Draw good enough for United to stretch lead

While it looks like Dundee United are limping their way to the Championship title, their 1-1 draw with bottom side Partick Thistle at Tannadice actually increased their advantage at the top of the table.

Robbie Neilson’s side went into the contest having won only one league game out of their previous six but it looked like normal service had been resumed when Dillon Powers crashed a shot past Scott Fox on 19 minutes.

An equaliser arrived seven minutes into the second half when Tommy Robson was brought down by Paul Watson and Stuart Bannigan rolled in the resultant penalty.

Neilson said: “Every team is fighting for something so there is pressure in every game but we have to be positive. It is another game out of the way and we have increased our lead.”

United’s closest challengers Inverness Caledonian Thistle are now 17 points behind after they lost 2-0 to an Alloa side who are doing all that they can to avoid being involved in a relegation scrap.

Lee Connolly cracked a Scott Banks pass into the net to put the Wasps in front on 12 minutes and Alan Trouten volleyed in the second before half an hour had been played.

Ayr United and Dundee played out a goalless draw at Somerset Park where the Honest Men blew the best chance to dig in deeper in the top four, Aaron Muirhead’s penalty being saved by Conor Hazard on the hour.

Dunfermline missed the chance to move into the top four when they were held 1-1 at home by Queen of the South. The Doonhamers led through Gary Oliver in three minutes, but Jonathan Afolabi scored from the spot only a minute into the second half.

Morton struck right at the death to earn a 1-1 draw with Arbroath. Craig Wighton blasted Arbroath into the lead on 49 minutes but three minutes into added-on time Sean Mcginty headed home a corner.