Dundee Utd 0
Falkirk 2
League (SPL)

Match Report

After an uneventful opening, Allan Gow grabbed the opener for the Bairns in 13 minutes after Paul Ritchie failed to make proper contact on a through ball. As a result Gow was left with an easy chance to place the ball into the corner from 6 yards. The lead was doubled in 38 minutes when Daniel McBreen was left all alone to bundle a Lima corner over the line, with the United defence posted missing. In between times David Robertson had tried his luck from range and Charlie Mulgrew attempted to curl in a free kick but neither player was close to restoring hope for in what was for the United faithful a poor first half. On the stroke of half time Falkirk keeper Mark Howard did well to palm away a Mulgrew corner which had deceived him at the near post.

Jim McIntyre and Garry Kenneth were sent on at half time in an attempt to change United’s fortunes at either end of the field, however it was still Falkirk who continued to look the more likely to score. Midway through the half Alan Archibald gifted McBreen a clear sight of goal after an attempted clearance, but the striker was not able to direct a shot on target much to the relief of the United defender. McBreen did better moments later when he stooped low to meet a Gow cross, however the effort still failed to test Craig Samson. Mulgrew attempted to find United a route back into the game with another set piece effort but again failed to find the target. As the game drew to a close, tempers boiled over as the players became involved in a mass brawl in the middle of the park following an incident between United sub David Goodwillie and Falkirk’s Patrick Cregg. Cregg was subsequently sent off after referee Mackay had spotted his stamp down the back of Goodwillie’s calf. At this stage it was too late for United to capitalise and things almost got worse in injury time as Falkirk sub Neil Scally struck a long range shot off the bar.