Match Report

Monday, 7th December, 2009

by Richard Bath

Falkirk 1-2 St Mirren: Buddies edge basement battle

FLAWED but fascinating, this frantic encounter had all the hallmarks of a bottom-of-the-table dogfight. But it would be unfair to focus on what it didn't have, such as clinical finishing and cool heads, so let's concentrate instead on what it did have: drama by the bucketload. Three goals, endless shots, one controversial sending-off and a good shout for a last-minute equaliser denied by the referee. Most of all, it had a worthy winner in a St Mirren side that was relentlessly positive and disciplined, and who were rewarded by being lifted off the bottom of the table.

"It's been a difficult period for us," said St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson afterwards. "We've been doing a lot of good things but not getting the results, so it was a case of convincing the players to keep doing things properly because I knew it would come. That's what happened today."

St Mirren's form on the road has been significantly more impressive than their dire displays at Love Street, and certainly better than it was back in February when they were beaten 4-0 here. Yesterday, St Mirren started as if they were the home side, playing with a precision and intent that was in inverse proportion to Yogi Hughes' side, who seemed determined to give the ball away at every turn. Falkirk's defence was also particularly hesitant and it was only after Andy Dorman was put clean through after a sustained period of pressure from the visitors that Falkirk seemed to snap to.

Falkirk remained hugely vulnerable at the back and 10 minutes later Dorman once again found himself clear only to shoot straight at keeper Robert Olejnik once again. If it was by no means one-way traffic – Burton O'Brien's scorching drive skimmed off the bar and was followed by two more long-range shots that forced saves from Mark Howard – the best chances came St Mirren's way, especially when some slick interpassing released Stephen McGinn only for him to hit the ball and the rebound straight at Olejnik.

Falkirk's central defensive partnership of Lee Bullen and Darren Barr looked worryingly vulnerable to crosses while Olejnik didn't inspire much confidence either. Such was their shakiness that a series of corners just before half-time had to be scrambled away, but the half-chances kept coming for Gus MacPherson's side and when the dam eventually broke it was no surprise.

Jack Ross picked the ball up on the right and sent a low stinging shot across goal. Olejnik was down but could only parry it straight into the path of Jim Hamilton who gratefully slammed it into the net. By the time the whistle went for half-time five minutes later, St Mirren were in full cry and it was all Falkirk could do to keep the Paisley men at bay.

You don't need to be a clairvoyant to guess the tenor of Hughes' half-time team talk, and after the interval Falkirk came out buzzing. O'Brien was again to the fore, forcing a save from Howard. Yet their intent wasn't matched by their speed of thought or accuracy and after five minutes of giving the ball away and being caught in possession the momentum completely dissipated.

Then, less than 10 minutes after the break, came the controversy that arguably settled this harum scarum encounter. Hamilton picked the ball up on the left and had his back to the pitch when Jackie McNamara, Falkirk's most effective player, lunged into the back of him. There was bemusement and consternation all round when referee Dougie McDonald reached for the red card.

St Mirren tried to press home their advantage, with Dorman making Olejnik save smartly, yet Falkirk had been stung into action and finally got the rub of the green when O'Brien lobbed in a harmless-looking free-kick that was far too close to Howard. The St Mirren goalkeeper rose to punch it clear but only half-caught the ball, which spun behind him, falling at the feet of Steve Lovell who gratefully hooked the ball into the goal for an unexpected equaliser.

With both sides pressing for the win, a rejuvenated 10-man Falkirk even looked as if they may steal the points. Scott Arfield went close from long-range as Falkirk suddenly discovered an aggression and desire. Yet as Falkirk threw themselves forward they left themselves weak at the back and when Dorman whipped the ball in from the left, Denis Wyness slid in to poke the ball into the bottom corner for a 2-1 lead and his first goal for over a year.

Falkirk were determined not to go down without a fight though. There were just eight minutes remaining when O'Brien curled a corner into the heart of a packed penalty area. When Howard failed to clear, Higdon was the first to smack the ball goalwards, followed by Barr before the ball smacked off the post from Lovell's swipe, with Jack eventually clearing the ball. Three times the ball had been fired goalwards from virtually point-blank range, three times St Mirren had stopped it on the line. Several of the Falkirk players were convinced the ball had pinballed across the line but that would have given them a point they didn't deserve.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Andy Dorman looked dangerous all afternoon and put Falkirk under pressure from the start. He also played a key role in the winning goal.

QUICK FACT: The only piece of silverware won by St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson was won when Kilmarnock won the Scottish Cup – against Falkirk.

TALKING POINT: Why did referee Dougie McDonald decide that a fairly innocuous tackle by Jackie McNamara on Jim Hamilton, which looked like a yellow card at the very worst, was a straight sending-off offence?