Paul Watson makes a very important intervention to head a cross into the Falkirk goalie Robbie Thomson's arms. Simon Murray was just waiting to pounce. United's next move releases Thomas Mikkelson but his poor first touch forces him further to the left of the goal. He cuts inside and curls a shot over the bar.

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at the Falkirk Stadium

The Bairns are calm and assured in comparison to United's nervousness.

William Edjenguele, Mark Durnan and Sean Dillon all look capable of landing the Tangerines in trouble at the back with bouts of carelessness.

Falkirk's seventh corner is gathered confidently by United keeper Cammy Bell who sends a kick-out deep into the Falkirk half. Simon Murray gets on to it but he is too isolated.

As Mark Durnan inexplicably concedes a corner when a simple pass to his goalkeeper would have sufficed, Terrors boss Ray McKinnon has much to ponder. Can he settle his players at half-time? Is it nerves? The pitch?

Image source, SNS

Derek Ferguson tells BBC Radio Scotland listeners: "The United players just want to take that extra touch. You see Blair Spittal and Wato Kuate there taking two and three touches. They are overplaying it a little bit."

It's been a frustrating half for United. Striker Simon Murray delays his shot after a nice knock-down by Thomas Mikkelson and the chance is gone...but only for a minute because Tony Andreu does well on the right, beating his man and crossing into the box where Murray, who has scored 17 so far this season, fluffs his shot and falls on his backside.

Former Falkirk midfielder Derek Ferguson: "Falkirk are quicker and sharper on these loose balls. Falkirk don't mess about in the midfield areas - they ask questions. Mark Kerr is bossing it for them."

Wato Kuate gets on the ball in midfield and knocks it out to the left where Paul Dixon is galloping forward. He takes a couple of touches and swings in a cross that's as inviting as an iced bun. United forward Thomas Mikkelson rises well and nods it powerfully over the Falkirk bar. That's better from the Tangerines - direct and fast.

Mark Kerr, playing against his old team, shows some lovely skill on the left wing and crosses into the United box. The visitors manage to clear but the loose balls seem to be falling to Falkirk in the middle of the pitch.

Steven Thompson
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

A feature for Dundee United early in this match has been their possession of the ball has not been great and their passing has been wayward.

Ah, but what's this? Flood's now signalling that he might be OK. He's making wee sprints all over the park. Maybe he witnessed Tony Andreu's volley over the Falkirk bar and thought to himself, 'I might be needed here'?

Irish midfielder Willo Flood is in a bit of bother with his hamstring. He signals to the Dundee United bench that he has run his race. That is a real blow to the visitors.

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at the Falkirk Stadium

The finish from James Craigen was wonderfully precise - it's his fifth goal of the season and three of those have come against Dundee United.

But the lay-off by John Baird has to be heartily applauded - a brilliant, perfectly weighted touch to tee up his team-mate.

Peter Houston will be horrified as Nathan Austin is caught offside after Craig Sibbald cut through the United back line with a sweetly struck left-footed pass. That's a let-off for Ray McKinnon's men.

The attack comes to nothing, though, with the Terrors clearing the corner. When they get into midfield, a pass to Simon Murray is over-hit and on this slick artificial surface it just skims past the toe of the in-form United striker. He glowers at his team-mate.

Some lovely football by the Bairns shows that they are not here to have their tummies tickled. They pass their way through midfield and break into the box from deep on the left, with United's Mark Durnan forced to hoof the ball beyond his own goal to concede a corner.

Dundee United are making the early advances, pinning back the Falkirk players, entirely in navy blue.

And we are off!

Despite members of the Sportsound team wearing two and three jackets, and one sporting a bunnet - in late May - the sun is actually trying to break through. Let's home the game produces some heat.