Dundee United 2 Falkirk 0

A blistering first half performance from United secured a deserved win as they looked to continue the momentum ahead of the play-offs in a few weeks. A Rachid Bouhenna header and a Paul McMullan strike had the points wrapped up inside half an hour, with Falkirk offerring little in the way of threat thereafter as the hosts cruised to victory. 

By Ally Stewart

The first big chance of the match came for the hosts after Paul Dixon gave up possession deep in his own half to Ian Harkes. The midfielder waited for the run of Sow to his left and the forward guided a right foot shot was heading for the top corner but for a fine fingertip save by Harry Burgoyne. Burgoyne again came to the Bairns' rescue when he tipped a Mark Reynolds deflected header over the bar following a Paul McMullan corner. This only delayed the inevitable though as McMullan’s delivery was again pin point and this time there was nothing the keeper could do to prevent Bouhenna’s glanced header floating into the top corner. In the 20th minute the clearest opening of the half for Falkirk arrived and Davis Keillor-Dunn should have done a lot better than header over from 4 yards after a Jordan McGhee cross had caused panic at the heart of the United defence. Another McMullan delivery somehow led to a trio of blocks on the goal line, the most spectacular of which leading to another corner as Ian McShane managed to divert away a point-blank effort from Safranko. There wasn’t long to wait until the 2nd goal for United however, when yet more incisive play on the left led to Safranko cutting back for McMullan to continue his scoring run with a clinical left foot finish into the bottom corner. Four minutes later an angled shot from Safranko was turned away by Burgoyne before Benjamin Siegrist made a fine save from Keillor-Dunn who connected well eight yards out from a Thomas Robson cross. In the 35th minute Calum Butcher hit a powerful long range drive which Burgoyne palmed out and from the follow up McMullan could only head over the bar with goal at his mercy. A half full of United chances ended with another as excellent work from Safranko on the bye line set up Jamie Robson from close range but Burgoyne again kept the score down with a good save before the ball was scrambled clear.

Keillor-Dunn had been the visitors' main threat in the match, and it was he who forced the first save following the break, with Siegrist doing really well to touch a curled shot around the post. A more subdued half was broken up just after the hour mark by a trio of United subs with Sow, McMullan and Harkes coming off for Nicky Clark, Sam Stanton and Logan Chalmers. The pause in play had initially been caused by an injury to McMullan which it was hoped wouldn’t be anything serious with crucial games on the horizon. Two of the fresh players combined shortly after as Chalmer's knock back was sent wide by Clark from close range before Siegrist blocked an angled drive from Ross McLean in 67 minutes. Just into the final 15 minutes a Chalmers corner was hooked over by Paul Watson and soon after Clark drilled a low shot wide of target. Despite a few late corners there was to be no further scoring with the win effectively secured long before when the second goal went in.

Full Time Summary: An excellent first half display from the hosts was enough to secure all three points and continue the recent momentum ahead of the play off campaign. With some changes to the side the display would have pleased Robbie Neilson who will need to rely on the entire squad in order to achieve the ultimate aim of promotion.

Man of the Match: The two form men of recent weeks were again prominent with McMullan causing Falkirk many problems until injury ended his game early. For that reason Pavol Safranko takes the award with his usual strong demonstration of strength and link up play playing a big part in the win.

United: Siegrist, Booth, McMullan (Stanton 62), Sow (Clark 62), Safranko, Robson, Butcher, Bouhenna, Reynolds, Watson, Harkes (Chalmers 62). Subs not used: Laidlaw, Fyvie, M Smith, Seaman.

Falkirk: Burgoyne, McGhee, Waddington (Petravicius 46 (Kidd 74)), Keillor-Dunn, McLean (Jarvis 68), Robson, McShane, Rudden, Osman, Dixon, McKenna. Subs not used: Fasan, Todorov, Brough, O’Hara.

Attendance: 5,260

Referee: Steven Kirkland