Aberdeen, Dundee and Rangers disappointed with draws Brown continued: "The guys coming back from injury have strengthened our team. They've been out for a long time and we've been limping along without them. We lost Russell Anderson with a training injury yesterday, and Andrew Considine to a broken leg a couple of weeks ago. Chris Clark similarly - he's had an operation. We've still five players out but without them, I feel that the team is playing well enough. Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon implored his team to start games in a better manner after their slack opening could have cost them the game. "We didn't play well today, but we picked up a point and a clean sheet which is the real positive, but Aberdeen were the better side," he said. We need to make sure we start games better, but we've said that the last few weeks. When you're under the cosh like that, you maybe do feel like it's a matter of time, but the penalty save maybe gives us a bit of heart. They were sharper than us, and had better movement than us at times. They've got a lot of pace in the wide areas, but we defended well, the goalkeeper did well for us and I thought the two central midfielders worked tremendously hard. We didn't create enough going forward, though. Hibs' on-loan Manchester City defender Ryan McGivern was substituted at half-time, and Fenlon confirmed that change came about due to injury. "Ryan felt his hamstring tighten up," he said. He could probably have played on, but with the run of games coming up it wasn't worth the risk. Dundee boss Barry Smith insists his team should have been handed a first-half penalty as they were held to a goalless draw by Kilmarnock at Dens Park. The Premier League stalemate was a drab affair which the home side just about shaded. They had chances to win it as a Jim McAlister strike was ruled out after it deflected off team-mate John Baird while he was offside. Baird nearly made amends, however, with a rasping volley midway into the second half which rattled the post. But it was a tug in the box on the same player after 35 minutes by Killie full-back Ross Barbour which irritated Smith. Referee John Beaton ruled it was an accidental clash, but the Dens boss argued differently. Smith said: "I think it is a definite penalty. Baird's been held back in the area. Anywhere else on the park, it's a foul. So why in the box? I thought we did enough to win. We hit the post, had another cleared off the line. We're happy with the performance but just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. I'm delighted for the defence, as they have a hard time but have managed to get a clean sheet. Now it's about building on that and sticking the ball away. Smith has moved to bring in Gary Harkins for a second spell with the Dark Blues, but a gentleman's agreement saw him sit out today's game with his old employers Killie. Kilmarnock assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl took over dug-out duties while manager Kenny Shiels sat out the first of his four-game ban for comments made about fourth official Andrew Dallas. But while he was not there on the sidelines, Nicholl insists the players must continue to play to the standard set by the boss. He said: "It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. But then a clean sheet and a point away from home is something to build on. The manager's standards are so high when it comes to passing. He wants us to get the Spanish lad Borja Perez on the ball for us to create things for Paul Heffernan. He wants that happening all the time but it can be a fine line. It doesn't happen all the time. They have always got to try and reach those standards. We're not asking them to do anything they can't do. They are capable of producing this standard of football. But the opposition are out there trying to stop you from doing it, so you have to give them credit as well. Shiels was handed his touchline ban after claiming Dallas - son of former World Cup referee Hugh - had 'fabricated' evidence after sending him to the stand during a game with St Johnstone in November. He launched his latest staunch defence of his position last night during a BBC Radio Scotland phone-in, and Nicholl has sympathy for his friend's plight. He said: "I have another three games without him there beside me. But he keeps in touch on the phone and makes all the changes he needs to make from up the stairs. It's frustrating for him. I heard his debate with (SFA referees chief) John McKendrick on the radio. He will always look to defend himself. I heard him say last night, which is true, this is all based on two games. It's grown arms and legs. David Templeton admits Rangers must quickly learn the lessons from Saturday's 1-1 draw against Montrose before they face Dundee United in the William Hill Scottish Cup. Rangers blew the chance to move 22 points clear at the top of the third division when they were hit by a late sucker punch at Ibrox. They now face one of their toughest games of the season when they travel to Tannadice next week for the fifth-round tie. Templeton said: "If we do get chances like we did in this game, we have to take them. Dundee United are a strong side and we can't give them any chances near the end of the game because they will punish us. They've got some very good players, such as Johnny Russell, and if we give him any chances, I'm pretty sure he will punish us. We will have to be a lot better defensively and make sure we cut out our mistakes. Controversy has surrounded the clash, after Rangers opted against taking their ticket allocation following calls for a boycott of the fixture by fans. But, despite the setback against Montrose, Templeton says the challenge is one the players are relishing as they seek to replicate their impressive Scottish Communities League Cup win over Motherwell earlier in the season. The winger added: "It's one all the boys are looking forward to. We will have to work hard this week and make sure we are ready for it. When Motherwell came here, it was one of the best performances we've had this season so hopefully we can step up and play better next week. The clash between Rangers and Montrose was the only Third Division fixture to survive the weather conditions. But the hosts' hopes of putting further daylight between themselves and the rest of the teams were shattered when a superb last-gasp strike from David Gray cancelled out John Crawford's own goal. Meanwhile Falkirk manager Steven Pressley has confirmed that he is due to hold talks with Dundee United about succeeding Peter Houston at the end of the season. "I'm fully focused here, that I can assure you," said Pressley. They are very keen to meet me and speak with me on the vacant position, but I've been concentrating on what was a big week for us and I'll do that again until anything changes. I've stressed loads of times my happiness here at this football club and that hasn't changed. I'm very happy here and enjoying my football and until anything changes that's how it will remain.