FT: Livingston 0 Dundee Utd 0

By Sean Saranczuk Ftd
September 15 2003

Dundee United gained their first point of the season when they held Livingston to a goalless draw at the City Stadium.

Both sides had half-chances in a hard-fought and absorbing game but neither side really did enough to merit all three points.

However, it will be United boss Ian McCall who will be the more pleased seeing his side at last get off the mark in what is sure to be a fraught campaign.

There was a frantic start to the game but the first effort on goal did not arrive until the 15th minute when Livi midfielder Lee Makel tried a speculative shot from 30 yards which United keeper Tony Bullock saved comfortably.

The home side should have taken the lead in the 21st minute when Lee Makel's clever pass set up David Fernandez inside the box but the Spaniard's goal-bound shot from 14 yards was headed off the line by United defender Danny Griffin.

United midfielder Derek McInnes was fouled by Oscar Rubio at the edge of the box but Jim McIntyre's deflected free-kick brought a decent save from the alert Roddy McKenzie.

Three minutes later, a Jamie McAllister free-kick from 30 yards fizzed past Tony Bullock's post with the United keeper beaten and then defender Marvin Andrews headed a Makel free-kick powerfully just over the bar from 16 yards.

On the half-time whistle Bullock pulled off a great save from a Francisco Quino shot from 14 yards which looked to be heading for the corner of the net.

Livi captain Oscar Rubio needlessly put his side under pressure when he tried to shepherd a ball out for a goal-kick while being pursued by Jim McIntyre who knocked the ball back into play, but after a goalmouth melee the home side eventually cleared their lines.

Then, Livi debutant Salvador Capin nearly put through his own goal when he sliced a Griffin cross against keeper McKenzie from close range.

The game was moving from end to end and in the 70th minute the impressive Bullock pulled off the save of the match when he tipped a Marvin Andrews header from a Makel corner over the bar.