There was frustration for Dundee United as they were held at Tannadice by promotion rivals Falkirk.
Simon Murray gave the home side the lead on 50 minutes when he slipped a shot past Bairns keeper Robert Thomson.
However, a header from Luke Leahy pulled Falkirk level on 83 minutes.
That meant United stayed in fourth spot in the Championship and failed to gain ground on both the second-placed Bairns and Morton in third spot after they drew with Hibs.
In truth, Ray McKinnon’s men should have been out of sight in this game given the amount of chances they created but were actually hanging on for a point at the end.
The Tangerines, as expected, had handed a debut to 19-year-old midfielder Scott Allardice.
The former Craigowl and St John’s pupil was one of three changes in the Tannadice team, with Blair Spittal and Jamie Robson also coming in.
Out of the side that started the defeat to Queen of the South went Paul Dixon, Charlie Telfer and Ali Coote.
That meant the three pre-match injury doubts – keeper Cammy Bell, midfielder Willo Flood and striker Thomas Mikkelsen – were all passed fit.
The early chances were few are far between but United should have taken the lead on 10 minutes.
Bairns player Luca Gasparotto slipped and left the ball to home striker Murray, who raced in on goal.
Instead of shooting he tried to square to Mikkelsen but the cutback wasn’t the best and the Dane couldn’t control the ball and Tom Taiwo nipped in to clear for Falkirk.
Just as the match crept into its 15th minute, the hosts squandered another great opportunity.
It was Gasparotto at fault again for the visitors as he lost possession to Murray just outside the box.
The Tannadice frontman was left in the clear but he stabbed his shot past the far post.
John Baird had a couple of strikes at goal for the Bairns, with Bell saving one and the other flying over the bar.
On the half-hour, Bell did well to hold a drive from Robert McHugh then a Flood freekick was headed into the arms of Thomson by Murray.
Five minutes later, United missed another great chance, this time Tony Andreu heading wide from in front of goal after he was found by a Spittal cross form the right.
Bell saved low to keep out a header from Peter Grant then the same player fired over after a Bairns corner.
United had enjoyed the better of the first half and should have been ahead at the break but at least they only had to wait five minutes of the second before finally getting on the scoresheet.
It was a fine run and finish from Murray, who cut in from the left before shooting past the advancing Thomson.
Just two minutes later and Murray was almost the hero again when he hit a spectacular half-volley from out wide on the left and it smacked the far post before bouncing back out the way.
With 69 minutes gone, United brought on Alex Nicholls for Spittal as they pushed for a second goal.
Murray tried to get his double on 72 minutes but he was outmuscled by Grant as he tried to get a shot in.
With quarter-of-an-hour to go, United defender William Edjenguele got his head to an Andreu corner but Thomson saved well.
Andreu then tried to curl a shot beyond the Bairns goalie, who saved again, before Allardice came off to be replaced by Telfer on 78 minutes.
The Frenchman came close again when his strike from just outside the post zipped past.
However, it was the Bairns who scored next.
Leahy was the scorer, heading home from close range after a freekick out on the right from sub James Craigen.
United should really have had the points wrapped up but they were hanging on for a draw in the closing minutes, with Bell having to save at the feet of sub Nathan Austin.
Another Falkirk sub, Scott Shepherd, then hit the woodwork in the final minute as the Bairns finished on the front foot.
Attendance: 6,313.
Dundee United: Bell, Durnan, Spittal (Nicholls 69), Murdoch, Edjenguele, Flood, Mikkelsen, Andreu, Robson, Allardice (Telfer 78). Subs not used: Zwick, Dixon, Toshney, Kuate, Van der Velden.
Falkirk: Thomson, Leahy, Muirhead, Taiwo, Kerr, Baird (Shepherd 68), Sibbald, Hippolyte (Craigen 61), Grant, Gasparotto, McHugh (Austin 61). Subs not used: McMinn, McCracken, O’Hara, Aird.
Referee: Euan Anderson.
