Mark Durnan started and finished the move that gave Dundee United a valuable victory at home to Falkirk.
This Tannadice tussle was a tight one but, thanks to the central defender who returned to the side after suspension, they grabbed three precious points.
Durnan fired home a loose ball on 82 minutes to make it a miserable return to his former club for Bairns boss Peter Houston.
The result also kept United right in touch at the top of the Championship.
The Tangerines had made only the one change to the team that started the win against Dumbarton but it was crucial, with Durnan coming back from suspension to replace Coll Donaldson in defence.
The hosts made a bright start, spreading the ball around the pitch, but their first effort on goal was a shot from distance from Paul Dixon on 11 minutes that flew wide.
Former Tannadice favourite John Rankin hooked a strike past for the Bairns a minute later then, as the match warmed up, United’s Tony Andreu stung the hands of keeper Danny Rogers with a well-hit shot.
On 25 minutes, the home side had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down after another ex-United man, David McCracken, pulled back Nick van der Velden inside the box. It looked like a lucky escape for the Bairns.
Andreu was then sent clear by a brilliant defence-splitting pass from Charlie Telfer but goalie Rogers came out to block.
Up at the other end, the dangerous Craig Sibbald had two goes at the United goal before the half-time whistle blew.
The Tangerines made a tactical switch at the break, with Tope Obadeyi going up front in place of Van der Velden.
On 49 minutes, United came their closest yet to opening the scoring when Scott Fraser picked the ball up outside the area then let fly with a shot that just cleared the bar.
Just a minute later, there was another near-thing when Frank van der Struijk flashed a header wide after being found by a Fraser cross.
United hearts were in mouths on 60 minutes when Van der Velden was short with a header back to keeper Cammy Bell but Luke Leahy could only kick the loose ball into the goalie’s arms.
Home boss Ray McKinnon then made a double change, bringing on Simon Murray and Smith for Van der Velden and Obadeyi.
William Edjenguele headed over for United on 65 minutes before Fraser had a shot spilled by Rogers, with Murray trying unsuccessfully to sneak in the loose ball from the tightest of angles.
Andreu then sent a header past on 72 minutes after he was picked out by a delivery from Van der Struijk.
Leahy shot at goal for the Bairns on 81 minutes but the ball was deflected away for a corner.
The home team then made it 1-0 thanks to a sweeping move that was started and finished by Durnan.
The defender intercepted a Falkirk pass at the edge of his own box then raced forward into the Bairns’ half. He clipped the ball forward to sub Smith, who then played it right to Fraser.
Fraser fired the ball across and Smith tried to shoot but it was blocked and Durnan nipped in to smash the ball into the net from eight yards.
Falkirk had a chance to level in injury-time but a brilliant block from Edjenguele got in the way of sub Bob McHugh’s strike.
Then there was more drama when ex-United striker Lee Miller crashed a shot off the post for the visitors but the flag was up for offside.
Attendance: 7,046.
Dundee United: Bell, Dixon, Durnan, Fraser (Donaldson 86), Obadeyi (Murray 61), Telfer, Edjenguele, Flood, Andreu, Van der Struijk, Van der Velden (Smith 61). Subs not used: Zwick, Dillon, Spittal.
Falkirk: Rogers, Leahy, Muirhead, McCracken, Rankin (Craigen 86), Taiwo, Kerr, Baird (McHugh 80), Sibbald (Hippolyte 73), Gasparotto, Miller. Subs not used: Mehmet, Grant, Shepherd, Watson
Referee: Euan Anderson.