Ex-Dundee United striker Robbie Muirhead came back to haunt his former club as Morton claimed a 1-1 draw following a tempestuous showdown at Tannadice.
Louis Moult opened the scoring in the first period, only for Muirhead to take advantage of an uncharacteristic mix-up between Declan Gallagher and Jack Walton to restore parity.
United played the final 27 minutes with 10 men after Mathew Cudjoe was dismissed for violent conduct.
While Jim Goodwin’s men remain unbeaten in the league this term, the share of the spoils allowed Raith Rovers to take top spot in the Championship following their dramatic win over Inverness.
Man of the moment Moult
Following an instantly forgettable opening 15 minutes, Morton almost claimed a shock lead with the first moment of quality in the contest. Steven Boyd collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and saw his shaped curling drive rattle Walton’s post.
And United broke the deadlock mere minutes after that scare.
Declan Glass produced a wonderful delivery into the box, allowing Moult to glance home his fifth goal of the season; an excellent effort in its simplicity and execution.
Only Lawrence Shankland and Johnny Russell have hit the 20-goal mark in a single season for United in the last decade. Clinical Moult looks an increasingly good bet to reach that target.
Morton players howled for a penalty at the start of the second half when Lewis McGrattan hit the deck under a challenge from Kevin Holt. Referee David Munro waved away the claims but bizarrely did not caution the player for simulation.
McGrattan, notably, didn’t complain.
A superb last-ditch tackle was required to thwart Glenn Middleton after a raking Gallagher pass had sent the winger haring through on goal.
Turning point
United, boasting three successive clean sheets prior to this fixture, conceded the leveller in farcical fashion.
Gallagher attempted to nod a long ball back to Walton but only succeeded in heading it past his keeper — a total breakdown in communication — and Muirhead tapped into an empty net.
And a nightmare three-minute spell then saw the hosts reduced to 10 men after Cudjoe was deemed to have lashed out at Calum Waters, prompting ref Munro to flash a red card on the advice of his assistant, Ross MacLeod.
Mr Munro succeeded in irking United fans and players alike with scattergun decision-making and his fairly loose grip on a game that became increasingly ragged and bruising.
He would leave the pitch to a cacophony of jeers at full-time.
Before then, however, United came closest to bagging all three points when Moult’s towering header from a Middleton delivery struck the outside of the post. The same man forced a late, point-blank save from Ryan Mullen.
Star man: Louis Moult (Dundee United)
Moult’s opening goal was clinical, and the former Motherwell man can consider himself unlucky not to have notched a late winner.
He also provided an excellent focal point for the Tangerines throughout.
He diligently stuck to his task when it became a more isolated, thankless one in the aftermath of Cudjoe’s dismissal.
Dundee United player ratings
Dundee United (4-2-3-1): Walton 6; Grimshaw 6 (Meekison 83), Gallagher 6, Holt 7, McMann 6; Tillson 6, Glass 6 (Sibbald 68); Cudjoe 5, Watt 5 (Fotheringham 68), Middleton 6; Moult 7.
Subs not used: Newman, Denham, Graham, Freeman, Mochrie, Stirton.
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