It felt like old times at Tannadice on Thursday night. A noisy, passionate crowd under the floodlights, decent European opposition forced to go to the very edge of their abilities and dear old Davie Bowman getting involved in a rammy with the opposition at the end. Who could not have been persuaded that Dundee United are once again deserving of respect? Rapid Vienna manager Peter Stoger summed it up well afterwards when asked if he had been surprised by just how difficult it had proved to shake the opposition off. His side, currently joint leaders of the Austrian Bundesliga after two games, were taken all the way and at one point looked to be on the way out. United went two goals in front shortly before half time on a rousing night in Dundee. Stoger, a former Austrian international midfielder who scored 15 times in 65 internationals, lightly scolded the reporter for suggesting he might have been surprised by not just the spirit displayed by the hosts, but the attacking verve. It was possible to imagine the likes of Hans Krankl and Antonin Panenka smiling. The great Rapid Vienna side of the mid-1980s featuring Krankl and Panenka and no fewer than eight other internationalists had been avenged. They lost narrowly at Tannadice in a European Cup quarter-final tie 41 years ago and were denied a place in the last four by the now defunct away goal rule. Stoger said he was surprised that anyone could imagine Rapid had been surprised. Dundee United had lived up to a well-earned reputation. They had proved every bit as challenging as expected. “Maybe you were surprised, we weren’t,” was the gist of it. Although a mild stooshie broke out following the final whistle, with Bowman, United’s first-team coach, at the heart of it, respect was, on the whole, mutual. The root of the problem seemed to be a feeling the Austrians’ celebrations were a bit OTT. Again, this underlines just how relieved they were to get out of Tannadice still alive in the Conference League. At half time, it looked for all the world like United would be going through to meet Hungarian outfit Gyori ETO, who, like United, won their national championship in 1983. In a further parallel with United, the Hungarians once reached the last four of the European Cup (in 1965 in their case). But sadly, such points of note are irrelevant. Rapid Vienna will be making the comparatively short journey to north-west Hungary next week and United can only reflect on what could have been. Not since 1986/87, when they reached the final of the Uefa Cup, have they managed to negotiate two successive European rounds. They played 12 European matches during that campaign, including two in the final against IFK Gothenburg. Had United prevailed in the penalty shootout on Thursday night and then found a way past a beatable team in the play-off round, they would have been guaranteed another six group games to make it 12 European matches this season – at least. No wonder some frustration was evident afterwards even if the majority of their fans were full of admiration for their side’s lung-busting efforts. Some took their annoyance too far, lashing out at, amongst other things, the failure of the Tannadice DJ to realise Amar Fatah was waiting to take the first penalty while Deacon Blue’s Dignity was playing across the speakers. It’s understood the referee had to signal for the music to stop. Fatah, of course, saw his penalty hit the post, the only unsuccessful attempt out of ten kicks. Whether or not he had to wait a little longer than should have been necessary, he was still unfortunate – a few inches to the left and it would have been the perfect kick. It’s also not asking too much for a professional footballer to brush off such inconveniences as having to pause a few seconds before striking the ball. It’s a regular occurrence now with referees compelled to tick off a check list of requirements, such as ensuring the goalkeeper is on, or behind, the goalline. So there ought to be no recriminations. Only pride. As manager Jim Goodwin said afterwards, United can take a lot of heart from going toe to toe with a very good European team while they are still gelling following wholesale changes this summer. There’s also an on-going injury crisis, with as many as five first-teamers currently sidelined and the influential Zac Sapsford substituted at half-time against Rapid with an ankle injury. Goodwin is hopeful the striker will be fit for Sunday’s trip to face Kilmarnock in an awkward-looking League Cup last-16 assignment. A hitherto novice when it comes to European football, Goodwin can now understand the moans of managers expected to compete on this extra front without their domestic endeavours being compromised. “I don’t think it will be difficult to get them going,” he said on Thursday, with reference to the demanding Rugby Park clash. “I do obviously have a concern about the energy levels within the group. A number of players tonight have had to play every minute of every game given the amount of players we have missing. “It is the first time I have been involved in European football,” he added. “I can respect what other managers and teams have had to go through in years gone by. I can see how difficult it is to get that balance right. When you are missing seven or eight key players like we have been over the last three or four weeks, then it makes it all the more difficult unfortunately.” Nevertheless, United seem determined to avoid the second season syndrome that tends to afflict teams who have outstripped expectations in their first season back in the top flight. Few would bet against them finishing in a European place again. They exit the arena having contributed 0.1 to the co-efficient points total courtesy of another draw against Rapid in what, penalty shootout failure apart, has proved an unbeaten European campaign. A 50th European victory, which appeared so imminent at around 8.45 pm on Thursday, does remain pending, however.