Dundee substitute Lee Wilkie gifted St Johnstone a share of the spoils at Dens Park with a late own goal.

The home side were guilty of failing to capitalise on a string of missed chances to build on Juan Sara's 13th minute opener.

In a game best remembered for its physical appeal over flair, the Dark Blues looked impressive but the bizarre equaliser denied them the chance to leapfrog their Tayside neighbours into sixth place in the Premier League.

Saints were the first to cause danger after just seven minutes when Momo Sylla hit the ball into the side netting from an acute angle from Paul Kane's defence splitting pass.

But Dundee took an early lead through a well-crafted goal.

Player-manager Ivano Bonetti eluded Jim Weir on the left, and from his well measured cross Sara out-jumped Darren Dods to plant a firm header in the top corner.

Dundee looked positive at every turn and Sara was a major source of threat with his aerial power on countless occasions.

Saints struggled to find any fluency until the end of the first half until striker Paddy Connolly threatened - firstly in the 38th minute with an excellent header straight at Rocatti, and immediately afterwards the keeper denied him with an excellent stop from close range.

Former Dundee United striker Connolly was once more denied by the Dundee goalkeeper at the beginning of the second period when his first time shot was well smothered.

The game threatened to boil over when Sylla, who was booked earlier in the game, was lucky not to be red carded after clashing with Dens defender Barry Smith.

St Johnstone striker Keigan Parker threatened on the hour mark but his shot took a deflection off Marco de Marchi to be saved by the busy Rocatti, as Saints continued their hunt for an equaliser.

But it was Alan Main who produced the save of the afternoon, punching away a Sara six-yard header from point-blank range.

Weir was unlucky for Saints, seeing his wind-assisted header just saved before Bonetti blazed over the crossbar when he should have wrapped up the points at the other end.

And then came the unexpected drama.

John Paul McBride sent a through ball to Sylla, who delivered a dangerous cross from the right.

Rocatti misjudged it and the unfortunate Wilkie could only bundle the ball over his own line.