Date: 22 October 2005
Venue: Falkirk Stadium
Score: W 3 - 1
 
Falkirk 1 - Duffy 3
Dundee United 3 - Robson 47, Canero 72, Samuel 81

Gordon Chisholm's men were somehow behind to Darryl Duffy's early strike at the break having hit the crossbar twice, the post once and having a goal chalked off for offside.

But justice was done after the interval when Matt Glennon diverted Barry Robson's header into his own net before the goalkeeper was beaten by Peter Canero and Collin Samuel.

Falkirk player-manager John Hughes named himself in the side for the first time this season but the 41-year-old and his team got the runaround throughout.

There was an incredible start to the game with both sides going close to opening the scoring in the first two minutes.

After just 30 seconds Steven Thomson slipped the ball into the path of Duffy and he pulled his right-foot shot just by the far post from wide in the area.

A minute later and the visitors went even closer when Grant Brebner arrived in the area to fire David Fernandez's ball past goalkeeper Glennon.

But the former Manchester United youngster watched his effort come crashing back off the upright and Jim McIntyre was unable to seize on the rebound.

Falkirk though did hit the back of the net in the third minute when Derek Stillie did well to keep out Russell Latapy's strike - but Duffy arrived to force home the loose ball.

It could have got even worse for United in the fifth minute when the goalscorer went down in the box under the clumsy challenge of David McCracken but Eddie Smith waved play on.

The linesman balanced things up in the 13th minute when he ruled out a United equaliser when Brebner slid Fernandez's cross into the back of the net - only to see the flag up.

Fernandez looked bright as United continued to threaten to go level and he curled a left-foot shot just over the top from 25 yards in the 19th minute to lift the home crowd.

Peter Canero then looked set to pull the sides level in the area but Hughes showed he can still think quickly by getting back to make a vital tackle.

Mark Kerr thought he had silenced his former club with the equaliser on the half hour.

The midfielder attempted to lob Glennon from the edge of the area but the goalkeeper stretched to tip his effort onto the crossbar and behind for corner.

Barry Robson should have tested the Falkirk stopper again three minutes later but he blazed over the top from the edge of the area.

The United winger then let his frustration get the better of him as he floored Andy Lawrie with a terrible lunge to earn a booking.

But Falkirk were hanging on to their slender lead as United piled on the pressure before Lawrie was booked for a foul.

Duffy could have extended Falkirk's lead in the 43rd minute when Latapy sent him galloping clear but Stillie did well to save his low shot with his feet.

But Canero was the next United man to see his effort come back off the woodwork when he headed Robson's cross over the goalkeeper and watched the ball bounce back off the crossbar.

United were deservedly on level terms just two minutes after the restart but luck and the bar worked in their favour this time.

Robson's header, from Brebner's cross, came back off the bar and rebounded off the goalkeeper to cross the line.

Chisholm made a change in the 68th minute when former Falkirk man Samuel came on to a chorus of boos for Fernandez - but he had the last laugh.

United netted in the 72nd minute when Canero punished Glennon after the Falkirk keeper had made a mess of Robson's free-kick by pushing it out to the edge of the box - and the former Leicester and Kilmarnock man found the corner of the net.

Samuel then pounced with nine minutes left, lifting the ball over Glennon to wrap up the points for the visitors.

Falkirk: Glennon, Lawrie, Milne (Scally 60), Hughes, Rodrigues, McStay (McPherson 60), Latapy, Steven Thomson, Lima, Gow (Moutinho 76), Duffy.
Subs Not Used: Ferguson, O'Neil, Twaddle, McSween.
Booked: Lawrie, Steven Thomson, Rodrigues.
Goals: Duffy 3

Dundee Utd: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Canero, Kerr, Brebner, Robson, McIntyre (Miller 86), Fernandez (Samuel 68).
Subs Not Used: Samson, McInnes, Duff, Kenneth, Cameron.
Booked: Robson, Ritchie, McCracken.
Goals: Glennon 47 og, Canero 72, Samuel 81.

Ref: E Smith