Jon Daly struck a hat-trick as Dundee United regained third spot in
the SPL with their fourth consecutive victory, 4-1 at Falkirk on
Sunday.
David Goodwillie coolly slotted his third goal during their
winning run to give United a deserved 29th-minute lead and Daly
struck either side of half-time.
The Irishman completed his treble in the closing stages as
United's convincing victory continued their strong revival from the
difficult initial spell that followed Craig Levein's departure.
Only an injury-time goal from Pedro Moutinho denied them a
fourth successive clean sheet as caretaker manager Peter Houston
continues to lead them into a strong position in the race for
Europe.
Falkirk manager Eddie May picked the same side that drew with
Celtic the previous weekend, with Darren Barr, Colin Healy, Enoch
Showunmi and Carl Finnigan all returning after being suspended or
ineligible for Monday's Scottish Cup defeat at Kilmarnock.
A draw would have taken the Bairns off the bottom but they
were sluggish from the opening stages, when several poor clearances
put them under pressure.
However, the hosts had a great chance in the 12th minute when
Showunmi got to the byline and crossed for Carl Finnigan four yards
out, but the striker's header hit goalkeeper Dusan Pernis at
point-blank range.
Darren Dods replaced the injured Andy Webster after 14
minutes but United continued to control possession on a bumpy
surface before Goodwillie notched his goal.
The Scotland Under-21 striker charged down Brian McLean's
attempted clearance on the edge of the box and held off the
defender's sliding tackle before rolling the ball through Robert
Olejnik's legs.
United midfielder Danny Swanson fired an angled drive just
wide from 25 yards before Showunmi had a shooting chance from a
corner, only to volley three yards over with his left foot.
Falkirk lost McLean to injury in the 40th minute, with Lee
Bullen coming on at right-back and Barr moving into the centre of a
defence which was exposed in the 45th minute.
Pernis launched a huge kick after saving Ryan Flynn's weak
20-yard effort and Daly easily shrugged off Pedro Pele before
lobbing Olejnik from 20 yards.
May made his final substitutions at the break with Jack
Compton and Moutinho on for Scott Arfield and Finnigan.
Daly had the ball in the net again four minutes into the
second half after challenging Olejnik at a second ball following a
free-kick, but referee Euan Norris had spotted an infringement.
Compton sparked Falkirk into life with a powerful volley from
the left edge of the box, which Pernis pushed into the path of
Pele, whose delayed follow-up was blocked.
Showunmi then headed over Compton's corner but Falkirk's
comeback attempts were undone in a 57th-minute counter-attack.
Kenneth's challenge on Showunmi allowed Swanson to break and he set
up Daly to slide home from 10 yards.
Moutinho blazed over from inside the box but Falkirk were
struggling to put United under pressure.
Damian Casalinuovo replaced Goodwillie and found room inside
the box to get away a shot that Olejnik blocked with his feet.
Healy had a powerful shot blocked by Pernis but United
continued to look the better side going forward.
Olejnik saved at close range from Dods and Daly before the
Irishman headed in Swanson's left-wing cross in the 88th minute.
Moutinho then nodded home Compton's cross but there were few
Falkirk fans left inside the stadium to see their consolation.
