Source: Team_Talk
Calderwood rues poor defending
Zander Diamond gave away a penalty after 10 minutes to allow Francisco Sandaza to put the Arabs in front.[LNB]Scott Severin equalised for the Dons within seconds of the restart but Charlie Mulgrew was guilty of some slack play in the build-up to United's second scored by David Robertson.[LNB]Diamond made amends for his earlier error by bravely heading home to earn the Dons a point but Calderwood was critical of his team's defensive display.[LNB]"I thought we were in the ascendancy for most of the game but it seems to be that when we play against United we give them gifts," he said.[LNB]"We have worked so hard to get our goals but we gave stupid goals away at the other end.[LNB]"I thought we had eradicated those mistakes from when we had our bad start to the season but they have come back to haunt us once again."[LNB]However he applauded his side for twice coming back from a goal down and felt they may have even deserved to take all three points.[LNB]"We showed a lot of courage to come back against a good team," he said.[LNB]"I suppose everyone will think a draw was a fair result but I'm disappointed because I thought we dominated the play."[LNB]Craig Levein, the Dundee United manager, admitted he was pleased to come away from Pittodrie with a point despite twice being ahead in the match.[LNB]"The result is a little bit frustrating but I have to recognise that it is hard to get points here," he said.[LNB]"If you asked me at the start of the season would I settle for two draws at Pittodrie I would certainly take a point on each occasion."[LNB]The United boss was annoyed that his side conceded a goal so soon into the second half.[LNB]"Being a manager can be the most frustrating job in the world at times," he said.[LNB]"At half-time I told the players to make sure they were switched on right from the start. I wonder if my voice is working at times."[LNB]Levein added that he felt the Pittodrie pitch was not particularly conducive to good football.[LNB]"It was a close-fought match littered with errors and the pitch didn't help," he added.[LNB]"I felt the pitch contributed to what I thought was quite a scrappy match.[LNB]"It was incredible how many free-kicks we gave away today.[LNB]"It made the game quite exciting because we were having to defend so many set-pieces. But I thought we showed a lot of determination and effort today."[LNB][LNB]
