Dundee drew a blank on a frustrating afternoon against Inverness at Dens.
A point apiece was a fair result with neither side doing enough to take all three points.
All attention now turns to Friday night’s derby with United and Dundee will know they have to create much more in front of goal if they hope to win the bragging rights at Tannadice.
Dark Blues boss James McPake made two changes from the team that started against Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup on Sunday with Jamie Ness missing because of illness to be replaced by Paul McGowan who also took over as skipper.
Josh Todd dropped to the bench with a fit-again Kane Hemmings starting up front alongside Danny Johnson.
Josh McPake, who joined the Dark Blues on loan from Rangers on Monday, was also named as a substitute.
Inverness manager John Robertson included former Dundee midfielder James Vincent in his starting line-up.
The home side started well but it was the Highland outfit who had the first big chance of the afternoon in the ninth minute when Aaron Doran hit a curling 25-yard strike which Dundee goalie Jack Hamilton kept out with a diving save low to his left.
Inverness keeper Mark Ridgers was tested in the 17th minute when he did well to save a Danny Johnson snap shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Just after the half-hour mark, McGowan tried his luck with a long-range effort but his shot flew over Ridgers’ bar.
The keeper then had to look lively to tip over a Declan McDaid free-kick before Hemmings had a chance just before half-time when he was played in by Shaun Byrne but the striker dragged his shot wide.
There was little for the fans of either side to get excited about in the early stages of the second half with chances notable by their absence.
Indeed, it wasn’t until the 59th minute that there was an opportunity worthy of note when ICT striker Miles Storey had a clear shot at goal but he pulled his strike wide.
Fifteen minutes after that, Ridgers had to make a smart save from a Jordon Forster header.
Dundee’s best chance of the half finally arrived in the 83rd minute when McDaid swung a free-kick in from the right with Hemmings rising highest but the striker directed his header just over.
Inverness then had an opportunity of their own at a corner but Jamie McCart sent his header marginally wide while sub Nikolay Todorov headed over in stoppage time.
