Derek McInnes cursed Aberdeen’s wasteful finishing - and ref Alan Muir’s dodgy decision making - after his dominant Dons left Tannadice with just a point.
The Pittodrie boss was left frustrated after failing to capitalise on third-placed Hibs’ draw at Ross County as his side passed up a host of chances.
And he was left exasperated by Muir’s decision to wave away frantic appeals for a spot kick after Lawrence Shankland looked to have handle Ross McCrorie’s effort on goal midway through the first half.
McInnes said: A lot of the performance was good.
“We asked the players to go out, start quick and grab the game by the scruff of the neck and I thought we did that.
“But we were guilty of not taking care of that final pass, we were wasteful with chances and we’ve got to look at ourselves for that.
“When we come as the away team have 18 shots, 11 corners, umpteen free kicks… we’re looking for more from that.
“It wasn’t for the want of trying. But like every team we’re looking for the right decisions at the right time and there were a couple of penalty kick claims – one in particular where wee Lawrence handballs it.
“Having seen it again, it’s a penalty kick every day of the week and we should be getting that.
"We still had the second half to do something about it and unfortunately, when they defend their box as deep as they were, we were looking for more of a penalty box striker.
"Maybe a Cosgrove type would have been ideal for that.
"I thought we were guilty of maybe over-egging it rather than taking more shots, getting more crosses in the box and making their keeper work a bit more.”
In the end Aberdeen had keeper Joe Lewis to thank for even leaving Tayside with a point after the big keeper denied Logan Chalmers in a one-on-one in the final 10 minutes with the game stretched.
He said: “I’m grateful for big Joe, I have to say that for balance because United could have done us on the counter attack with that one chance which would have been an absolute travesty given how much we dominated the game.
"That's why we have Joe Lewis there - to make those saves. That was worth a point to us in the end.
"I think we'll play a lot worse this season -especially away from home - and win games.”
Dons defender Ash Taylor is in no doubt it was a penalty - and claims even Shankland admitted so.
“It’s handball,” he said. “Even Lawrence shortly after it said it’s touched his hand.
“He has basically saved it.
“We are all frustrated because we know the performance was good but we just didn’t do the final bit. On the positive it’s a point and a clean sheet.”
