Falkirk 0- 2 St Mirren: Falkirk are bowled over by battling St Mirren

Published on Saturday 16 May 2009 21:22

IN THE battle at the bottom, an energetic performance by never-say-die St Mirren against a curiously listless Falkirk ended with the visitors winning comfortably.

A draw against Hamilton Accies at home next week and Saints will stay in the SPL regardless of what happens between Falkirk and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. On this showing, Falkirk cannot travel north with any anticipation to a fixture they must now win. Any other result and Inverness and St Mirren stay up.

The Paisley side's fans turned out in force and were in prime position behind Danny Mallo's goal to watch their team's early dominance while the home side looked tired and insipid throughout.

"They looked sharper, they were better, they looked like they wanted it more," said Falkirk manager John Hughes. "I'm disappointed with my team who looked a bit leggy and sluggish and just weren't at the races."

St Mirren, by contrast, were full of the vim and vigour that should be expected from a team battling for league survival. They also had some unexpected motivation – from Falkirk. Assistant manager Andy Millen confirmed that some "banter" from the Bairns had riled the Buddies and no team talk was necessary to gee them up. "We had a hunger, we were brave, and we were exceptional today," said Millen.

St Mirren duly swarmed all over the home side from the start, and after just five minutes, former Falkirk captain Jack Ross came up from full-back to crash a marvellous shot from 20 yards that had goal written all over it until Mallo leapt high to divert the ball away.

Will Haining headed the resultant corner off the bar.

Next up was Gary Mason, and his curling shot appeared to deceive Mallo who was slow to get down but nevertheless made the save.

Tam Scobbie decided to help out his goalkeeper, bravely inserting his body into the path of a fierce Andy Dorman shot after 12 minutes. A few second later, Haining attempted an audacious volley from the edge of the Falkirk box but the ball went well wide.

St Mirren continued to press, their midfield shackling Falkirk. Steven Pressley and Darren Barr were also struggling to cope with Billy Mehmet, and could only watch and sigh with relief when the big centre-forward glanced a Dorman free kick wide.

Mehmet was not to be denied, however, and in the 36th minute Hugh Murray headed forward a defence-splitter off a poor Pressley clearance. The striker collected and ran in from 40 yards out, evading Pressley and steadying himself before beating Mallo with a low shot.

Hughes's temper at half-time can only be guessed at, and one indication of his ire was the substitution of Neil McCann by Carl Finnigan. The manager later confessed he would have to review his own team selection.

The weather made more difference than the player change, a brief howling gale and torrential rain in their faces seeming to nonplus St Mirren as Falkirk rallied.

In truth they were only flattering to deceive, however, and it was St Mirren who almost went further ahead, Mehmet's header off a Ross cross being well saved by Mallo. Falkirk broke instantly and Steve Lovell was put clean through only for Mark Howard to save his poor shot.

The clinching goal after 72 minutes was a beauty. Dorman won the ball and sent Mehmet clear on the left. He held up play and waited for the cavalry to arrive, and then laid the ball directly into the path of the inrushing Dorman who side-footed home from ten yards.

"He has been making those runs all season and scoring goals, so I just played it in and to see it hit the back of the net was a great feeling," said Mehmet.

With two minutes remaining, Pressley ended his personal nightmare of a match by apparently elbowing Mehmet to the ground, earning a straight red. The Scotland assistant coach might well have played his final game at top level, though Hughes said it was a clash of heads and added Falkirk will appeal.

Mehmet came off to get four stitches in his cheek and Falkirk proved as ineffectual in injury time as they had been in the preceding 90. They have a mountain to climb next week, while St Mirren seek a first victory at their new stadium.

Last word to Mehmet: "I haven't been able to sleep all week thinking about what would happen if we lost. We knew we had to come here today and get three points. The boys put in a great shift and we deserved the victory." No argument on that score, not even from Falkirk.