Dundee United 0 Dunfermline Athletic 0
NOT even Channel 5 would have come up with this script.
Unmasking the hero before the action even starts? Well it was in-keeping with the lack of drama at Tannadice but still Sam Fisher played his part in a fine comeback story.
Down and out of the side after a nasty facial injury and concussion - his second in a short space of time - against Raith at New Year, he returned to deliver a five-star performance at the heart of the defence.
Despite suffering the type of head knocks you'd more associate with getting thumped in the boxing ring, Fisher didn't wear the protective mask on offer - he said he could hardly see out of it - and excelled in a new look back three as United struggled to land a blow.
The supporting cast wasn't bad either with a stunning late save from Deniz Mehmet and a flying clearance from Josh Edwards ensuring they left Tannadice with something.
The match wasn't a thriller but Fisher, the ex-Dundee stopper, would have relished the chance to infuriate his old city rivals.
Back on the line to head away danger one minute, the next he was up the other end and almost netting with a ferocious half volley, he helped slam the back door shut in the face of the league leaders.
Pars boss James McPake said: "He was advised to wear the mask but it wasn’t comfortable. He spoke to the surgeon and he said it was OK not to wear it.
READ MORE: Glove affair as Deniz secures battling draw for Pars
"I know his character, I’ve worked with him for long enough that you know exactly what you’re going to get from him. Being the centre one (in the defence) he had to lead that back three today and I thought he was excellent.”
Just over three weeks had passed since the last match, that 2-1 loss at Hampden, with back-to-back weather postponements at East End perhaps leaving the team a little rusty and they started slowly.
Pars were forced back but for all the possession and territory they enjoyed, Jim Goodwin's title chasers didn't do an awful lot with it.
McPake said: "They put us under a fair bit of pressure but that back three, Malachi (Fagan-Walcott), that's his first game, Sam Fisher and Ewan Otoo, they're all young kids, still learning the game and developing as defenders.
"I thought they were excellent throughout. Everyone in the team put in a really good shift, worked really hard together and we had some decent moments in the game as well, not as much as we'd have liked, but we limited them."
Mehmet's stunning late save, sub Archie Meekison's curling effort looked destined for the top corner until the former United keeper clawed the ball away with a big left hand, was his only meaningful stop of the day and it came in the 92nd minute.
Much of that was down to the trio in front of him with Fisher flanked by debutant Fagan-Walcott on his right and the excellent Otoo, shifted from midfield into defence, on his left.
United huffed and puffed, there was a routine stop for Mehmet from a Craig Sibbald effort and a moment of anxiety when Fisher - who else - threw himself in front of Kevin Holt's drive and the ball looped high in the air before dropping just over the bar.
The Athletic boss added: "Deniz has a great save in injury-time which is a big moment for us.
"It’s what you expect from Den but it is a fantastic save and that helps us get away with a point.
"We had a couple of chances at the other end, but in terms of clear-cut chances there wasn’t an awful lot in that game for either team.”
Dunfermline arguably had the better chances with Jack Walton getting down low to prevent Fisher's drive, just before half-time, arrowing into the bottom corner and the goalie turned sub Craig Wighton's close range effort onto the post just after the hour.
Lewis McCann's early shot cannoned back off Ross Graham and the ball smacked the luckless striker, just back from injury himself, full in the face.
He returned to the fray with what looked like two bits of Kleenex shoved up his nose to stem the blood.
Chris Hamilton and Ben Summers also tried their luck, only to have their efforts blocked, charged down or fly over the top, with clear-cut chances at a premium.
The boss said: "We had wee moments in the game and I don’t think they cut us open.
"Den has that great save and Josh Edwards, I don’t know what happens at the end.
"I’ll need to see it back but we got away with that one. Apart from that there was nothing to say that we didn’t deserve to get something out of this game."
They almost didn't.
In a frantic finish, Glenn Middleton and Scott McMann fired narrowly over, Mehmet superbly denied Meekison and Edwards somehow hooked the ball off his own line, and against Louis Moult, to win a goal kick in the dying embers.
It's now six matches without a win for Dunfermline but the standing ovation from the travelling fans - and the pelters the home support gave United's players at time-up - told you who valued the point more.
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