Dundee United had the first clear-cut opportunity to draw blood when Barry Robson drove in a near-post cross that Noel Hunt headed wide from six yards.
Falkirk appeared to be out of sorts, with their play lacking the free-flowing football that is the Bairns' trademark.
It took the home side until the half-hour mark to compile a meaningful effort on goal as Scott Arfield's 30-yard effort curled just over the bar with keeper Gregorz Szamotulski caught off his line.
John Hughes wisely introduced club talisman Russell Latapy just after half-time in an effort to galvanise a tepid home attack.
The middle-aged magician took only two minutes to display his genius, prodding a delicate ball into the box for Patrick Cregg.
The midfielder was hauled to the ground by Prince Bauben and referee Craig Thomson had the perfect view to award a penalty.
Cregg wrestled the ball away from his team-mates but his self-confidence was misplaced as he cannoned his effort off the bar much to the dismay of the home support.
Five minutes later and Latapy's 30-yard free-kick had Szamotulski scrambling to parry the Trinidad & Tobago international's effort as it was heading for the bottom corner.
Dundee United then rubbed salt into the wounds as they took the lead against the run of play thanks to the consistently accurate left foot of skipper Robson.
The stand-in left back curled an in-swinging corner into the box for the towering Wilkie to head into the back of the net from six yards.
The Tangerines should have doubled their lead minutes later as Jordan Robertson defeated the offside trap, but despite the fact the striker's effort eluded Tim Krul, the ball rebounded back off the post for Kenny Milne to hoist clear.