Dundee United keeper Harry Lewis insists his side need to be more clinical – in attack and defence.
The Tangerines were left to rue two dropped points against bottom side Brechin at the Glebe on Saturday.
The visitors were well on top in the first half but Brechin were a side transformed in the second 45 with a draw ultimately a fair result.
However, it did not take the detective powers of Sherlock Holmes to deduce which was the happier camp at the final whistle, with United’s lead at the top of the Championship now reduced to just one point following St Mirren’s victory at Inverness while the part-time Angus outfit were simply delighted to have upset all the odds.
Lewis, who made a few vital saves during the game including one in stoppage time, said: “We salvaged a draw in the end really which is very disappointing as we have come here and the way we started we should have been three or 4-0 up at half-time.
“We were unlucky but we just didn’t put the ball in the net. That’s what we are here to do – put the ball in the net at one end and keep it out at the other.
“The finishing wasn’t good enough. I think we can say we weren’t clinical enough in both boxes.
“We went in at half-time and the manager said we do not concede second half. Worst-case scenario, we win the game 1-0.
“But then the first corner comes in and it is a free header which is obviously disappointing that as a team we didn’t defend that set-piece better.
“We have been quite good at defending set-pieces lately.
“They had chances to win as did we but we see that more as two points dropped, definitely.”
The afternoon had begun brightly for United who clicked into gear quickly.
It was very much one-way traffic with Darren Dods’ Brechin struggling to get out of their own half against the dominant visitors.
It was no surprise when home resistance was finally broken in the 29th minute.
Billy King broke into the Brechin box before hitting a cut-back that took a touch off Sam Stanton then made its way towards Scott McDonald who made no mistake with a close-range finish past Brechin keeper Graeme Smith to give United a well-deserved lead.
However, the home side came storming back into the game just two minutes after the restart.
Liam Watt swung a corner in from the right with Sean Crighton rising highest to send a downward header past the helpless Lewis.
Brechin had an incredible let-off in the 81st minute when Jamie Robson produced a wicked cross from the left towards McDonald who looked certain to score from close range but the striker scooped his effort over the bar.
City then had an opportunity of their own when Isaac Layne played a great ball to Finn Graham who advanced on goal before unleashing a fierce effort that Lewis did well to keep out.
United were then reduced to 10 men in the 91st minute when skipper Tam Scobbie, who had been booked earlier, was shown a second yellow card after pulling back sub Connor McLennan as he raced through.
Jordan Sinclair was brought on to take the resultant 25-yard free-kick with Lewis having to dive low to his right to deny him and ensure the game finished all square.
Brechin goal hero Crighton admitted that his side’s game-plan had worked out almost to perfection.
The 27-year-old, who is a SFA coach in the Holyrood performance school, said: “To be fair, wee Bails (assistant boss Lee Bailey), said at half-time, ‘Let’s turn this into a cup tie’.
“Sometimes you have to do that. We are part-time, we are playing in a really tough league.
“I don’t think we are that far away so it is great to get a point and we could have won it at the end.
“That was my first goal for the club so I am absolutely delighted.
“I have had a few over the last couple of years and when I signed the club were looking for me to be a threat at set plays.
“So it is great to get my first goal for the club but more importantly, the point is what I care about most.
“First half, I thought we got our tactics spot on. We just let them play in front of us a wee bit.
“But you have to stay constantly switched on as they are always moving.
“Second half, they didn’t do what they did in the first 45 as I think we pressed them higher up the pitch and playing down the hill helped us a bit.
“We got our tactics spot on so fair play to the gaffer and the assistant manager as that was what they told us to do and it paid off.”
