Chances fell to both teams during a largely drab Tayside derby that only briefly flickered to life during a second-half that fell short on entertainment but was still a huge improvement on a dismal first 45 minutes.
Houston said: "I feel sorry for the punters because they pay good money but I don't blame the teams or the managers. You're out there trying to get as many points as you can to get into the top six."
An excellent 20th-minute save from Saints keeper Peter Enckelman from a bundled Johnny Russell effort was the only action of note prior to the interval.
But two Murray Davidson volleys came close to giving the Perth hosts the breakthrough in the second half and United striker David Goodwillie again brought out a superb save from Enckelman before the visitors passed up opportunities to win all three points in injury-time.
However, Houston believes Saints' pitch, which has suffered a spate of call-offs during the wet and wintry weather, led to both teams altering their approach in an effort to avoid making a crucial mistake.
He said: "The biggest thing for both teams was not losing and there was a wee fear of losing. Both teams try to get the ball down and pass it but it could have caused a bobble that set somebody up and I think there was a fear of losing the game in your own half.
"And I felt both teams played too many long balls, and neither team normally tries to play like that.
"But I was telling my players to turn them in behind and try and get mistakes from their centre-backs and that's what St Johnstone did as well.
"It wasn't rocket science that both managers thought a mistake could win or lose the game. I'd love to be playing decent football because United play decent football - and so do St Johnstone - but it couldn't have been that great for the punters."
Source: PA
Source: PA