Peter Houston eager to apply pressure on Hibs & Rangers

Falkirk can go level on points with Hibernian if they win. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Peter Houston’s side take on Livingston tonight looking for a win that would take them into second place, above Hibs and within touching distance of leaders Rangers – as well as further away from Raith Rovers, Morton and Queen of the South in the play-off chase.

Houston said: “The win we had over Dumbarton at the weekend was not the prettiest but it was a really important one. We know that if we beat Livingston then we put more distance between [us and] the other clubs chasing a play-off place as well as pulling ourselves closer to the top.

“This could be a massive game in our season and we need to pass the ball better than we did on Saturday. Dumbarton gave us a lot of respect as they put a lot of people behind the ball and that could be copied by other teams who now see us as a big team in this league.

“Despite Dumbarton sitting in, we created a few chances but were not clinical enough to kill the game off. We will need to be clinical against Livingston as they will be going here with a bit more confidence after a great result at St Mirren at the weekend.”

Kieran Duffie, Tom Taiwo and Bob McHugh continue to be absent from the Falkirk squad due to injury.

Livingston will again have assistant manager David  Hopkin in charge, although the former Scotland player is not sending out positive messages about wanting the job on a permanent basis.

The Lions won 4-1 at St Mirren in their first game after manager Mark Burchill was sidelined and Hopkin has asked the West Lothian squad for the same again against the Bairns. Hopkin said: “This will be a difficult game as Falkirk are doing really well just now. However, we set a standard at Paisley on Saturday and all I want the boys to do is to hit that standard again.

“It was agreed that I would take the team for two games and then we will see what  happens after that.”

Darren Cole and Craig Sives are again missing through injury, but 16-year-old forward Matthew Knox, who became the club’s youngest-ever player when he came on as a substitute at the weekend, is included again.