Jacob Murrell's first Falkirk goal not enough as Dundee United score deserved late leveller
Heartbreak for Falkirk as a stoppage-time equaliser forced them to settle for a 1-1 draw at Tannadice.
Winless Falkirk headed to Tannadice on Saturday on the back of two positive Scottish Premiership performances against Celtic and Rangers.
And the Bairns got off to a perfect start against Dundee United through forward Jacob Murrell, who climbed highest to power home a header following a pinpoint corner from Ryan Strain.
The striker couldn’t have picked a better time to score his first goal for the club, as John McGlynn’s side hit the front inside five minutes.
The early opener kickstarted a period of Falkirk dominance, as ex-United ace Strain came close to finding the net on two occasions after the opener, rifling a close-range effort into the side netting from a tight angle before having a strike from distance saved by Jack Walton.
Derby County loanee Owen Eames – who was making his Falkirk debut – was next to cause United problems, drifting centrally and curling an effort towards goal, which was well saved in the end by Walton.
The hosts’ first real chance came around the twenty-minute mark when Kevin Ciubotaru picked up the ball and unleashed a low, powerful strike from range, which forced a brilliant save from Scott Bain.
Another big opportunity came for Eames with just over half an hour played after Strain’s low cross evaded everyone in the United box before finding the winger who’s first time effort was deflected behind for a corner.
A flurry of chances late in the first half saw Dundee United come extremely close to an equaliser.
Falkirk skipper, Brad Spencer, made an important block inside the six-yard box to deny Pan Camara before Lyall Cameron’s effort from outside the area was held by Scott Bain.
The hosts looked like a different team in the second half and began to dominate large spells of the contest, with former Falkirk star Dylan Tait impressing.
United’s first chance came around five minutes into the half after Pan Camara clipped a ball to the back post which was met by Daniel Bennie, his header was straight at Bain, though, and it was a comfortable save in the end.
A great strike from United’s new signing Zidane Iqbal meant that Bain was forced into action yet again, this time he leapt to push the curling effort just over the crossbar to keep Falkirk ahead.
United continued to create opportunities, and despite Falkirk defending valiantly, the hosts finally found the breakthrough they had been pushing for deep into stoppage time.
Substitute Abdoulaye Yoro swung in a dangerous cross which was attacked by defender Michael Forbes, and he made no mistake to guide his header beyond Bain – who had looked unbeatable, with the stopper making a string of brilliant saves.
The full-time whistle sounded soon after, and The Bairns were forced to settle for a point at Tannadice.
Team information: Dundee United 1-1 Falkirk
Dundee United Starting XI: Jack Walton, Bert Esselink, Mehdi Merghem, Pan Camarà, Zac Sapsford, Dylan Tait (C), Lyall Cameron, Michael Forbes (93’), Kevin Ciubotaru, Joshua Rawlins, Daniel Bennie.
Substitutes: Jordan Amissah, Iurie Iovu, Zidane Iqbal, Lachlan Rose, Neil Farrugia, Jesse Randall, Dario Naamo, Abdoulaye Yoro, Idjessi Metsoko.
Falkirk Starting XI: Scott Bain, Leon McCann, Liam Henderson, Brad Spencer (C), Lewis Neilson, Finley Barbrook, Ryan Strain, Ethan Ross, Jacob Murrell (4’), Ben Krauhaus, Owen Eames.
Substitutes: Nicky Hogarth, Jack McMillan, Ben Parkinson, Ross MacIver, Scott Tanser, Joe Gardner, Deniss Melniks, Aodhan Doherty, CJ Fodrey.
Referee: Dan McFarlane.
Assistant Referees: David McGeachie and David Roome.
Fourth Official: Mark Daly.
Attendance: 8,935 (1,040 Falkirk fans).
FH POTM: Scott Bain.