Match Report
Wednesday, 29th October, 2008
by Mike Aitken
Falkirk are grateful for favourable decisions as McCann seals last-four place
FALKIRK foraged a path into the semi-finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup last night thanks to a performance which relied on diligence rather than inspiration to eliminate Inverness Caledonian Thistle from the competition.
Neil McCann delivered the first-half goal which separated the sides and was, by a wide margin, the most creative force in a competitive rather than a particularly noteworthy quarter-final tie.
Solid in defence, where Jackie McNamara was a soothing influence, and compact in midfield, Falkirk's passing game produced fewer clear-cut openings than might have been expected. Even McCann's goal was tainted by complaints from Inverness that striker Graham Barrett was offside.
Craig Brewster, the Inverness manager, described the goal as "a sickener for us". He also claimed that referee Somers apologised to his players for not giving a second-half penalty. "I think we were hard done by," he insisted.
John Hughes, the Falkirk manager, agreed his side were "fortunate" at the goal when Michael Higdon's original shot against the woodwork fell sweetly for McCann. But he paid tribute to his players for reaching the last four. "Inverness may have deserved to take something out of the match, but the performance was all about getting us into the semi-finals," he said.
Both sets of players worked hard enough to please their managers, but, on this evidence, Falkirk still have much to do if they want to win the League Cup for the first time in the club's history.
While it was bold to cut admission prices in a bid to boost the attendance, perhaps the fact the temperature in Falkirk was only a smidgen milder than Siberia deterred many of the faithful from lending their support. This was a pity since the tie started at a brisk lick with Falkirk unfortunate not to take the lead with their first attack. The educated left boot of McCann swept presented Barrett with a decent goalscoring opportunity. The forward, who scuffed his finish, hoped the ball might hit the mark anyway, but Inverness cleared their lines.
The chill night air notwithstanding, it was a still evening and overhead conditions for playing football were promising.
Taking heart from the fact they'd already won at the Falkirk stadium in the SPL this season, Caley Thistle fashioned an excellent scoring chance of their own when Douglas Imrie's clever long ball gave Don Cowie a chance to slip between the Falkirk centre-backs. Once he'd also nipped round goalkeeper Scott Flinders, only an ungainly touch rendered the angle so acute that the midfielder shot into the side netting.
In a separate incident, Adam Rooney's angled header prompted a diving save from Flinders before Jamie Duff's snap shot from ten yards also tested the goalkeeper. When Cowie made another telling run into the box and shot narrowly over from 12 yards, Caley were frustrated not to make more of their pressure.
Ten minutes before the interval, Falkirk nicked in front after Jackie McNamara's through ball caught Caley looking for an offside decision which never came. Higdon's hurried shot, with only Ryan Esson to beat, slammed against the woodwork and the ball rebounded invitingly for McCann who found the net with a smart header.
McCann's shrewd distribution continued to be Falkirk's best feature as the second half unfolded.
Having switched flanks to take a corner, McCann was on the right touchline for once when he opened up the Inverness cover with another sharp ball. Defender Darren Barr slid in to make contact from six yards, but his shot hit the base of a post.
Already aggrieved from the loss of a controversial goal, Caley were less than ecstatic when Rooney appeared to be fouled in the box by Gerard Aafjes. Referee Somers waved away the claim and Falkirk's progress was preserved.