As the clock ticked into the 75th minute at Dens on Saturday, Dundee striker Marcus Haber had what was his side’s best opportunity of the afternoon.
After controlling the ball on his chest, he looked certain to score but instead blazed his shot wide of the target to the utter anguish of the vast majority of the fans in the stands.
The big Canadian striker candidly admits it was a chance he should have taken and in all likelihood, Ross County would have struggled to recover from a late hammer blow.
However, while ruing the one that got away, Haber still managed to find some positives with Dundee now unbeaten at home in their last three games.
He said: “I am disappointed as I would have fancied myself to score in that position.
“But keeping a clean sheet at home is pleasing and our home form has been good so we are looking to build on that for sure.
“I think we have turned the corner. We have found a way of playing that suits the players we have.
“We look harder to beat, especially at home. We have sorted things out but we still have lots to improve on.”
Dundee’s draw and results elsewhere mean there are still only four points separating Kilmarnock in sixth from Partick at the bottom of the table.
And Haber admitted he sees it being as tight until the end of the season.
He said: “Yes, I wouldn’t be surprised. I don’t think there is much between the teams in and around us.
“I think it is just about winning your home games, stay organised away from home and try to pick up points.
“You need consistency but I wouldn’t be shocked if it is like this for the majority of the season.”
The first chance of the game fell to the Staggies in the third minute. Chris Routis sent a corner in from the right with the ball falling perfectly for skipper Andrew Davies but his sharp shot flew straight into Dundee keeper’s Scott Bain’s arms.
The Dark Blues had a chance of their own shortly after but Craig Wighton’s low shot was easily saved by County keeper Scott Fox.
After that early flurry, the two sides struggled to fashion clear-cut opportunities with both goalies rarely called into action.
Just two minutes after the restart, the Staggies did have the ball in the back of the Dundee net courtesy of a Liam Boyce header but it was chalked off for a push on Kosta Gadzhalov.
Wighton went close in the 55th minute when he sent a dipping shot just inches wide of Fox’s right-hand post from 18 yards.
County had a great chance to break the deadlock in the 73rd minute but Routis dragged his shot wide when he should have at least hit the target.
The Staggies then had their incredible let-off at the other end when Haber passed up his glorious opportunity.
Bain subsequently had to produce an outstanding save to keep out an Alex Schalk diving bullet header.
However, neither side could find a way to end the stalemate and they had to settle for a point apiece.
Haber previously had a spell in Scotland with St Johnstone and he admitted a lot has changed in the top tier since.
He said: “I think the league then was not as tight.
“Everyone is in and around it this season whereas before it wasn’t as close.
“Now I think every team is capable of beating the other.
“So it is crucial that you stay consistent and find a way of playing that can help you pick up points.
“We have done all right recently.”
Ross County’s Michael Gardyne insisted his side deserved to take all three points from the game.
The former Dundee United player said: “We created a few chances that we should be scoring. And then their keeper made a great save from Alex Schalk.
“The second half we had the best chances. Dundee were good but I think we deserved to win the game.
“On another day we could have scored three or four.”
