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The battle for fourth place remains too close to call following a hard-fought Tayside derby.

John Rankin headed the visitors ahead midway through the second half after Robbie Muirhead's effort had struck the bar.

However, Murray Davidson pulled Saints level to earn his side a point and keep them level on points with United.

A point apiece seemed a fair outcome but Saints captain Dave Mackay will rue his first-half penalty miss.

That could have proved decisive, not only in terms of the match but also in the league table, with fourth spot still potentially good enough for a Europa League place if Inverness Caledonian Thistle win the Scottish Cup.

But Mackay's spot-kick was too close to Radoslaw Cierzniak after Michael O'Halloran had been brought down by Callum Morris.

That was about the closest thing to a goal in the first period, although Nadir Ciftci's amazing effort from 35 yards, which came back off the post, was worthy of better.

So closely contested was this game that a goal-less draw looked on the cards until Rankin was quickest to react after Muirhead's header had come back off the bar.

But the visitors' joy was short-lived as former United midfielder Danny Swanson swung a cross in from the left and Davidson guided a volley past Cierzniak.

Both sides pressed for a winner, but neither could quite craft an opening of sufficient quality, ensuring the battle for fourth will go to the wire.

The Tangerines hold a three-goal advantage over the Perth men, with both sides on 53 points.

Saints visit Celtic on Friday, with United travelling to take on Inverness on Saturday.