Dundee United warmed up for life under incoming manager Craig Brewster with a victory as substitute Derek McInnes scored an 88th-minute winner against Falkirk at Tannadice.

David Fernandez gave United the lead with an exquisite 36th-minute chip after Stephen O'Donnell and Alan Gow had both struck the woodwork in the first half for Falkirk, who have now lost five Bank of Scotland Premier League matches on the spin.

Daniel McBreen's 68th-minute equaliser looked to have earned the Bairns a deserved draw before McInnes struck in the dying stages to bring some much-needed cheer to the Tangerines after a tumultuous week in which manager Gordon Chisholm was sacked and replaced on an interim basis by Billy Dodds.

United were missing the services of Mark Wilson and his absence from the squad only served to heighten rumours that the defender's apparently impending £500,000 transfer to Celtic will happen sooner rather than later.

Derek Stillie was ruled out as a result of flu and his replacement, Craig Samson, breathed a sigh of relief in the 17th minute as O'Donnell's low drive from 15 yards out struck the base of the far post and rebounded to safety.

Gow, who created O'Donnell's chance with a delightful through-ball also hit the woodwork four minutes later as his outlandish effort from an acute angle smacked against Samson's crossbar.

But the home side began to assert some authority on proceedings and Falkirk goalkeeper Allan Ferguson was forced into action when Charlie Mulgrew ambitiously attempted to open the scoring with a 35-yard free-kick.

However, while Ferguson comfortably dealt with that dipping strike he was powerless to prevent United taking the lead as Fernandez sidestepped the attentions of Andy Lawrie and unleashed a sumptuous chip which sailed into the top corner of the net.

The hosts were now in full control and came agonisingly close to doubling their lead three minutes before the interval, but were thwarted by an outstanding stop from Ferguson, who pushed Grant Brebner's header from Mulgrew's cross over the bar.

From the resultant corner Brebner this time saw a header cleared off the line by Gow, before Lawrie averted the danger by knocking the ball out of play.

Unsurprisingly Fernandez was presented with the first clear-cut chance of the second half when Jim McIntyre's intelligent dummy from Collin Samuel's pass presented the former Celtic player with the chance to shoot from 16 yards.

But he could not repeat his first-half finish and Ferguson was once again on hand to produce a fantastic stop.

That miss was then punished in the most emphatic manner as McBreen stooped to meet Kenny Milne's header across goal and from only four yards there was no stopping the Australian's effort hitting the back of the net.

Dodds then made a last-ditch effort to win a game which was slipping away from his side when he introduced Lee Miller and McInnes in a double swap for McIntyre and Brebner.

Remarkably the substitutes then combined for the winner right at the death as Miller knocked Mulgrew's cross back to McInnes, and from the edge of the box the veteran midfielder lashed a volley high into the roof of the net.

Teams

Dundee Utd Samson, McCracken, Ritchie (Kenneth 63), Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Brebner (McInnes 75), Mulgrew, Samuel, McIntyre (Miller 75), Fernandez.

Subs Not Used: McLean, Robertson, Cameron, Goodwillie.

Booked: Fernandez.

Goals: Fernandez 36, McInnes 89.

Falkirk Ferguson, Lawrie, Rodrigues, Ireland, Milne, O'Donnell, Lima (Steven Thomson 84), Latapy (Cregg 87), Scally (Moutinho 67), McBreen, Gow.

Subs Not Used: Glennon, McPherson, Ross, Barr.

Booked: Scally.

Goals: McBreen 69.

Att: 7,948

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).