Dundee United 2-1 Falkirk

Craig Brewster watches his side beat Falkirk

Dundee United's new manager Craig Brewster watched his side claim all three points against Falkirk with a late strike by Derek McInnes.

United, under the charge of caretaker Billy Dodds, took the lead with a sublime chip by David Fernandez.

Falkirk levelled when Kenny Milne headed across goal and Daniel McBreen headed into the net from close range.

But the winner came in the 89th minute when McInnes fired a fine shot past Allan Ferguson from 20 yards out.

Left wing-back Charlie Mulgrew looked determined to impress the watching Brewster by getting forward as often as possible in the early stages.

An early Mulgrew cross picked out Fernandez, but he could only direct his header straight at Ferguson.

Falkirk almost took an early lead when Alan Gow's delightful through-ball was seized on by the on-rushing Stephen O'Donnell.

The midfielder drove a well-hit left-footed effort across the goal of Craig Samson, but saw the ball rebound off the post.

The Bairns then struck the woodwork again barely four minutes later when Gow, whose free kick had been charged down by Collin Samuel, smashed the ball off the face of the crossbar with the outside of his left boot.

At the other end, Ferguson was forced to tip a Mulgrew free kick from 35 yards over the bar.

But the Falkirk keeper could do nothing to stop the home side taking the lead as Fernandez turned inside Andy Lawrie before sending a delightful chip from 20 yards over the keeper's head and into the top corner of the net.

Shortly afterwards Ferguson pulled off a fantastic save to divert Grant Brebner's header over the bar.

Brebner went close after the break with a drive from 25 yards that flashed just over the crossbar, before Ferguson produced a fantastic save to deny Fernandez after Jim McIntyre's dummy from Samuel's pass allowed the Spaniard a shot at goal.

United were made to pay for that miss when Kenny Milne sent a header across the face of goal and the ball was powered into the net by McBreen for the equaliser.

Falkirk had chances to take the lead through McBreen, Latapy and Gow before Dodds replaced Jim McIntyre and Brebner with Lee Miller and McInnes.

And just as the game appeared to be heading for a draw, Miller headed into the path of McInnes, who hit a powerful shot past Ferguson.

---

Dundee Utd: Samson, McCracken, Ritchie (Kenneth 63), Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Brebner (McInnes 75), Mulgrew, Samuel, McIntyre (Miller 75), Fernandez.

Subs Not Used: McLean, Robertson, Cameron, Goodwillie.

Booked: Fernandez.

Goals: Fernandez 36, McInnes 89.

Falkirk: Ferguson, Lawrie, Rodrigues, Ireland, Milne, O'Donnell, Lima (Steven Thomson 84), Latapy (Cregg 87), Scally (Moutinho 67), McBreen, Gow.

Subs Not Used: Glennon, McPherson, Ross, Barr.

Booked: Scally.

Goal: McBreen 69.

Att: 7,948

Ref: M McCurry