Ross Graham scores his third goal of the season for Dundee UnitedSNS

Ross Graham's third goal of the season earned United an unlikely point

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

Ross Graham's injury-time penalty earned Dundee United an unlikely point and denied Kilmarnock a first league win of the season in a breathtaking contest.

A draw seemed unlikely after Kilmarnock substitute David Watson's stunning intervention seemed to have turned the match on its head.

Watson, who came on at half-time, cancelled out Louis Moult's opener just after the break with a quite outrageous finish, executing an outstanding overhead kick from a deep cross.

Not long after, he raced into the penalty area unchallenged to poke home Matty Kennedy's shot to cap his own immediate impact.

Robbie Deas hit the woodwork twice for Kilmarnock, before and after Watson's second, with the latter attempt falling perfectly for Marley Watkins to nod in the hosts' third.

United had edged the opening half and it was an excellent move that brought the opener.

Will Ferry played a lovely outside of the boot pass to Luca Stephenson, who cut back superbly for Moult to tap home his second in two games and justify his start.

The turnaround was incredible after the break as Kilmarnock overwhelmed United.

It all turned again, though, when Craig Sibbald pulled one back from distance with a thunderous shot. It was initially disallowed by referee Craig Napier for a foul in the box in the build-up, but then overturned after VAR intervened.

United capitalised on that lifeline very late on in stunning fashion as they threw everything at Kilmarnock.

Stephenson went down under Fraser Murray's challenge and, after another a long VAR check, Graham converted the resultant penalty to deny Derek McInnes side.

Kilmarnock let first win slip

Trying to unpick this encounter is quite the challenge. Kilmarnock came out after the break and overwhelmed their opponents for a long spell and looked certain to earn that elusive first league win.

As Derek McInnes said post-match, David Watson's impact should have been the story. His contribution was stunning. His opener incredible.

Kilmarnock as a team responded to that and took full control to score three. They were unlucky not to have more as United looked rattled at one point.

However, having got into such a formidable position only to let that slip so dramatically will hurt so much, particularly as that winless league run now extends when it should have been shed.

Small errors opened the door for United and they took advantage. Fine margins proved vital. There will be positives to take but real lessons to learn, too.

A trip to Dundee follows with the winless league run now six. That needs banished fast as they look to get back to the heights of last term.

United happy with point in the end

United looked good in the opening period and likely to build on what has been a more than solid league start on their return to the Scottish Premiership.

A point here would, in ordinary circumstances, be a reasonably good outcome. In these circumstances, Jim Goodwin would have bitten your hand off when 3-1 down.

However, United seemed to have a good grip on this in the opening 45 and that slipped badly before their stunning response. Three points looked realistic before things fell apart for a spell.

Louis Moult's goal was full of quality, particularly the build up that led to it. To then keep going right to the end and get back on level terms from two down showed undeniable spirit.

But the period in which Kilmarnock surged at them, scored three and hit the woodwork must be of concern.

We saw good and bad from United. Fair play for the fightback and a positive outcome. It remains a good point, all things considered.

What they said

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "The story should have been about David Watson, who was outstanding when he came on. He grabbed the game.

"We were so good for 35 minutes, a real Kilmarnock performance. United tried to force the issue and we need the composure to deal with that. We were in control but we let that authority go.

"We can do a lot better with the second goal and, from them being on the floor United think there might be something there for them, then we don't see out the dying embers."

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "The players didn't give up. That's what I've got to be most proud of.

"Yes, we had to adapt and make changes but I always felt if we got the next goal at 3-1 if would be nervous for Kilmarnock.

"If you'd offered me a point before the game, I probably would have taken it because we know how difficult a venue this is. But, leading the game, you've got the feeling of is it two points dropped?"

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