Dundee Utd 0
Falkirk 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

After dominating most of the game, United were unfortunate to only take a point after going close on several occasions and limiting Falkirk to a mere handful of efforts off target.

In the second minute United fashioned the first opening of the match when a pass by Swanson allowed Hunt to cross to the back post for De Vries. The Dutchman headed across goal and just past the post with Falkirk keeper Robert Olejnik exposed. With 14 minutes played Hunt forced an excellent save from Olejnik when, after being played in by Swanson, the striker curled a right foot shot towards the top corner which the keeper did very well to turn around the post. Prince Buaben then went close with an overhead attempt which was well blocked for a corner and, when the set piece wasn’t fully cleared, Dods crossed back in for Kalvenes who looped a header onto the top of the bar from eight yards as United looked increasingly in command. De Vries then almost scrambled a header over the line but Olejnik gathered well under immense pressure from Hunt. United had one last chance in the half when De Vries headed on for Buaben, but the midfielder shot powerfully straight at Olejnik from 18 yards.

After a quiet start to the half the game exploded into life when De Vries, after being fed the ball in midfield, went on a solo run which ended with the striker clean through in the Falkirk box. Looking on the verge of scoring his first goal for the team, his shot looped over Olejnik and wide of goal, appearing to take a touch off a defender on the way, but no corner was given. Minutes later Hunt cut inside from the left and played the ball across to De Vries, who controlled well before firing wide when a goal seemed certain. Falkirk registered their first attempt on goal in 62 minutes when Clarke played a clever ball back to half time sub Russell Latapy at the edge of the area. The veteran midfielder then took time and guided a curling shot towards goal which was not far wide of Zaluska’s left hand post. Late on, a Flood corner was headed across the 6 yard box by Wilkie and Kalvenes missed what was to be United’s last good opportunity when he blasted over the bar under pressure from a defender. Despite pushing forward in the final moments United could not force the winner it would have merited and the game ended goalless.