 3-1 defeat in early January the last time these sides met this might as well feel like six.

A crux of the progressive style of football Simo Valakari pushes for has been the side’s soft underbelly, threatening to undermine any positive play at a moment’s notice.

Drawing a Dens Park feels a positive step, albeit teething issues in their development remain. Conceding just five minutes after scoring is endemic of a wider problem for the side that allowed Hearts to score four minutes after Sidibeh had levelled.

Despite picking up a respectable 10 points from 18, the players will need no reminding that they remain six from safety.

However, Valakari has emphasised that we are observing the building blocks of a foundation being laid, they will need to work double speed if they are to withstand the whirlwind that is the bottom half.

Line-ups:

Dundee: Carson, Larkeche, Donnelly, Shaughnessy (c), McGhee, Garza, Sylla (Robertson 46), Mulligan (Reilly 72), Cameron, Murray, Adewumi (Tiffoney 72) Unused subs: Astley, Samuels, Ingram, López, McCracken, Sharp

Booked: Garza

Goals: Murray (45)

St Johnstone: Fisher, Douglas, Mitchell, Balodis, Wright, Holt (Svedgberg 63), Sprangler (c), Curtis, Duke-McKenna, Sidibeh (Clark 77), Kirk (Carey 63) Unused subs: Franczak, McPake, Sinclair, Smith, Steven, Watt

Booked:

Goals: Kirk (40)

Referee: Steven McLean

Attendance: 7,681