United’s Dillon rues his costly mistake

DUNDEE United defender Sean Dillon accepted responsibility for gifting Aberdeen a lifeline and costing his side two vital points in the race for third spot in the SPL.

Dillon clumsily crashed into the back of Dons midfielder Stuart Duff to hand the home side a penalty kick which Michael Paton duly converted to fire the home side level seconds before half-time.

United were shell-shocked to go in at the interval level after seeming to be out of sight when Jon Daly's double inside 24 minutes had earned the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

Peter Houston's side paid the price for not burying the Dons but are in confident mood ahead of Wednesday night's Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against Rangers at Tannadice.

Dillon said: “It was more a case of us giving them a lift rather than them earning it for themselves.

“The first goal was a bad goal to lose from our point of view and it is hard to describe how bad the second one was.

“I ran into the back of him (Duff) and although he might have gone down a bit softly I can have no complaints. I am certainly not saying he dived, I have to hold my hands up.

“I cost us a couple of points which was disappointing.

“We only have ourselves to blame but I take a massive amount of responsibility.

“We had a great start and we deserved to be winning. But we gave too many free kicks away and they are very dangerous from set-pieces with good deliveries."

“The game is gone now and we need to learn from our mistakes. We have to look on the result as a positive. We have come away from Pittodrie with a point and have to look on the bright side."

Dillon's focus is already on Rangers as United look to complete the job after coming back from two goals down to draw 3-3 at Ibrox.

He said: “We have the belief as we do going into every game especially after going there and scoring a few goals.”