Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes rues penalty claim and chances Sam Cosgrove could have taken

Aberdeen lost their perfect away record with a goalless draw at Dundee United – but Derek McInnes says it wasn’t or the want of trying.

The Dons drew a blank despite hitting 18 shots at the Tannadice goal which left the visiting manager wishing his injured frontman had been around to take some of the chances his side created.

Former Aberdeen striker Lawrence Shankland was also at the centre of a penalty claim which denied the visitors another crack at Benjamin Siegrist.

"When they defend their box as deep as they were, we were looking for more of that penalty-box striker, maybe a (Sam) Cosgrove type would have been ideal for that, and I thought we were guilty of maybe overegging it instead of just getting it out of our feet and taking more shots, getting more crosses in the box,” said McInnes whose side also registered 11 corner kicks.

But the former United midfielder added: “There were a couple of penalty claims, one in particular where wee Lawrence leans forward, his whole body shape changes and he leans down and handballs it.

"The reaction from my players was unanimous and, having seen it again, I can understand why, it's a penalty kick every day of the week, and we should be getting that.”

The Dons host Hamilton at Pittodrie in midweek, followed by the visit of Celtic next Sunday before meeting Neil Lennon’s side again in the Scottish Cup semi-finals at Hampden on the last weekend of the month.