United stand ready for title race part two
The Honest Men fell off top spot in the Championship as they failed to get the better of the Pars in a ding-dong battle.
The Fifers deserved a point but Ayr passed up gilt-edged opportunities in either half to stay top at Christmas.
Michael Moffat was denied by home keeper Lee Robinson in a one- on- one after half an Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson wants his charges to send a message after returning to winning ways against 10-man Falkirk.
The Tayside club ended a three game winless streak thanks to goals from Sam Stanton and Pavol Safranko.
Former United favourite Paul Paton was sent off for a head-butt, although Ray McKinnon’s bottom dogs hit back with Aaron Muirhead’s hour. And then, with a minute left, Shankland screwed his shot wide with just Robinson to beat.
But w i t h R a n g e r s , Sunderland and Swansea City all linked with a move for the 23-year- old, McCall had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he quipped that the miss will have dented his price.
He said: “I thought it was a poor, poor game, I didn’t enjoy
Dundee Utd........ 2 Falkirk ................. 1
late penalty. And Neilson said: “It’s massive to get back to winning ways.
“We were in control although we made it difficult for ourselves. But come the end of the season if we achieve what we want to, watching it and I don’t think we were better than them.
“But there were two chances in the game, and they’ve got to score, it’s as simple as that.
“And Lawrence’s transfer fee is down to £ 499,000 now after missing!”
Ayr should have taken the lead in the 31st minute when Shankland slipped in Moffat but Robinson blocked well.
Seconds later Dunfermline carved out their best chance when Kallum Higginbotham swerved in a brilliant low cross from the right, but Aidan nobody will be bothered. Now we want to build some momentum again.”
United took the lead in 22 minutes thanks to some good fortune.
Stanton unleashed a deflected left-foot effort from 20 yards which left Falkirk keeper David Mitchell wrong-footed.
Safranko then struck with a textbook header in 53 minutes from Fraser Aird’s Keena swung and missed his connection six yards out.
In the second hal f, Ayr keeper Ross Doohan had to bat away efforts from Higginbotham, Joe Thomson and Aidan Keena.
And with Shankland’s late chance sl ipping away, Dunferml ine boss Al lan Johnston was left in two minds over the draw.
He said: “We probably should be coming away with three points. But then because we didn’t take our chances we ended up riding our luck.” corner which nestled in the far corner. Paton then walked for sticking the head into Safranko.
Falkirk pulled one back when Dennon Lewis was brought down by United’s Paul Watson and Muirhead put away the spot-kick.
Bairns boss Ray McKinnon said: “I didn’t see the incident but we can take hope from the spirit we showed down to 10 men.”