Dundee United 0-2 Falkirk

Gow is congratulated by team-mates after scoring the opener

Falkirk enjoyed their first win over Dundee United at Tannadice after a convincing display.

A mistake from Paul Ritchie allowed Alan Gow to nip in and give Falkirk the lead from close range.

Daniel McBreen made it 2-0 just before the interval when he volleyed home from a Gow cross.

The visitors finished with ten men after Patrick Cregg was sent off for appearing to kick out at David Goodwillie, sparking a mass brawl.

Falkirk had started well and passed up a couple of early opportunities to take the lead.

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Gow crossed from the right after two minutes to find Jack Ross at the far post, but the defender could not direct his effort on target.

Two minutes later, McBreen found himself clear on goal, with the United defence playing offside, but the striker's weak, looping header never threatened United keeper Craig Samson.

The visitors then took the lead after a blunder by United defender Ritchie in the 14th minute.

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The ex-Rangers man, who has been told he can leave the club by boss Craig Brewster, failed to clear a through ball by Kenny Milne, allowing Gow to net from close range.

The visitors could easily have added to their lead in the 25th minute when Stephen O'Donnell's corner from the right was met by Milne, but the midfielder headed over from a few yards out.

In the 39th minute, Falkirk got the second goal their pressure deserved when Gow's ball in from the right was missed by everyone and McBreen finished from close range.

The hosts made a more spirited start to the second half but never threatened Howard's goal.

They might have fallen behind in the 61st minute when Samson did well to punch away a dangerous corner from Vitor Lima.

Two minutes later, the Bairns passed up another glaring opportunity, when Gow sent in a brilliant cross from the left, but McBreen's header went narrowly wide.

United had a rare opportunity in front of goal in the 74th minute when Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick from the right edge of the box whistled narrowly wide.

However, tempers spilled over shortly after when O'Donnell clashed with United substitute Goodwillie.

Midfielder Cregg then appeared to kick out at Goodwillie, sparking a mass brawl involving players on both sides in the Falkirk half.

O'Donnell was booked but Cregg was dismissed.

Bairns' sub Neil Scally almost added a third when he hit the bar from the edge of the box late on.

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Dundee Utd: Samson, McCracken, Ritchie (Kenneth 45), Archibald, Mulgrew, Duff, Kerr, Robertson (McIntyre 45), Gardiner (Goodwillie 74), Samuel, Abbot. Subs Not Used: McLean, McInnes, Cameron, Easton.

Falkirk: Howard, Ross, Rodrigues, Dodds, Milne, Lima, Cregg, O'Donnell (Scally 85), Scobie, Gow (Craig 83), McBreen (Moutinho 87). Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Lawrie, McPherson, Churchill.

Sent Off: Cregg (81).

Booked: O'Donnell, Lima.

Goals: Gow 14, McBreen 39.

Att: 5,798

Ref: C MacKay