Supersub Nathan Lowndes' first touch of the ball gave St Johnstone a well deserved 1-1 draw in the Tayside Derby against Dundee United.

Charlie Miller had fired United into a 42nd-minute lead from the spot after Saints defender Jim Weir had brought down Derek Lilley.

The score remained the same until Lowndes replaced Paddy Connolly and within two minutes had raced down the left to collect a long ball and chip goalkeeper Paul Gallacher from 30 yards for a tremendous equaliser.

More drama followed in the 71st minute when Saints striker Kiegan Parker had a spotkick brilliantly saved by Gallacher.

It was the visitors who started the brighter and their first effort on goal in the fifth minute from defender Gary Bollan but his shot from 30 yards went high over the United bar.

The home side woke from their slumber and two minutes later Miller drifted past Weir in the St Johnstone box but fired wide from 16 yards.

In the 17th minute Miller again created some space at the edge of the visitors' box but the shot was straight at keeper Alan Main who saved comfortably.

The game was being played at a frantic pace, which helped keep the fans' minds off the atrocious weather conditions which worsened by the minute.

Their was a scare for United in the 25th minute when Momo Sylla dispossessed Jamie Buchan but the midfielder's low shot from 15 yards was brilliantly kept out by Gallacher.

The ball bobbled around the box inviting a tap in until defender Jim Lauchlan eventually cleared to safety.

The visitors continued to look the better side and in 34 minutes Sylla played John McBride in but the midfielder's shot from just inside the box was saved at the near post by Gallacher at the expense of a corner.

Minutes later Miller had another chance for United when he raced on to a Jim Hamilton pass in the Saints' box but again blasted the ball straight at Main.

In the 42nd minute, slightly against the run of play, United took the lead from the spot after Jim Weir was judged to have fouled Lilley in the box. Charlie Miller stepped up and confidently sent Main the wrong way.

Both teams went at each other from the beginning of the second half although the deteriorating playing conditions resulted in mistakes being made all over the pitch.

There was little goalmouth action until the 59th minute when the Saints got a dramatic equaliser from substitute Lowndes with his first touch of the ball.

The Englishman had just replaced Connolly when he chased a long ball down the left and chipped Gallacher from 30 yards for a tremendous goal.

The visitors began to dominate and in the 71st minute they had the chance to take the lead when Sylla was fouled in the box by Jason De Vos.

The referee McDonald had no hesitation in pointing to the spot but Parker's shot was brilliantly saved by Gallacher.

There was close calls at both ends but no more goals with a draw probably a fair result on a day when all players deserved credit.