Aberdeen moved comfortably into the Scottish Cup fifth round as a Jamie Smith double helped them to a deserved replay victory at Pittodrie.

Smith opened the scoring with an impressive free-kick and added to Jeffrey de Visscher's strike early in the second half.

Graham Barrett followed up his own penalty to pull one back but Falkirk's night grew worse when the busy Tim Krul was carried off injured after saving Scott Severin's penalty.

The convincing win sets up a home clash against Brechin or Hamilton, which the Dons will be confident of winning after extending their unbeaten home record to 13 games.

With six defenders unavailable including the injured Lee Mair and Richie Byrne, who dropped out of the side that lost 3-0 to Dundee United, Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood had to shuffle his back four.

Right-back Jackie McNamara made his first start since November, Andrew Considine played at left-back and Scott Severin partnered Zander Diamond in the centre.

But they were rarely troubled against a side who had not won at Pittodrie for 50 years and stretched their run without a win against the Dons to 19 games.

Aberdeen survived an early scare when Jamie Langfield spilled a cross from Barrett, but the danger was cleared and the hosts soon settled.

Smith shot over from long range following a good run by Considine, and the midfielder went one better in the 16th minute.

Kenny Milne fouled Miller 25 yards from goal and Smith curled the ball over Krul and into the top corner.

Aberdeen had another let-off when Scott Arfield and Barrett left a long ball to each other with the home defence posted missing.

Krul had to be lively to save Steve Lovell's header after a dangerous cross to the penalty spot by McNamara.

The Dutch keeper was beaten in the 25th minute but Derek Young's shot struck the bar after he worked a one-two with Lovell on the edge of the box.

The Falkirk goal frame was rattled again three minutes later when Miller's 30-yard strike curled over Krul and hit the inside of the far post. Aberdeen were looking dangerous every time they attacked and de Visscher doubled the lead in the 43rd minute.

Krul palmed out Miller's shot from 12 yards but the ball fell to his fellow Dutchman, whose shot found the net via a slight deflection off the grounded Dean Holden.

The Dons continued to dominate after the break and Krul saved from Lovell after the striker had exchanged passes with de Visscher. He was beaten in the 55th minute though when Smith volleyed home from 10 yards after a goalmouth scramble.

Falkirk were handed a lifeline when referee Iain Brines awarded a soft penalty after Barrett's header had struck the arm of Diamond.

Langfield dived low to save Barrett's 60th-minute effort but the former Livingston forward netted the rebound.

Aberdeen set out to restore their three-goal lead and Krul parried Considine's header following a Smith free-kick.

The hosts were handed an opportunity from the spot after Krul brought down Miller just inside the area following de Visscher's through ball.

The Bairns keeper was booked but soon made amends by stopping Severin's penalty. However, the Dutchman's eventful night ended in the 73rd minute when he was stretchered off immediately after making the save.

His replacement, Robert Olejnik, stopped Smith claiming his hat-trick with an excellent one-handed stop from a 20-yard free-kick.

De Visscher also had a chance to add to his tally on the counter attack but Milne made a last-ditch sliding challenge.

Teams

Aberdeen Langfield, McNamara (Daniel Smith 68), Diamond,Severin, Considine, Young, Nicholson,De Visscher (Jonathan Smith 90), Jamie Smith,Lovell (Maguire 78), Miller.

Subs Not Used: Soutar, Aluko.

Booked: Young.

Goals: Jamie Smith 19, De Visscher 43, Jamie Smith 55.

Falkirk Krul (Olejnik 73), Ross, Barr, Milne, Holden, Arfield,Riera (Bradley 68), McBride, Moutinho (Cregg 45), Finnigan,Barrett.

Subs Not Used: Aafjes, Scobbie.

Booked: Krul, Holden, Finnigan.

Goals: Barrett 61.

Att: 8,547

Ref: I Brines (Scotland).