Match Report

Thursday, 13th November, 2008

Inverness 1 - 1 Falkirk: Fumbling Flinders is Falkirk's fall guy

INVERNESS'S quest for something as stirring on home soil as Saturday's triumph at Easter Road continues after last night's salvaged draw against Falkirk.

They have now managed just one home win in seven, but it felt like a point salvaged given how Adam Rooney's leveller was forced inelegantly over the line with just nine minutes left.

Falkirk might have capitalised more tellingly on their first-half opportunities, but the hosts should have more heavily punished an erratic display by visiting goalkeeper Scott Flinders.

In the end, home manager Craig Brewster was able to accentuate the positive. "Falkirk were good for their lead in the first half and we did much better in the second," he stressed.

"Results have been poor at home, but the important thing for us tonight was not to lose the game. We had a great result on Saturday and we've earned the point after a positive second-half display tonight."

Falkirk manager John Hughes brought Lee Bullen into central defence in place of Dutchman Gerard Aafjes.

It was Falkirk who took the lead with their first serious attack of the evening. Neil McCann's cross from the left was knocked back cleverly to the edge of the box by Steve Lovell from beyond the far post. It found Michael Higdon swiping a left-foot shot past a motionless Ryan Esson from 16 yards.

Higdon then missed a sitter from eight yards, a miss that was always likely to prove costly on a night when chances were at a premium.

So it proved with nine minutes remaining. Substitute Barry Wilson's cross created chaos as Flinders fumbled and Ian Black struck the top of the bar with a header. Rooney, another substitute, finally strode in to force the ball over the line.

Falkirk assistant Brian Rice refused to blame Flinders, stressing: "He was under a lot of pressure tonight from high balls into the box, but he's been excellent since coming into the team."