Alan Gow fired a hat-trick as rampant Falkirk thrashed Dundee United at Tannadice.

The visitors were starting 2007 without the Bank of Scotland Premier League's top scorer Anthony Stokes.

The striker has returned to Arsenal for talks about his future and could yet return to extend his loan spell at Falkirk - despite interest from Sunderland, Charlton and Celtic.

Gow replaced the teenager, who signed off with a hat-trick against Inverness on Saturday, after recovering from flu.

United boss Craig Levein went with an unchanged starting line-up for the third game running.

Although there were no changes in personnel from the side that drew with Celtic and beat Aberdeen, there was a notable tactical switch by the home outfit with full-backs Stuart Duff and Lee Mair switching flanks.

Falkirk were first to show and it took the returning Gow just four minutes to make an impact.

He shot powerfully from just outside the home penalty area and it took goalkeeper Derek Stillie two attempts to gather the ball.

United had started in sluggish fashion and paid the price when they went behind after 16 minutes, although it was in controversial fashion.

Patrick Cregg forced his way into the box with a powerful run and although he went down when challenged by Garry Kenneth, the home defender did appear to get the ball.

Referee Dougie McDonald did not see it that way, however, and immediately pointed to the spot.

The official had to wave away furious protests before Cregg slotted home the penalty to give his side the lead with his first goal of the season.

Following that opener it was the visitors who went looking for more goals and they threatened via a Russell Latapy free-kick from the left.

His curling delivery into the box saw Gow dive full length in a bid to head home, but he just failed to make contact.

As they tried to claw themselves back into the game, United switched Duff back to the left of the defence and Mair to the right, but they were making little impression as an attacking force.

With the interval approaching, good work on the right by Vitor Lima brought his side a corner and Stephen O'Donnell's kick had the home defence in more difficulty.

Kenneth and Mair could not deal with it and it took a strong header from David McCracken to clear.

When United got forward they produced an equaliser against the run of play.

A cross from the right by Mair was only half cleared and when Duff sent the ball back into the danger area from the left flank skipper Robson was there to score with a superb header from 14 yards.

It was cruel luck on the visitors after they had dominated most of the opening 45 minutes, but justice was done right on the stroke of half-time.

More magic from Latapy saw him find O'Donnell in the box.

O'Donnell still had plenty of work to do and rose to the task with a fierce angled drive which flew past Stillie and hit the back of the net via a post.

Falkirk were dealt a blow in the opening minutes of the second half when O'Donnell, who had taken a knock prior to his goal, limped off to be replaced by Liam Craig.

In the 48th minute their lead should have been cancelled out when home skipper Robson swung the free-kick into the box and Kenneth rose unchallenged to head over from the six-yard line.

The home side had stepped up a gear and Craig Conway and Duff then went close with a powerful efforts from distance.

Collin Samuel was just a whisker away from levelling with a shot which hit the side-netting.

It was Falkirk, though, who found the back of the next as they secured the points with Gow's first goal of the game on 64 minutes.

Kenneth fouled Gow and was booked for kicking the ball away in frustration.

Cedric Uras' free-kick was headed down by Jack Ross and when the ball reached Gow he turned McCracken before sending a measured shot beyond Stillie.

Eleven minutes later Gow got his second and Falkirk's fourth when he raced clear of the home defence and netted with a low drive from the edge of the area.

With time running out he completed a remarkable performance when he lashed the ball from from eight yards.

Teams:

Dundee Utd (1) 1 Falkirk (2) 5

Dundee Utd Stillie, Mair (Proctor 71), McCracken, Kenneth,Duff, Robson, Kerr (Gomis 78), Smith (Goodwillie 65), Conway,Samuel, Robertson.

Subs Not Used: McLean, Archibald, Cameron, Watson.

Booked: Kenneth.

Goals: Robson 41.

Falkirk Lambers, Ross, Uras, Dodd, Milne, Barr, Cregg,Lima (Thomson 82), O'Donnell (Craig 47), Gow,Latapy (John Stewart 80).

Subs Not Used: Higgins, McManus, Twaddle, Scobbie.

Booked: Milne.

Goals: Cregg 17 pen, O'Donnell 45, Gow 63, 76, 89.

Att: 6,261

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).