It could have changed the direction of the derby but Dundee striker Steven Milne is determined not to dwell on his miss.
Milne squandered a golden chance to level against Dundee United in the first half of the city clash at Dens on Sunday and had to watch as the Tangerines eventually ran out 3-0 winners.
He conceded that the opportunity, which arrived on the half-hour mark, may have been a turning point in the game.
But the veteran frontman won’t let it get to him. Milne admitted: ”It was a good chance.
”It would have made it 1-1 and things could have worked out differently had it gone in.
”I should have been more clinical but I just couldn’t get my head over it enough it so it went over the bar unfortunately. But it is just one of these things that you have to deal with as a striker, as that’s your job.
”It is better that I was in the position to try to score in the first place and it won’t put me off.
”It is frustrating but I just have to forget about it now and try to hit the target the next time.
”I have been feeling good recently and if I keep getting the right sort of service I’m sure the goals will come.”
Dundee were enraged by referee Willie Collum’s decision not to hand them a penalty when John Baird’s cross struck United defender Brian McLean on the arm.
And they were further incensed as Jon Daly tucked away his decisive 71st-minute penalty, after play had been waved on by Collum following Gary Irvine’s foul on Stuart Armstrong inside the box.
Once again, though, Milne is keen to avoid thinking of what might have been.
He said: ”We all felt those two decisions went against us.
”The lads are still gutted from it but maybe we can use that injustice to help fire us up for our next game, against Ross County this weekend.
”We put a lot of effort into the derby but had nothing to show for it which is always hard to take.
”Hopefully, though, these decisions will even themselves out over the course of the season.
”We had picked things up in recent weeks so it’s just disappointing to lose the derby game.
”We were all really up for the occasion but we just have to move on and try and get things going again.
”I think we have proved that we can compete at this level but it’s a case of defending a bit better and being a bit more ruthless in front of goal.
”We know what we have to do to survive in the SPL and it’s up to us to go out there and do it.
”It’s never nice losing to your biggest rivals but the best thing we can do is get back to winning ways as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Dark Blues’ boss Barry Smith revealed he did, after all, have a word with Collum about those derby decisions.
Smith had stated during his post-match Press conference that he hadn’t spoken to the official, nor would he be.
However, that changed when the pair got together for a chat later.
It seems nothing was altered by the discussions.
”I was grateful to Willie for taking the time to speak to me,” said Smith.
”It doesn’t change my view of the two incidents. He has his opinion and I have mine.”