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Dundee United striker Noel Hunt is adamant Willo Flood should not have been sent off in the Tangerines' dramatic victory over Aberdeen - and claims the on-loan Cardiff midfielder has the scars to prove it.

David Robertson's 90th-minute strike after Andrew Considine failed to clear Hunt's cross gave United all three points in their first Clydesdale Bank Premier League game of the season, but only after debutant Flood had been dismissed just before half-time.

The Irishman was booked for a late challenge on Jamie Smith and was then shown a red card after referee Mike Tumilty ruled he had dived when under pressure from Jackie McNamara.

Hunt believes both bookings were harsh and thinks the fact that Flood's ankle is swollen from McNamara's challenge shows the 22-year-old did not try to gain an unsporting advantage.

He said: "Willo's ankle is up like a balloon where someone has had a swipe at him, so I don't see how it was a booking.

"In fact I think the decision should have gone our way and it should have been a booking for one of their players.

"Willo can't believe what has happened and even for his first booking he slipped before the ball has even come near him.

"Their boy just fell over and it was unlucky, then the second one was even worse.

"I don't think it was a sending off to be fair, but these things happen and we worked our socks off to get the result."

United were unfortunate not to be a goal up prior to losing Flood, Aberdeen goalkeeper Derek Soutar producing a fantastic save to keep out a Robertson header which looked destined for the top corner.

With a numerical advantage, Aberdeen started the second half well and Barry Nicholson saw a thumping header tipped onto the bar by Grzegorz Szamotulski.

But United soon wrestled back the ascendancy and when Considine was short with an attempted headed pass, Barry Robson raced onto the ball, advanced into the penalty area and struck Soutar's far post with a low shot.

Then, when Considine miscontrolled again, Robertson was on hand to blast the ball into the roof of the net.

McNamara made his competitive debut for Aberdeen, operating in a central midfield role and the former Celtic captain was frustrated with the Dons attacking efforts when playing with the extra man.

He said: "We didn't do enough to cause their defence a lot of problems and instead of going wide and getting at them we tended to hit the ball directly, which was food and drink to their two centre-halves."