Livingston 0 - 3 Falkirk: Roberts nets hat-trick

Falkirk striker Phillip Roberts looks set to observe the recent scoring traditions of the club after netting a perfect hat-trick in a convincing 3-0 win at Livingston.

Following successive seasons of Farid El Alagui and Lyle Taylor each amassing 27 goals before their departures, former Arsenal trainee Roberts has taken his tally to five in as many games.

“It’s a bit early to say he is prolific,” said Bairns manager Gary Holt. “Their job is to score goals. You know your role in the team, as long as he’s doing the work for the team, he will score plenty of goals, as will Rory Loy.”

Summer recruit Phillips – on loan at Inverness last term – opened the scoring after half an hour when he wrapped his left foot around Rory Loy’s pass with a first-time shot that found the net.

His second arrived four minutes before the break when he outpaced Callum Fordyce to meet Jay Fulton’s pass before rifling a ferocious rising effort past Darren Jamieson from an angle.

And he capped a fine afternoon in the 53rd minute when he headed in Keiran Duffie’s cross.

“To say I’m furious is an understatement,” said Livingston manager Richie Burke. “I went through them there in the dressing room.”