Falkirk 2-3 Dundee Utd

Broggio (17′) Lissah (53′)  Graham (25′)  Sibbald (55′)  Eskesen (83′)

Dundee United came from behind twice to edge a five-goal thriller at the Falkirk Stadium, sneaking closer to a top six berth.

Falkirk, fresh from their narrow home victory over Dundee, dominated possession in the first 10 minutes. But it was the visitors who created the earliest chances.

Ross Graham headed over the game’s first effort, after Scott Bain tipped over the Scotsman’s back-post header from a whipped Kristijan Trapanovski free kick. Craig Sibbald flashed wide from the edge of the box from the resultant corner

Avoiding defeat felt paramount for Jim Goodwin’s men, who have drifted from the top six pack. Liam Henderson cleared Ryan Strain’s dangerous low cross in the 15th minute as they continued to build into the game.

Falkirk burst into life after 17 minutes. Ben Broggio’s first-time strike found the bottom left corner from the edge of the box after neat interplay. The Aston Villa loanee had enjoyed a positive start to his Scottish spell, registering his second goal in two starts for the Bairns.

Just when the hosts looked set to seize control, United responded. Bain’s attempted punch fell kindly into the path of Graham, who had the simple task of rolling into an empty net in the 25th minute. The goalie would have been frustrated with his efforts, a gift for the visitors.

Neilson’s header cannoned off the crossbar from behind after Miller’s inswinging free-kick shortly after, but as the halftime whistle blew, Goodwin would have been the happier manager.

The hosts started positively in the second half and deservedly retook the lead. Leon McCann’s wicked left-footed cross to the back post was volleyed home by Filip Lissah in the 53rd minute.

However, United would hit back instantly. Former Bairn Craig Sibbald stroked home a composed left-footed strike from the edge of the box to claw Goodwin’s men level. The sides’ previous encounter at the Falkirk Stadium served up a cracker, and today’s meeting delivered in a similar, frantic fashion.

Lissah has become a standout for McGlynn’s side, and the Swansea loanee was a constant threat for the hosts. He marauded down the Falkirk right after dispossessing Zac Sapsford. A powerful strike from the edge of the box was brilliantly tipped over by Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

Ryan Lee reduced Falkirk to ten men after Henderson hauled Max Watters to the floor. After consulting the VAR monitor, the defender’s yellow was upgraded to red, with Henderson the last man. Despite the disadvantage, the match remained even. Graham blazed over from close range after a Will Ferry corner in the 76th minute as United searched for the crucial third.

United took the lead for the first time to break Falkirk hearts. Ferry flicked on Ryan Strain’s right-sided cross, which dropped kindly into the path of substitute Julius Eskesen. The Dane took one touch and smashed a right-footed strike across Bain, sending the away allocation behind the goal into frenzy.

Falkirk battled till the final whistle to no avail as Goodwin’s men secured a priceless three points. They edge closer to the top six, ahead of a congested fixture schedule in the league, and Scottish Cup.

Falkirk: Bain 4 Lissah 8 Neilson 6 Henderson 6 McCann 7 Spencer 6 Broggio 7 Tait 6 Miller 6 Marsh 7 Stewart 7

Substitutes: Wilson 6 Cartwright 6 Donaldson 6 Graham 3 Ross 3

Dundee United: Maynard-Brewer 6 Farrugia 6 Graham 7 Keresztes 7 Strain 6 Stephenson 5 Sibbald 6 Iovu 7 Sapsford 6 Trapanovski 7 Ferry 6

Substitutes: Watters 6 Sevelj 5 Eskesen 4 Dolcek 4