Derek McInnes conceded that a lack of calmness cost Kilmarnock their first league win of the season.
Despite falling behind in the first half to Dundee United at Rugby Park, a David Watson brace was followed up by a Marley Watson close range header after the interval to seemingly had Killie all three points.
But after sitting 3-1 to the good with a little over 10 minutes left on the clock, Craig Sibbald dragged the away side back into the game with a strike from the edge of the box before United were awarded a penalty in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Ross Graham calmly slotted beyond Kieran O’Hara to ensure Kilmarnock remain 11th in the Premiership table following a third successive draw.
McInnes said: “In the second half we came out, and we looked like a really confident team, we had a bit of swagger about us for 35 minutes. We’ve then just lost a long-range shot we should be saving and an 80-yard punt where we should just win the first header.
“It’s just an over-eagerness to get over the line and get the job done, and everyone trying to play their part. We were guilty, at times, of overexuberance and we have to use our experience and calmness more in that sort of moment.”
He added: “There were more positives from the team’s performance than not, but it counts for nothing if you can’t defend your box as we couldn’t in the dying embers of the game.”
Killie were dealt a blow in the early stages as defender Stuart Findlay was taken off injured and replaced by Robbie Deas – with United opening the scoring as Louis Moult tapped home unmarked from close range moments later.
A half-time reshuffled saw David Watson introduced and the reigning Scottish Young Player of the Year turned the game on its head.
An exquisite overhead kick on 47 minutes levelled things up before a perfectly timed run into the box saw him double his tally before the hour mark.
The points appeared to be in the bag when Watkins was the quickest to react after a Deas header bounced back off the woodwork on 64 minutes.
However, United had other ideas and they were certainly helped on their way by a nervy Killie side. A lengthy VAR check saw Sibbald’s 79th minute strike from the edge of the box count after referee Craig Napier had originally given a free-kick to Kilmarnock in the build up.
Regardless, O’Hara should have done better as the midfielder’s strike bounced over his outstretched arm.
There was more VAR drama in the dying embers as substitute Fraser Murray was adjudged to have clipped Luca Stephenson in the box with Graham delivering the final sucker punch from the spot.
McInnes added: “We should be talking about Davie Watson and the impact he had on the game.
“There’s so much being said about Davie, myself included, about how endearing he is, how positive he is, how he’ll have a great future but the technique for the goal can’t be underplayed, it’s magnificent.
“Unfortunately for us, instead of talking about the comeback and the approach and the attitude of the team in the second half, we’ve not seen it out and it has cost us two points.”