Only three things in life are certain. Death, taxes and St Mirren losing late goals to Dundee United. Tonight it was David Robertson's turn to deny Saints some points against the Tannadice men and there could be few complaints about the Arabs taking something from this one.

In a dire, scrappy first half there was a moment of joy for the home side when Darren McGregor headed Saints in front to end an SPL goal drought stretching back nearly four and a half games. Instead of pushing on after the break, the Buddies sat in and and were defending deeper and deeper.

It looked as if they would get away with it, thanks mainly to David Goodwillie's shocking luck in front of goal, including impressively hitting the bar from just a few yards out. However, the gods were smiling on him with three minutes left when he picked out Robertson with a cross and he sent a looping header back across goal, with keeper Paul Gallacher only able to watch as he was left wrong footed.

It was the least United deserved for all their play in the second half and had they scored 10 minutes earlier they may well have won. With United's recent unbeaten run most Buddies would probably have taken a point before the game, but to have it snatched away with minutes to go will be hard to take. The only positive is that relegation rivals Hibs lost to Rangers and drop another point behind ahead of the two sides meeting next week.

Danny Lennon stuck with the same Saints side that had dug out a point at Perth on Saturday. The only change came on the bench with David van Zanten being replaced by Hugh Murray. With the transfer window due to close next week and rumours about the midfielder's departure refusing to go away, it could have been done in a bid to give the legendary Shuggy one last hurrah. Dundee United had to make do without Jon Daly and Scott Robertson after their dismissal's against Kilmarnock. Star striker David Goodwillie was fit enough to lead the attack and youngster Stuart Armstrong made his first senior start.

With an almost perfect playing surface there was no excuse for such a dull, scrappy first half. It seemed to start off well enough as Goodwillie threatened after a couple of minutes when his shot was deflected into Paul Gallacher's arms. He then combined with Craig Conway to carve out a chance for Johnny Russell to knock the ball across goal, but Jim Goodwin got there to clear it.

After that things got a lot less exciting. Paul McGowan fired well off target from 25 yards before setting up Marc McAusland, whose effort from the edge of the box flashed just wide. Morgaro Gomis then sent a drive wide of Gallacher's right-hand post at the other end.

A lapse of concentration allowed Conway in behind John Potter but when he sent in the cross Goodwillie clearly handled it and was booked. When the next ball came in from Barry Douglas, Russell decided using his feet was the better option and only a great block by Gallacher kept out his low shot. His opposite number Dusan Pernis was called into action to keep out a shot from McGowan after some neat play by Michael Higdon had created a chance for the on-loan Celtic man, before United's Prince Bauben fizzed a shot wide from distance.

Eight minutes before the break, a dull first half came to life with an appropriately scrappy goal as Saints finally scored their first SPL goal of the year. Jure Travner's corner picked out Darren McGregor at the back post and his powerful header was deemed to have gone over the line before Gomis was able to clear it to put the Buddies in front. United tried to respond and Goodwillie sent a looping header from a Conway free-kick onto the bar, but it was as close as they would come to levelling things up before the break as Saints enjoyed a rare half-time lead.