Paul Watson’s third headed goal in two games wasn’t enough to give Dundee United victory over Alloa.
Watson, who had scored twice in the previous weekend’s win over Partick Thistle, rose to nod home a Fraser Aird corner on 71 minutes to seemingly set the Tangerines up for what would have been their third league success in a row.
However, on a day when they didn’t play well, they had to watch Iain Flannigan’s superb freekick hit the net on 82 minutes to secure a deserved 1-1 draw for the hosts.
The Tangerines almost shot themselves in the foot on just three minutes when a poor header back to goal by Frederic Frans let in Dario Zanatta, whose chip was plucked out of the air by keeper Matej Rakovan.
The rest of the first half was as miserable for United, who just couldn’t get out of first gear.
They started the second period much more brightly but the malaise had set in again by the time they scored against the run of play.
Aird lived up to his pre-match promise of posing a threat from setpieces by delivering a corner that was nodded home by Watson from five yards.
They had the ball in the net just a couple of minutes later but it was a controversial offside decision that robbed Yannick Loemba of what looked like a legitimate goal.
Flannigan then rattled the Tangerines’ bar with a freekick as Alloa tried to drag themselves level.
The same player did manage to equalise eight minutes from time with a fabulous freekick that gave Rakovan no chance. United were guilty of inviting the goal, with the foul conceded by Stewart Murdoch just one of several in dangerous areas.
Had United left the stadium with the three points that would have been harsh on the Wasps but this was still a massive missed opportunity for the Tangerines, who slowed their own momentum thanks to a sluggish and sloppy display.
