Dundee and Ross County were unable to secure the win they both desperately wanted at Dens Park.
Both sides had chances throughout a hard-fought contest but neither could find the back of the net with a combination of poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping ensuring the game ended all square.
County did have the ball in the back of the net in the second half but the “goal” was chalked off.
The result means Dundee have drawn three games in succession while the Staggies have ended a run of three defeats in a row.
This was the first game in 24 days for both sides with Dundee manager Tony Docherty making two alterations from the team that drew with Hibs at Easter Road last time out with Jordan McGhee coming in for Cammy Kerr while Finlay Robertson replaced the injured Lyall Cameron.
County boss Malky Mackay made three changes to the side that lost at home to Hearts on September 30 with Simon Murray, Dylan Smith and Victor Loturi being drafted in for Kyle Turner, Alex Samuel and Will Nightingale.
Dundee had the first half chance of the game in the fourth minute when Zak Rudden linked well with on-loan Liverpool full-back Owen Beck but the striker just failed to control the return pass as he burst into the Staggies’ box.
Rudden featured again shortly after but his shot was well blocked with Antonio Portales’ effort from the rebound also dealt with by the County defence.
It was a bright opening from the home side considering their long lay-off while the visitors were struggling to gain a foothold in the game in the early stages.
However, County finally had an opportunity in the 13th minute when Yan Dhanda fired a dangerous corner in from the right with Jack Baldwin’s shot being blocked in front of goal by a home defender.
Simon Murray then made a promising burst down the left but his square ball into the box was snuffed out by Dark Blues keeper Trevor Carson.
Staggies skipper Baldwin became the first player to be shown a yellow card by referee Colin Steven in the 17th minute for a foul on Luke McCowan.
The Staggies then passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead when Dhanda played in Murray but with the goal at his mercy, his shot was too close to Carson who made a vital stop with his foot to deny the striker.
The hosts hit back straight away with County keeper Ross Laidlaw having to turn a low Robertson shot away for a corner with the keeper called into action again soon after to gather a Rudden shot from the edge of the box.
County had another opening of their own on the half-hour mark with a Dhanda corner from the right finding James Brown with Carson producing a fantastic save from the defender’s header.
The hosts’ Amadou Bakayoko tried his luck from long-range but his shot lacked venom and was easily gathered by Laidlaw and the teams headed in at half-time with the score still deadlocked.
The hosts had the first chance after the break with Rudden finding Robertson free inside the County box but the midfielder’s low shot was a weak one and easily mopped up by Laidlaw.
The keeper had to look lively again when McCowan sent a dangerous cross in from the right with Laidlaw decisively dealing with the threat.
There was a bit of niggle creeping into the game with a succession of fouls disrupting attempts at free-flowing play - within the space of five minutes, County’s Brown, Loturi and White were all booked.
The Staggies thought they had finally broken the deadlock in the 64th minute when James Brown bundled home but the “goal” was ruled out for offside, a decision that was eventually rubber-stamped after Steven was called to the trackside monitor by VAR Andrew Dallas with the referee agreeing with the initial call.
The hosts hit straight back with Bakayoko smashing a fierce shot that Laidlaw stopped at his near post with a vital save.
Eamonn Brophy came off the bench and was agonisingly close to making an immediate impact, sending a well-struck shot from 25 yards fizzing just past Carson’s right-hand post.
Another sub, Dundee’s Diego Pineda then had a chance of his own as he cut in from the left but his shot was too close to Laidlaw who made a near-post block. The Mexican striker had another opportunity shortly after but this time he dragged his shot wide.
With the clock ticking down, the game was on a knife edge and Pineda had a chance to win it in the 89th minute but his shot was saved with his feet by Laidlaw.
