The gentleman that he is, the greatest striker the country has ever produced would probably admit he has missed worse chances.
The legendary Denis Law, who was back in his home city of Aberdeen, looked on from the Pittodrie stand on Saturday as David Goodwillie let a golden opportunity go a-begging as Dundee United pressed for an equaliser.
Law, of course, usually put them away during his heady days with Manchester United, Torino, Manchester City and Scotland but football’s Mr Nice Guy would have had some sympathy for Goodwillie.
Whether the same can be said for the United striker’s teammates is another matter for as United pushed and pushed for a leveller they could hardly have wished for a more clear-cut chance to make it 1-1.
There were 73 minutes on the clock as Aberdeen, holding a narrow lead thanks to Calvin Zola’s 54th-minute strike, were ripped apart by intelligent play from the visitors.
A stray pass was collected in midfield by Nadir Ciftci, who strode forward before threading a great ball through to Gary Mackay-Steven just inside the right-hand edge of the box.
Mackay-Steven, who had come off the bench to enhance his side’s attacking options, played an exquisite cross back to Goodwillie who was bang in front of goal.
As Mackay-Steven waited for the ball to hit the back of the net, the on-loan Blackburn man’s shot was saved at close range by Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield.
The keeper later claimed that Goodwillie had unwittingly shown him where he was going to put the ball.
“I was one-on-one with him and I just stood up for as long as I possible could,” said Langfield. “I saw him open his foot up a little bit and I knew he was going to go to my right so I just gambled.
“Sometimes the ball goes underneath you and sometimes it hits you but thankfully it was the latter for me.”
Zola’s goal was a nightmare for the Tangerines defence, while the midfielders hardly covered themselves in glory either.
Aberdeen’s play should have met some resistance long before Niall McGinn crossed for Zola and the fact the ball was allowed to reach the striker without a United boot touching it is something that will concern manager Jackie McNamara when he does his video analysis this week.
Those two incidents dominated a game that probably should have offered more than it did.
It was almost like the good old days before kick-off.
Despite the incessant rain, the air was full of anticipation as a United side packed full of young talent lined up against an Aberdeen team whom many have picked to finish behind Celtic in the Premiership this season.
Almost 2,000 fans had travelled up the A90 to back the Tangerines and as they exchanged songs and banter with the home supporters just over the segregation barrier it brought back memories of the 1980s and the so-called New Firm.
Sadly, when the action got under way the players cancelled each other out too often and promising build-up play led to nothing.
United had plenty of the ball and looked the more accomplished team in possession but the Dons somehow seemed to be more threatening in front of goal than the visitors.
The Tangerines come out of the game knowing they were often more than a match for Aberdeen and had they earned a draw then there could have been little argument from the home side.
A more composed finish from Goodwillie at one end and greater decision-making at the other and the large United travelling support would have headed back down the road with more than what-might-have-beens.