Falkirk 1 United 1

By Tommy McKay

Robbie Neilson's men went into today's game hoping to close the gap on leaders Ross County.  The manager made three changes to the side that beat QOTS in Dumfries last time out with Butcher returning from suspension; he was joined in the starting line up by Cammy Smith and Mark Connolly.  Bouhenna, McMullan and Morgaro Gomis dropped to the bench.

In a first half in which United dominated possession and were fouled continuously by their hosts, chances were at a premium. 

United’s closest chance to score in the first half actually came from the Falkirk defence.  Kilcoyne’s hesitation at the cross ball saw the ball deflect off his own defender and cannon off the cross bar, but Safranko's effort from the rebound blazed over the bar.

United lost defender Frans on 22 minutes to what appeared to be a painful groin injury.  With Mark Reynolds not competing on artificial surfaces, Neilson brought Bouhenna off the bench to replace the injured Belgian.

Pawlett had the chance to double the lead just moments later but his effort was agonisingly wide.

Falkirk had their best effort of the first half on 39 minutes when McShane’s free kick was tipped away for a corner by Siegrist in the United goal.

Into the second half and United didn’t have to wait long to take the lead.  After a strong run by Robson, his interplay with Safranko was good and his cross was forced home by Cammy Smith for his first goal since returning to United in January. 

Things went from bad to worse for the United defence on the injury front when substitute Bouhenna had to be stretchered off due to a bad facial injury.  Neilson shuffled the pack and brought on Morgaro Gomis.

Falkirk found the equaliser in strange circumstances with only six minutes remaining.  After Gomis went down injured, Falkirk chose to contest the drop ball.  From the drop ball Pawlett was adjudged to have fouled Paul Paton and McKenna’s powerful header from the free kick brought the Bairns level.

United threw caution to the wind and had several half chances to find a winner however they had to settle for a share of the points.  The point was enough to draw level on points with Ayr United however we remain five points off Ross County in top spot.

Man of the Match: Jamie Robson – Great energy, strong in the tackle and an assist for the young left back who has impressed since returning to the starting line up.

Falkirk: Burgoyne, McGhee, Dixon, McKenna, Robson, Paton, McShane, Waddington (Jarvis), Keillor-Dunn (MacLean), Petravicius, Rudden (Todorov) 

Unused subs: Kidd, Mitchell, Brough, Lavery

Booked: McKenna, Paton

Dundee United: Siegrist, Seaman, Frans (Bouhenna) Bouhenna (Gomis) Connolly, Robson, Butcher, Harkes, Pawlett, Clark, C Smith, Safranko (Sow) 

Unused subs: McMullan, Fyvie, Nesbitt, Laidlaw

Booked: Harkes, Butcher

Referee: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 5840