Falkirk boss confident ahead of Highland shoot-out

Published on Monday 18 May 2009 10:02

FALKIRK need a win at Inverness next Saturday to retain their SPL status but manager John Hughes remains defiant.

The Bairns crashed 2-0 at home to St Mirren on Saturday, a result which virtually guarantees SPL safety for the Buddies, who had gone into the match bottom of the table. Billy Mehmet and Andy Dorman were the scorers.

Bairns boss Hughes said: "A few weeks ago this team were down and out. So all credit to them to get back into this position.

"We need to regroup and get ready to go again next week.

"We need to go up there and win. It's something that we have done before so we can do it again."

Hughes will appeal the red card dished out to Steven Pressley, who was sent off following his clash with Mehmet which left the Saints striker needing four stitches in a face wound.

St Mirren assistant boss Andy Millen, meanwhile, is looking for the Buddies fans to roar them on to safety against Hamilton next week.

The deserved victory was inspired by a large, vociferous travelling support which packed into the stand behind the goal where Mehmet scored the first-half opener.

The Saints fans encouraged their side all afternoon and were rewarded when Dorman sealed the three points after the break.

The Buddies need to at least avoid a heavy defeat against Accies to guarantee safety and Millen is hoping for similar backing from the fans at St Mirren Park.

"We have a job to do and we want to go back to our home ground and put on the same type of performance and get the same result," he said. "The backing we got from the fans on Saturday was absolutely fantastic. Our players will respond to that. They need encouragement, not criticism.

"At home our fans can be critical and we understand that because the expectations and demands previous managers have set at this club. But no-one can say that our players never try, they give everything they have.

"Sometimes it has not been good enough, as it hasn't been in our last two home games. But if the fans turn up next week and give that level of support then we will give them a performance."

St Mirren keeper Mark Howard had one of his quietest afternoons of the season with only a Stevie Lovell shot to stop but Millen put that down to an all-round team performance.

He said: "Mark will be the first to say he never had much to do because of the people in front of him. Billy Mehmet and Andy Dorman led the line from the front in terms of defensively, and attacking.

"Mehmet was incredible, he played the game like a man and gave two international players a tough time. Dorman played well beside him.

"But all the players did well. We had trust in them and we didn't have a failure."