Dundee United’s recent winning run came to an end at the Glebe with bottom of the table Brechin producing a brave, battling performance to secure a share of the spoils.
The Tangerines opened the scoring in the first half through Scott McDonald but were stunned at the start of the second 45 when Brechin equalised thanks to Sean Crighton.
Home manager Darren Dods made two changes from the side that beat Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup last week with Isaac Layne and former United defender Euan Spark coming in for Gary Fusco and Jordan Sinclair, who both dropped to the bench.
Tangerines boss Csaba Laszlo kept faith with the same starting XI that beat Falkirk last Sunday at Tannadice.
United clicked into gear quickly, spraying the ball about confidently but their first real opportunity of the game did not arrive until the 14th minute when Billy King cracked a shot in from the edge of the Brechin penalty area which home keeper Graeme Smith did well to parry.
It was very much one-way traffic though with Dods’ men struggling to get out of their own half against the dominant visitors.
Brechin did have a chance in the 27th minute when they broke from inside their own half with the ball finding Layne on the right but he dragged his shot wide of United keeper Harry Lewis’s back post.
However, home resistance was finally broken in the 29th minute when King broke into the Brechin box before hitting a cut-back that took a touch off Sam Stanton then made its way towards McDonald who made no mistake with a close-range finish past Smith to give United a deserved lead.
McDonald then tried his luck from the left edge of the Brechin box but his snap shot flew straight into Smith’s arms.
However, the home side came storming back into the game just two minutes after the restart.
Liam Watt swung a corner in from the right with Crighton rising highest to send a downward header past the helpless Lewis.
Brechin tails were up and just before the hour mark, United’s Mark Durnan had to make a superb tackle to deny Layne as he attempted to burst through on goal.
The same Brechin player then tried a shot on the turn from 18 yards but his effort sailed over Lewis’s bar.
In the 72nd minute, Brechin had another opportunity when United failed to clear a corner with Paul McLean hooking a shot just wide.
Brechin had an incredible let-off nine minutes later when Jamie Robson produced a great cross from the left towards McDonald who looked certain to score from close range but the striker sent his effort over the bar.
City then had a great chance of their own when Layne released Finn Graham who advanced on goal before unleashing a great effort that Lewis did well to keep out.
United were then reduced to 10 men in the 91st minute when skipper Tam Scobbie who had been booked earlier, was shown a second yellow card after pulling back Connor McLennan as he raced through.
Sinclair was brought on to take the resultant 25-yard free-kick with Lewis having to dive low to his right to deny him and ensure the game finished all square.
