Killie just cannot find the killer ball

Kilmarnock 0 Dundee United 0

Like the first tie on Saturday, the second Tennents Scottish Cup semi- final last night failed to produce a winner. While Celtic had dominated against Falkirk, though, this was a much closer affair.

Despite great spirit shown by both sides and enthusiastic backing from the stands, few chances were created as the occasion overshadowed the game.

The best effort of the match came as late as the 82nd minute, when Sieb Dijkstra dived to his left to push on to a post a shot from Kevin McGowne. A draw, however, was a fair result - the replay is a week tonight at the same Edinburgh venue.

Tommy McLean, the United manager, was not happy, however. "The supporters were short-changed tonight," he said. "It was too tense and tight. The three front players did not cause a threat at any time.

"It's all right talking about conditions, but you've got to attempt to play if you are going to get anything out of it," McLean added. "I don't think we did enough playing tonight."

Perhaps it was the ratification of Bobby Williamson as their manager before the tie, or the knowledge that they have not played in a Scottish Cup final since 1960. Whatever the inspiration the Kilmarnock players took with them on to the Easter Road pitch, it was enough to enable them to dominate the first half. Their build-up play was precise, their confidence high enough to see on one occasion a series of passes from deep within their own penalty area as they cleared their lines without panic.

This competition has obviously brought out the best in Kilmarnock, who are still not assured of their place in the Premier Division next season. They created the game's first opportunity when a Colin McKee cross picked out Jim McIntyre, whose header was pushed over the bar by Dijkstra.

United's pace on the break remained a danger, and four minutes from the interval they should have taken the lead when a long ball picked out Kjell Olafsson, who steadied himself but saw his shot come off the foot of Dragoje Lekovic.

That chance injected some spirit into United that had hitherto been missing and, playing down the famous Easter Road slope in the second half, they looked more prepared for the challenge. However, the obvious enthusiasm which was demonstrated by both sides did little to create openings.

Kilmarnock did come close in the 65th minute when David Bagen sent over a cross from the right which eluded Dijkstra, and the ball bounced on top of the bar and then to safety.

The result gives the Scottish League a headache, though, with Premier Division fixtures between Dundee United and Rangers, and Celtic and Kilmarnock, now having to be rearranged in a hectic end to the season.

Kilmarnock (4-4-2): Lekovic; MacPherson, McGowne, Montgomerie, Kerr; Bagen, Henry, Reilly, McKee (Brown, 82); Wright, McIntyre. Substitutes not used: Findlay, Hamilton.

Dundee United (4-4-2): Dijkstra; Pedersen, Perry, Malpas, McKimmie; McLaren (McKinnon, 70), Duffy, Dolan, Zetterlund; Winters (McSwegan, 82), Olafsson. Substitute not used: Bowman.

Referee: J McCluskey (Stewarton).

Iain Munro was yesterday sacked as the manager of the Scottish Premier Division's bottom club, Raith Rovers. His assistant Jimmy Nicholl, a former manager of the Kirkcaldy side, refused an offer to take over and also left the club. The coaches Steve Kirk and Miodrag Krivokapic will take charge for the last three games of the season.