Dundee United defender Andy Robertson claimed referee Willie Collum was wrong to award the penalty that let Aberdeen back into the game at Tannadice.
Robertson was ruled to have handled the ball inside the box and up stepped former United captain Barry Robson to level for the Dons from the spot after John Souttar had given the home side the lead.
The visitors then grabbed a dramatic victory in the final minute through Peter Pawlett to make it a terrible day for the Tangerines.
Robertson felt the spotkick should not have been given, though, saying: “The ball came in and their striker touched it. It hit off him and as I came in from two yards away it hit me on the chest.
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“I think it must have gone on to my arm but it (the arm) was down the side.
“The ref didn’t hesitate to give it but personally I don’t think it was penalty.
“We have to deal with it, though, don’t we?”
The loss was the third successive defeat for Jackie McNamara’s men after a winning run when they were sweeping teams aside.
Robertson added: “We never played the way we can play that’s it really. We never settled and never really got the ball down.
“Looking back on it, we maybe didn’t deserve anything but dodgy decisions cost us again.
“We also gave them too many free-kicks today. That is a dangerous thing to do against a team that likes to put the ball into the box and has big boys looking to win headers.
“At the second goal, one of our lads (Brian Graham) tried to clear it and it was an unbelievable save from Rado (Cierzniak) to keep it out but we didn’t follow it up.
“It’s now three defeats and we have not played our best while having decisions go against us. Our luck might come one day.
“We have to move on from this, look forward to the Hibs game on Sunday and try to pick up the points at home.”
Manager McNamara, who now has to lift his players for the visit of the Easter Road side, was philosophical about the penalty decision.
He said: “I spoke to Andrew and he thinks the ball hit him on the chest but the referee made the decision quickly.
“Sometimes they go for you and other times they don’t.”
As for Pawlett’s last-gasp winner, he added: “We’re disappointed because it was a frustrating way to finish the match.
“There wasn’t much quality in the game, it was a lot of free-kicks and stop start all the time.
“I thought it would be someone’s mistake who would decide the game.
“We handled most of the pressure Aberdeen put on us but it was a poor game.”
Pawlett, meanwhile, was delighted to be the hero and made reference to United’s decision to make eight changes for their previous game.
“United rested a few players against St Johnstone and it was as though they treated this as the big game for them,” said Pawlett.
“Maybe they didn’t show enough respect to St Johnstone.
“I think over the 90 minutes we looked the stronger, fitter team so maybe it was a mistake by them.
“We have capitalised on it so that’s all right.”