Cameron equaliser earns a point for Dundee United at St Johnstone

Report as Lyall Cameron scores the equaliser to earn a point for Dundee United after a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone; Josh Fowler had put the hosts in front in the first half

Lyall Cameron's 79th-minute strike earned Dundee United a deserved 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.

United trailed at half-time to a Josh Fowler goal, the striker's sixth of the Scottish Premiership campaign.

The league's top scorer did not make it out for the second half due to illness and Simo Valakari's side were unable to repeat the trick of last Sunday in Aberdeen when they successfully defended a 1-0 lead.

Jim Goodwin simply had too many creative and attacking options to throw at their hosts.

Despite a decent defensive stand from the hosts, Cameron struck the second goal of his impressive loan spell from Rangers.

The clubs are locked on 12 points in the top half of the table after encouraging starts to the campaign.

The visitors had been dominant for the opening 20 minutes, cutting through Saints at will. Cheick Diabate, on return from suspension, helped them out with jittery early moments.

Jesse Randall was a danger down United's favoured right flank and Dan Finlayson spared Diabate by charging down the winger's netbound shot. Idjessi Metsoko met a Joshua Rawlins cross six yards out but headed weakly into Toby Steward's arms.

On the opposite flank, Michael Forbes sent Daniel Bennie darting down the inside left channel. Diabate's swiped clearance off the QPR loanee's low delivery came within inches of his own net.

Saints settled thereafter and forced Jack Walton into action on 17 minutes. Sam Stanton's shot on the spin was forced away by the United keeper at full stretch.

United lost track of Fowler as Enes Alic's teasing cross from the left hit the six-yard box. This was perfect preying territory for an on-form scorer and Fowler pounced to prod home.

United failed to recapture their early momentum. Saints keeper Steward coped comfortably in the 40th minute with Dylan Tait's long-range effort.

Ruari Paton came on for Fowler at the break and teed up Taylor Steven. The Scotland Under-21 cap was wayward with his effort.