The axe hangs precariously over Craig Brewster after an Anthony Stokes hat-trick inspired Falkirk to a 5-1 win in the Bank of Scotland Premier League. Brewster time at the helm looks to be over as the Bairns run United ragged.

AUDIO: Brewster reflect on defeat.

AUDIO: Match Report (BBC)

Russell Latapy was set up by Stokes to fire the Bairns into an early lead. The on-loan Arsenal striker added a goal of his own six minutes before the interval and then doubled his personal tally three minutes into the second half. Things went from bad to worse for Brewster when forward Noel Hunt was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the 67th minute.

Although United substitute Collin Samuel pulled a goal back, Stokes completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute after Mark Twaddle had hit the fourth 14 minutes earlier. Brewster made five changes to his team, but his afternoon could not have got off to a worse start, as his struggling side fell behind in only the second minute thanks to a crisp finish by Falkirk playmaker Latapy.

Stokes did all the hard work on the left-hand side for the Bairns and, when he directed a cut-back towards the penalty spot, Latapy was perfectly placed to run on to the ball and drive a shot past United goalkeeper Euan McLean. United regrouped well to the early setback and only five minutes after falling behind created a chance to equalise. Hunt was afforded the room to race through on goal, but, as the ex-Dunfermline striker struggled to get the ball under control, Darren Barr and Kenny Milne combined to force the forward into a weak effort which rolled well wide.

Hunt continued to be the away side's only inspiring figure in attack and, in the 32nd minute, was unfortunate to see an effort strike the woodwork. Grant Smith's powerful shot was deflected into the striker's path, but Hunt's hooked effort drew a good save from Jeroen Lambers, who managed to push the ball against the base of his near post. But a slip by David Proctor then allowed Stokes to double the home side's advantage.

The on-loan Arsenal forward showed great composure after winning the ball to meander along the United by-line, before poking the ball past a cruelly exposed McLean. Just as United lost a goal in the opening two minutes of the first half, they conspired to do exactly the same at the start of the second period, effectively ruling out any faint chance they had of mounting a comeback. Stokes did well to fend off the attentions of Lee Mair on the left-hand corner of the area and clinically sent a low shot into the far corner of McLean's net.

If the visitors thought their afternoon could not get any worse, they were wrong and were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute as Hunt inexplicably picked up two cautions for late tackles in a mad-cap six-minute spell. In the 61st minute Hunt collected a caution for a late challenge on Kenny Milne before receiving a red card for another foul on Ross Jack.

Brewster's side appeared to improve with 10 men, though, as substitute Craig Conway, who had come on for David Goodwillie three minutes before Hunt's sending-off, crossed for Samuel to pull a goal back with a close-range finish. However, Falkirk finished on a high when Twaddle scored from barely a yard out following Latapy's 75th-minute free-kick. And Stokes scored his third from the spot in the 89th minute after Wilkie had hauled him down in the box.

Falkirk: Lambers, Ross, Twaddle (Scobbie 78), Barr, Milne, Latapy, Cregg, Thomson (Lima 80), O'Donnell (Craig 84), Gow, Stokes. Subs Not Used: Higgins, Moutinho, McManus, Dodd.

Goals: Latapy 2, Stokes 39, 48, Twaddle 75, Stokes 89 pen.

Dundee Utd: McLean, Mair, McCracken, Wilkie, Proctor (Samuel 46), Burnett (Kerr 46), Robson, Smith, Cameron, Hunt, Goodwillie (Conway 66). Subs Not Used: Stillie, Archibald, Kenneth, Easton.

Sent Off: Hunt (67).

Booked: Cameron, Robson, Hunt.

Goals: Samuel 69.

Att: 5,386

Ref: D McDonald.