Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara bemoaned his players’ lack of concentration as they lost 3-1 to Aberdeen.
The Dons left Tannadice with a crucial win thanks to a Scott Vernon hat-trick, with Sean Dillon grabbing the home side’s goal.
United’s defenders didn’t cover themselves in glory, particularly at the visitors’ third goal when Gavin Gunning messed up an attempted headed passback.
“I think it was a really good match but I am disappointed because I didn’t think we deserved to lose it,” said McNamara.
“But when you make mistakes like that they can be costly. It was about concentration because I thought the three goals were preventable.”
While Vernon capitalised at one end of the park, Dons goalkeeper Jamie Langfield was the hero at the other with a string of superb saves to thwart Andy Robertson, Mark Wilson, Brian Graham and Nadir Ciftci, among others.
“Their goalkeeper has had three or four great saves to keep them in the match,” added McNamara. “He has done that a few times to us this season.”
The Tannadice gaffer rightly thought his team should have been given a goal when Ryan Dow scored in the second half, only to be ruled offside.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Tf60YRx2v4A%3Frel%3D0
“At 2-1 I thought Ryan’s goal was perfectly OK,” he said. “That would have made it 2-2 and we would have been in the ascendancy.”
Dons boss Derek McInnes was delighted and picked out Langfield for praise.
“It was a brilliant win,” he said. “I thought we started the game really well and took advantage to score the first goal.
“United finished the first half the stronger team and half-time came at a good time for us.
“I was disappointed with the goal we lost as I thought Sean Dillon should have been dealt with before he got his shot away.
“At half-time we looked for a response and they were outstanding. Jamie has made a few saves but two in particular were top-drawer.”