Relegation rivals Dundee and St Johnstone had to settle for a share of the spoils in a close 1-1 draw at Dens Park.
Makenzie Kirk opened the scoring for Saints with Simon Murray responding for the home side before the break.
The hosts came closest to finding a winner in the second half with Scott Tiffoney hitting the woodwork.
The result leaves Saints still bottom of the Premiership table with Dundee three points ahead in 11th.
The hosts made three changes to the team that lost to Motherwell at Fir Park in midweek with goalkeeper Trevor Carson replacing Jon McCracken between the sticks, Cesar Garza coming in for Tiffoney and club captain Joe Shaughnessy making his first start since suffering a serious knee injury in April last year at the expense of Ryan Astley.
The visitors made one tweak to the side that beat Ross County in midweek with Barry Douglas being drafted in for Jonathan Svedberg.
Carson was called into action in the 23rd minute when he had to look lively to turn away a whipped-in corner from Stephen Duke-McKenna.
St Johnstone then created the best opportunity of the game so far when Drey Wright galloped down the left before cutting the ball back to Adama Sidibeh but the striker completely fluffed his lines and made a hash of the shot.
However, it was Saints who finally broke the deadlock in the 40th minute. A well-worked move was finished off with Sam Curtis delivering an inch-perfect cross towards Kirk who sent a looping header into the net.
That lead only lasted three minutes with Dundee producing a quickfire equaliser. A long Aaron Donnelly throw from the left was flicked on by Shaughnessy with Murray lurking at the back post to nod home from close range past Saints keeper Andy Fisher for his 17th goal of the season.
After that scoring burst, normal service was resumed after the break with a lack of goalmouth action.
Dundee finally had a great chance to take the lead when Fisher picked up a back pass. An indirect free-kick was awarded 10 yards out with Lyall Cameron playing the ball back to Murray but his shot was blocked.
The Dark Blues came agonisingly close to going in front in the 83rd minute when Tiffoney hit a great curling shot but it cannoned off the post.
Deep in stoppage-time, Fisher came to the rescue for Saints, tipping a Cameron shot over his crossbar to ensure the game ended even.
What the managers said…
Dundee boss Tony Docherty: “Bittersweet and mixed emotions – my overriding feeling was we did enough in the second half to win.
“Once the dust settles I have to be happy but the biggest positive was my captain was back and we looked more secure with Joe and Trevor Carson and Jordan McGhee.
“That’s something which has been lacking this season and that’s really pleasing.
“Joe was struggling. He was cramping up in the 76th minute but he got through the game and showed his character.”
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari: “I think it was a fair result. We played some good stuff, Dundee played some good stuff and both teams had their moments.
“It has been very well documented our problem has been these matches when we can’t win we’ve lost but we’ve got a very strong point so I’m pleased with that.
“I told the boys not to let their heads drop at half-time because it was a good first half.
“There are still a lot of games to go. We have our own targets. Everyone can see what our players are trying to do.
“They are very much in this fight and we always talk about having to stay in the fight and within touching distance to give us a chance. We have given ourselves a chance to compete and that was the first thing. Now it’s up to us. We need to make this final push.
“They put their heads in dangerous places and it was a huge effort. We needed the support from the fans after this hard week. They pushed us.”
