'Fight for our colours': United's character test as they push for first win of 2026

United put disappointing January behind them as Eskesen gets his first goal.

“Fight for our colours.” That was the message in black, white and tangerine emblazoned across the away end ahead of kick off at the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday. Supporters have had very little to sing about of late, plagued by a string of poor results and biblical rain which has called off United’s last three games.

After United’s last performance against Hibs — which saw their defence collapse and surrender a 1-2 lead to a 3-2 defeat over the course of five excruciating minutes — a furious Jim Goodwin questioned the players’ character. It felt like a last-ditch attempt to provoke a response from the squad, albeit unfortunately timed as the chance to mount a comeback has proved difficult with consecutive match postponements.

And so, United walked out at Falkirk Stadium under a lot of pressure. Anything less than three points would have been an unacceptable outcome. Falkirk have proved formidable opponents this season though. Buoyed by two consecutive promotions, and consistent positive performances in the Premiership, they’re currently occupying the spot in the league that United fancied for themselves at the start of the season. The last time the two teams last met, United dropped three points and a goalkeeper. It always going to be a fight.

In the opening minutes, United proved themselves a threat, with Ross Graham forcing a save from Scott Bain from a confident header and a strike from Sibbald landing inches wide of its intended target. But, in what has become an all too familiar story this season, it was the Tangerines who conceded first. A clever lay-off from Barney Stewart — a striker who was plucked from university leagues just over a year ago and has netted three Premiership goals since January —helped Aston Villa loanee Ben Broggio find the back of the net.

Less than 10 minutes later, a gaffe from Bain offered United a reprieve. A miscommunication between Bain and defender Liam Henderson saw a high ball spill out of the keeper’s hands and fall into straight into the path of Graham. The United captain was quick off the mark, planting a powerful volley into the back of the net to level the score. One all.

Not too long into the second half, United found themselves a goal down yet again after a well-worked play courtesy of Flip Lissah and Leon McCann. The gulf between Krisztian Keresztes and Will Ferry, both in terms of space and communication, has gifted far too many opposition goals over the course of the season.

However, just minutes later, Craig Sibbald had levelled the scoring again. With Zac Sapsford’s effort denied by a Lissah block, Sibbald was on hand with an effortless low strike. It may have lacked the power of some of his other screamers this season but, from 20 yards out, the placement was spot on and the ball rolled in safely out of Bain’s reach. In a mark of affection for his boyhood club, or perhaps in recognition of a job not yet done, there was no celebration from the 30-year-old midfielder.

In a game that rarely paused for breath, it was United’s No. 1 who was called into action next, offering a terrific diving save to block Lissah from scoring a second time and tipping the score line in Falkirk’s favour. Then, in true Scottish Premiership fashion, it was time for a contentious intervention from VAR.

When substitute Max Watters made a break from the half-way line, it looked like he was heading for a one-on-one with the Falkirk keeper. Henderson launched in with a tactical foul, prepared to take a booking for the team. But he got more than he bargained for when referee Ryan Lee was called to the VAR monitor to consider upgrading his initial yellow card. By that point, the decision was only ever going to go one way and Henderson was sent packing for denial of a goalscoring opportunity.

With Falkirk down to 10 men, United made a few personnel changes. Brought into the fold for the last 20 minutes were Julius Eskesen and Ivan Dolcek, two players who have made consistently failed to make Goodwin’s starting 11 and whose cameos in the dying minutes of a game generally provoke grumbling from the United support.

However, in an incredible turn of events, it was the two substitutes who secured United’s winning goal in the 83^rd minute. A well-placed cross from Ryan Strain was headed on by Dolcek to Eskesen, who had found himself open space at the side of the box to place a calm and tidy shot into the bottom corner. As the away stand exploded, a visibly delighted Eskesen celebrated surrounded by his teammates. When the whistle blew 10 minutes later — United’s lead still intact — the pint-sized midfielder got his flowers in front of the United supporters. He might have needed that just as much as they did.

One performance does not save a lacklustre season, but it does change the narrative. United still trail Falkirk by 11 points but, with two games in hand, United have the potential to narrow that gap to five if they do their jobs properly. And, even if a top-half finish feels increasingly unlikely now, there’s no better way to give it a go than by snatching three points from the team immediately ahead of you. At the very least, United are now looking up instead of watching their backs for a relegation battle. As Goodwin put it after the game: “We know we’ve given ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb, but we certainly won’t stop trying.”