Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon called it: “The one that got away.”
That may seem a strange assessment considering his side had to come from behind to salvage a point against Dumbarton but on balance of chances created, it is an understandable one.
The Tangerines, though, were wasteful in front of goal especially early on and they were left ruing that profligacy when the Sons firstly equalised and then took the lead.
United did ultimately draw the game but there was no getting away from the fact that they had passed up a gilt-edged opportunity to move into second in the table at Falkirk’s expense.
No matter what United do at Morton next week, Peter Houston’s Bairns will secure that spot if they beat – irony of ironies – Dumbarton.
If that happens, then McKinnon’s men face a far harder route through the play-off minefield. However, it is vital that no matter where they ultimately finish, they have to take some momentum into the promotion games and they simply cannot afford to be so wasteful in front of goal again.
On-loan Raith striker Lewis Vaughan certainly showed how it should be done with his smart finish for Dumbarton on Saturday.
It is difficult not to feel sorry for the youngster who has been put in an impossible situation by his parent club.
When the dust finally settles on this season, Rovers need to look into how they came to the frankly astonishing decision to loan a striker out to another Championship club who were sitting just four points behind them at the time.