However, it means that after 11 matches in the SPL Rangers find themselves trailing Celtic by two points and having won at Parkhead already this season that will be a disappointment to Walter Smith,
The goals that Rangers lost were poor from their point of view but United were excellent, pressing the play all night.
And they have Thomson to thank for ensuring it was not a case of losing all three points.
There always seems to be drama when Rangers and United lock horns and this was no different.
Walter Smith was undoubtedly pleased when Steve Davis gave his side the lead in just 11 minutes with a terrific finish but United’s Spanish striker Francesco Sandaza struck twice in a 10 minute spell to fire United into the lead.
Unlikely hero Sasa Papac drew Rangers level nine minutes before half-time with his first ever goal for the club on his 81st appearance.
However, United scored again through Scott Robertson and it was not until deep into injury time that Thomson salvaged the situation.
The opening goal from Davis was terrific. He took a pass from Kenny Miller and twisted his way into the United box before firing a wonderful right foot shot past Lukasz Zaluska.
It was a great start and Rangers must have felt they were on their way, but they lost their way as they gifted two goals in the space of 10 minutes.
Morgaro Gomis was given too much space in front of the Rangers box in 17 minutes and he was able to play in Sandaza who got ahead of Papac to drill a right foot shot into the left corner.
Then in 27 minutes Rangers were caught out again. Paul Dixon’s long throw found Scott Robertson inside the box and although Allan McGregor blocked his shot Sandaza followed up to slot the rebound into the net.
Rangers were shocked but they regrouped and they came back through the most unlikely of scorers.
Papac has been desperate to score and his moment finally came in 36 minutes when he controlled Nacho Novo’s diagonal ball on his chest and drove a left foot shot into the net.
Rangers tried to build on this in the early moments of the second half but they came up against an inspired goalkeeper.
Zaluska made a great block to deny Boyd a minute into the second half after Davis had set up the striker.
The Boyd was denied again in 53 minutes when Miller cleverly cushioned the ball back to him and Zaluska saved.
Rangers, though, were undone again in 59 minutes. They failed to deal with Dixon’s long throw from the left and Robertson had the simplest of chances to fire United back into the lead.
It was a hammer blow but Boyd had the chance to level things just two minutes later.
Broadfoot burst in from the right and laid the ball in for Thomson who set up Boyd but he hit his shot too close to Zaluska who made the save and the chance was gone.
Mendes tried a couple of long range efforts but missed the target and the pressure increased on the Light Blues who were desperate for the win.
They had plenty of the ball but could not find a way through and with nine minutes remaining Barry Ferguson was brought on to try to rescue the situation.
It looks as though all hope was gone when Thomson wrestled away from a Gomis challenge and then skipped past Willo Flood deep into stoppage time and drove the ball low into the left corner.
In that sense it was a point gained rather than two dropped.