Ten-man St Mirren came from behind to grab a well-deserved draw with Dundee United at Love Street.

It was a tremendous performance from Saints, who showed great determination and spirit when all looked lost.

Veto Naveda had given United a 35th-minute lead after Alan Combe had saved a Charlie Miller free-kick.

Two minutes later Saints were dealt a further blow when they were reduced to 10 men, Tom Brown given a straight red card for a bad tackle on United defender Hasney Aljofree.

But in a battling second-half performance Saints equalised in the 71st minute through substitute Maikel Renfurm.

United's Jim Hamilton, who was making his first Scottish Premier League start of the season, was closest to scoring in the early stages. The big striker was waiting six yards from goal to receive a Jamie Buchan pass but his shot from six yards went narrowly over the bar.

Charlie Miller was inspiring the visitors in the middle of the park and a dangerous free-kick from the ex-Rangers player was headed away by Saints defender Scott Walker for a corner as Hamilton waited to pounce.

Saints were struggling to create anything although a 20-yard shot from the Sergei Baltacha went inches wide of United goalkeeper Alan Combe's right hand post.

Midway through the first half the home side eventually woke up and began to threaten the United goal.

Striker Mark Yardley had a shot from point-blank range saved by Combe and minutes later the keeper pulled of a great double save from Graham Fenton.

In 34 minutes Saints midfielder Scott McKenzie found himself in the book for a deliberate pull on Miller's jersey.

From a subsequent free-kick 25 yards from goal United took the lead. Miller's shot was pushed out by Scrimgour only for the on-rushing Nevada to hammer the ball in from close range.

Minutes later Saints' hopes took another blow when striker Tom Brown was given a straight red card for a two-footed tackle Aljofree, who had to receive treatment before resuming.

Three minutes after the break St Mirren changed their keeper, Ian McCaldon coming on for the furious Scrimgour, who ran straight up the tunnel.

McCaldon's first touch, two minutes later, was a tremendous save from a Hamilton shot which was destined for the top corner.

The match swung from end to end and the home side still looked dangerous on the break and it was not great surprise in 71 minutes when they equalised.

Substitute Renfurm, only on the park six minutes, ran on to a Ricky Gillies pass and from 14 yards and cracked a shot beyond Combe.

This sparked off a spell of Saints pressure and the home team's other outfield substitute Steven McGarry came close on two occasions.

His first effort, a shot from close in, was saved by Combe and moments later a net-bound header was cleared off the line by Miller.

Both teams continued to go all out looking for the winner and there were scares at either end, but there were no more goals and it was the home side who took all the credit for a tremendous second-half display.