falkirk 0 dundee united 2
Safranko (59), Curran (86)
United eked out a comfortable, if unspectacular, victory over a despairing Falkirk side who have now lost six league games in succession. The result has eased pressure on manager Csaba Laszlo, and has catapulted United into third place, perhaps proving to be a turning point as they endeavour to kick-start their promotion campaign. “The most important thing from today’s performance was our supporters went home with smiles on their faces,” he said. “We dominated the game, especially in the first half, but we weren’t creating enough chances, so we opened things up in the second half and Pavol Safranko scored a fantastic goal to give us the lead. “Hopefully our injured players, Fraser Fyvie, Sam Stanton and Nicky Clark, will be fit to return soon and we can take things to the next level.” Ample evidence was available during the first 45 minutes as to why Falkirk find themselves in their current unpalatable situation. Numerous passes went astray as they struggled to create any kind of momentum while the visitors responded by stretching the home defence whenever possible, utilising the pace of their wide players Yanick Loemba and Fraser Aird. Loemba in particular was causing a succession of problems among the Falkirk rearguard, the mercurial Congolese winger regularly gaining the upper hand on Bairns captain Aaron Muirhead and sending in a succession of piercing crosses. Despite United’s early pressure, the best chances of the opening period fell to Falkirk – Zak Rudden heading over from close range and Deomantas Petravicius being denied by an excellent save from Matej Rakovan just before half-time. The deadlock was broken just before the hour as yet another Aird cross caused havoc in the Falkirk penalty area. Paval Safranko and Fasan challenged for the ball but the Slovakian showed the greater desire and his looping header drifted over the unguarded goal line. United’s second, four minutes from the end was created from yet another cross ball, the highly-impressive Loemba sending over a precise delivery from the left which was met by Craig Curran, whose glancing header eluded the flailing arms of Fasan.