Falkirk's Hughes rues missing out on a further two points

Published on Monday 3 November 2008 08:56

THE point gained by Falkirk in Saturday's goal-less encounter with Dundee United at Westfield helped ease the Bairns further away from the SPL basement.

However, manager John Hughes felt his team could have claimed the victory which would have taken them into a more comfortable ninth place in the table, especially as Craig Levein's men were reduced to ten men early in the second half.

"Getting a point against a team as accomplished as Dundee United is always good," reflected Yogi, "but it was frustrating in many ways as I felt we could have won the game.

"I thought that, if we played the ball wide then fired in crosses, then we might find a way past their defence but Lee Wilkie and Darren Dods were dealing with the high balls quite easily.

"The game was pretty level until they had a man sent off then they just sat in and tried to hit us on the break.

"We threw everything at them and had a few chances to score but it wasn't to be."

With striker Steve Lovell back from suspension, Falkirk began the game well, coming close to opening the scoring in the first half through Patrick Cregg, Gerard Aafjes and Burton O'Brien – and they looked set to move through the gears when United's Roy O'Donovan was red carded in the 57th minute after a lunge at Aafjes but, despite retaining the bulk of the possession, the Bairns were unable to find a way past Tannadice keeper Lukasz Zaluska.

United boss Levein indicated afterwards that he may consider submitting an appeal to the SFA against O'Donovan's red card, the former Hearts defender suggesting that O'Donovan's tackle on Aafjes was legitimate.