THE outstretched arm of Tam Scobbie, as the defender struggled to clear Paul Dixon's cross, cost Falkirk dearly last night when the home side conceded a needless first-half penalty kick which was expertly converted by Craig Conway. If their decisive goal was gift-wrapped, Dundee United just about did enough in open play to merit only their second SPL win of 2009.
This was a lively, resilient performance from United which trimmed Hearts' advantage in third place, at least for 24 hours, to just two points. As well as scoring the game's only goal, Conway was also the most effective attacker. The winger used the
ball neatly and would have added a second goal with a crisp shot before the interval but for Dani Mallo's diving save.
John Hughes couldn't fault his players for effort and, at 38, Lee Bullen set his colleagues a fine example with a tireless shift for 80 minutes at right-back. Where Falkirk were found lacking was up front. Neither Michael Higdon nor Steve Lovell, their strikers, posed any real goal threat.
United's run of modest league results since New Year, just one win in their seven games prior to last night, could be attributed to a lack of spit and polish in midfield. Since the departure of Willo Flood to Celtic and Scott Robertson's absence through injury, Craig Levein had been forced to re-calibrate the engine room of the team.
After losing to Hearts at the weekend, Levein opted for safety in numbers against Falkirk with Paul Caddis and Craig Conway adding width to a five-man midfield. Francisco Sandaza led the line on his own. Without either Jackie McNamara or Neil McCann, John Hughes gave a vote of confidence to the Falkirk players who took a point from Easter Road on Saturday.
United's three central midfielders – Prince Buaben, Morgaro Gomis and David Robertson – ensured the visitors seized the advantage and kept possession. Caddis and Conway both stretched the home side's rearguard.
Perhaps still rueing the glaring miss which cost his side a win in Leith, Lee Bullen was eager to assist on the odd occasion when Falkirk counter-attacked. Twice the defender made overlapping runs and supplied low crosses into United's box. Steve Lovell got on the end of one ball and poked it wide from close range.
When United edged in front after 26 minutes, the goal fell into the gift category thanks to a needless penalty conceded by Scobbie. Paul Dixon had supplied the cross from the left which Scobbie clearly handled in the six-yard box. After Sandaza had squandered a spot kick on Saturday, Conway shouldered the responsibility and tucked a neat shot past Mallo.
The smoothest move of the first half came a minute before the interval when Robertson and Caddis combined on the right to send Conway darting into the box. His well-struck shot was fisted away by Mallo.
Hughes sent on Mark Stewart for Arnau Riera after the interval as his side sought to impose themselves on the game more. The Falkirk manager's half-time team talk seemed to work as the home side applied themselves with more energy and drive. Bullen went close in the 66th minute with a header from a set-piece which Lukasz Zaluska did well to block.
That said, United took advantage of Falkirk's positive intent by launching a 51st minute counter-attack which ended with Sandaza shooting across goal from a tight angle. Conway also pinpointed Lee Wilkie with a free kick which the centre-half should have headed on target.
While heavy rain made the pitch slippy in the second half, Steven Pressley didn't have too many excuses for a clumsy challenge on Conway which brought a yellow card. The midfielder took the free kick himself and bent a 25-yard shot just wide of the post.
Conway offered United's most telling threat and his 65th-minute cross from the byeline deserved better than a weak header from Caddis. The match was now a more open contest and Falkirk wasted an opportunity to equalise when Bullen's cross was headed wide by Michael Higdon.
Falkirk: Mallo, Bullen (Finnigan 80), Scobbie, Pressley, Barr, Riera (Stewart 46), Cregg (Aafjes 84), O'Brien, Arfield, Lovell, Higdon. Subs not used: Olejnik, Holden, Mitchell, Lynch. Booked: Barr, Pressley.
Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Caddis (Wesolowski 74), Dixon, Wilkie, Dods, Kovacevic, Buaben, Conway, Gomis, Sandaza (Feeney 70), Robertson (Daly 85). Subs not used: McGovern, Dillon, Grainger, Shala. Booked: Dods.
Referee: D McDonald.
