Dundee United and Kilmarnock shared a goal apiece within a minute and had to settle for a point each after an exciting tussle at Tannadice.
Conor Sammon drilled the ball home to break the deadlock on 22 minutes after a Mehdi Taouil through ball.
But Johnny Russell was quickest to respond to Prince Buaben's clever pass and equalised within 60 seconds.
Sammon and Alexei Eremenko went close for Killie after the break, while Jon Daly missed a late chance for United.
But, although it was the second game in a row that they have failed to win at home, the draw leaves United a point ahead of Kilmarnock in sixth place in the Scottish Premier League.
Russell had taken Danny Cadamarteri's place up front, with Barry Douglas in midfield instead of David Robertson, as United manager Peter Houston responded to the surprise midweek home defeat by St Mirren.
Sammon put Kilmarnock in the lead at Tannadice
And, as United exerted the early pressure, the young striker and Garry Kenneth both might have done better with headers that failed to find the target.
Kilmarnock were unchanged after three consecutive 3-0 victories and defender Frazer Wright, who had survived a late fitness test, bulleted home a header from a corner after 15 minutes only for the goal to be disallowed for a foul by Sammon.
United were dominating possession, but it was the visitors who took the lead when Taouil turned away from his marker and set up Sammon for a fine finish.
However, the lead lasted less than a minute, Buaben setting up Russell to score.
Sammon and Eremenko forced a couple of fine saves from Dusan Pernis, the latter Kilmarnock man's lovely free-kick being touched on to the post by the goalkeeper's outstretched hand.
David Goodwillie had a header deflected wide at the other end as United were forced to introduce 18-year-old Stuart Armstrong into midfield in place of the injured Scott Robertson.
Goodwillie sent another effort just over the crossbar as an exciting first half drew to a close and the latest addition to the Scotland squad became ever more influential.
Eremenko was the Kilmarnock player in the spotlight at the start of the second half, being booked for simulation following a challenge by Kenneth then firing an effort into the side-netting.
Russell fired wide and Bell was forced to tip a long-range drive from Goodwillie over the crossbar as United responded.
Kilmarnock remained dangerous on the break and United were relieved to see an Eremenko drive squirm just wide after taking a deflection and, from the corner, Manuel Pascali headed wide.
Both sides pressed for a late winner, but a Daly effort was well saved by Killie's Cammy Bell and another good chance squandered by the striker was the closest either side came as the match ended all square.
90:00+2:08 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+1:28 Jon Daly produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
89:25 Jon Daly takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
88:04 Substitution Jon Daly on for Barry Douglas.
88:04 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Alexei Eremenko, clearance by Barry Douglas.
86:04 Frazer Wright fouled by David Goodwillie, the ref awards a free kick. Manuel Pascali takes the indirect free kick.
84:49 Inswinging corner taken by Barry Douglas from the right by-line, clearance made by Manuel Pascali.
81:05 Substitution David Silva comes on in place of Mehdi Taouil.
78:06 Substitution Stuart Armstrong goes off and Daniel Swanson comes on.
Correction - 74:26 Corner taken by Alexei Eremenko, Manuel Pascali has a headed effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
74:26 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Alexei Eremenko.
71:26 Inswinging corner taken by Barry Douglas from the right by-line, Headed effort on goal by Garry Kenneth from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the goal.
70:43 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Douglas, Frazer Wright makes a clearance.
69:18 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Alexei Eremenko, Sean Dillon makes a clearance.
62:16 Booking Prince Buaben is shown a yellow card.
61:40 David Goodwillie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Mohamadou Sissoko. Cameron Bell takes the free kick.
59:43 Corner taken by Barry Douglas.
58:57 Corner taken right-footed by Barry Douglas from the right by-line, clearance by Conor Sammon.
57:31 Outswinging corner taken by Alexei Eremenko, Sean Dillon manages to make a clearance.
56:11 Johnny Russell takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
50:01 Alexei Eremenko produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
49:01 Booking Alexei Eremenko goes into the referee's book.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+0:57 The first half comes to an end.
45:00+0:22 Unfair challenge on Morgaro Gomis by Liam Kelly results in a free kick. Barry Douglas restarts play with the free kick.
44:33 Effort on goal by David Goodwillie from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.
40:48 Unfair challenge on Jamie Hamill by Barry Douglas results in a free kick. Cameron Bell restarts play with the free kick.
39:04 Booking The referee shows Manuel Pascali a yellow card for dissent.
37:18 Inswinging corner taken by Mehdi Taouil from the left by-line.
31:59 Corner taken left-footed by Barry Douglas, Manuel Pascali makes a clearance.
28:04 Save by Cameron Bell.
28:04 Substitution Stuart Armstrong joins the action as a substitute, replacing Scott Robertson.
28:04 Shot comes in from Alexei Eremenko from the free kick,
28:04 Booking Garry Kenneth goes into the book for dissent.
27:41 Unfair challenge on Craig Bryson by Garry Kenneth results in a free kick.
26:14 Conor Sammon takes a shot. Save made by Dusan Pernis.
22:52 The assist for the goal came from David Goodwillie.
22:52 GOAL - Johnny Russell:Dundee Utd 1 - 1 Kilmarnock Johnny Russell grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 1-1 Kilmarnock.
21:26 Mehdi Taouil provided the assist for the goal.
21:26 GOAL - Conor Sammon:Dundee Utd 0 - 1 Kilmarnock Conor Sammon scores a goal from just inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 0-1 Kilmarnock.
15:40 Corner taken left-footed by Barry Douglas, clearance made by Craig Bryson.
13:47 Inswinging corner taken by Alexei Eremenko.
13:21 Corner taken right-footed by Alexei Eremenko from the left by-line, clearance by Garry Kenneth.
8:12 Mohamadou Sissoko concedes a free kick for a foul on David Goodwillie. Indirect free kick taken by Barry Douglas.
7:00 Booking Jamie Hamill receives a yellow card for dissent.
3:14 Inswinging corner taken by Barry Douglas. Corner taken by Barry Douglas from the right by-line, clearance made by Craig Bryson.
0:00 The match gets underway.
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