A stoppage-time Dundee United equaliser prevented Falkirk from claiming their first Scottish Premiership win of the season in a hard-fought contest at Tannadice.

A vastly-improved second-half showing from United was eventually rewarded when substitute Abdoulaye Yoro's fine cross was flicked home by defender Michael Forbes to frustrate Falkirk and give United a point.

The visitors' new American striker Jacob Murrell looked like being the difference-maker, claiming his first goal for Falkirk to the gleeful chants of 'USA, USA, USA' from a sizeable visiting support.

The former DC United frontman headed Ryan Strain's fourth-minute corner beyond Jack Walton to give his side a deserved early platform.

United were all over the place at that stage and Falkirk carved out further good chances, most notably for Strain, who shot wide from an acute angle against his former club when he really ought to have doubled the visitors' lead.

A fine long-range effort from Romanian international Kevin Ciubotaru - deputising at left-back for the injured Will Ferry - showed signs of life from United.

But Scott Bain made a sharp save to frustrate him, then pulled off a terrific double stop to foil Lyall Cameron on his United debut, then Daniel Bennie's rebound.

United - with manager Jim Goodwin in attendance but not in the dugout after his recent hospital stay - left the field to a chorus of boos from the home fans, who expected better.

It duly arrived after the break, but initially without a clinical finish.

Iraq international Zidane Iqbal almost announced himself in spectacular style but his shot from the edge of the area was well tipped over by Bain. And, from the resultant corner, fellow substitute Lachlan Rose hooked over the bar.

Former Falkirk midfielder Dylan Tait also went close but was also foiled by the excellent Bain in goal, as was substitute Neil Farrugia when played in by Tait.

United's surprising early lethargy proved difficult to shake off, with the home fans venting their frustration midway through the first half as they watched a scrappy, error-strewn performance with disbelief at times.

That they applauded their side off at the end is the measure of the improvement that followed. Quite why they weren't a lot more fired up for a game in their own stadium right from the off is a bit of a mystery.

The introductions of Rose and Iqbal made a difference, as did the arrival from the bench of Yoro, whose cross was the final bit of quality his side had hitherto lacked.

There's clearly enough talent in the United side to suggest they'll do well this season but only if they can knit together a string of 90 minute performances rather than impressing in flashes.

Falkirk came flying out of the traps and threatened to blow their hosts away in lightning-quick start that had them ahead early and slicing through their hosts seemingly at will in the game's early stages.

Indeed, with a more clinical edge, Falkirk could have been well out of sight before United finally began to chase the game and found a leveller.

Having played pretty well and got nothing against Rangers and Celtic recently, Falkirk will feel again that they're not leaving with more to show for their efforts.

That said, they rode their luck at times and can thank Bain for keeping them in the game as long as he did, with several fine saves.

With new Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli making the final deliberations on his first squad, Bain will have done his chances absolutely no harm.

His goal was peppered with shots and, with the exception of Forbes' unstoppable late header, he was equal to every single one.

Dundee United assistant manager Lee Sharp: "The first half an hour, we were too passive. We built into the game after 35 minutes and, second half, I thought we dominated. We should've went on and won.

"We made changes and freshened it up, and the guys that came on made a real impact.

"The character was there - the fans could see that. Even once we scored, we were pushing to get the winner and you could see the disappointed at the end of the game from the players."

Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "Very frustrated. If we could have just have held out, another two points would've been massive.

"I thought we started the game really well on the front foot and took the game to Dundee United and created some good opportunities.

"I think tiredness set in and then it was just a matter of could we see it out. We defended our box really well and when we didn't, Scott Bain made saves."