Raith Rovers 2 - 2 Falkirk: Bairns get a boon ahead of their Hampden date

At one point it looked as if their minds may already be wandering towards Hampden, but the nature of Falkirk’s superb comeback against Raith Rovers means they can now wend their way to the national stadium with burgeoning belief that a shock is possible.

Two goals down to first-half strikes from Grant Murray and John Baird, largely against the run of play, the Bairns seemed set for a major dent to their confidence ahead of their Scottish Communities League Cup meeting with Celtic next Sunday.

However, top scorer Farid El Alagui’s 22nd goal of the season, which means he has now scored against every First Division opponent, and a second-half header from captain Darren Dods, below, rescued a richly-deserved point for the Bairns.

“The Rangers game showed if we get the tactics right, and the energy and the belief right, an upset is possible,” said manager Steven Pressley with reference to their win over the other half of the Old Firm earlier in the tournament.

Tam Scobbie’s loose header out from Allan Walker’s 27th-minute free-kick here fell short and Murray deftly chested the ball down before rifling the opener past Michael McGovern.

Raith doubled their lead with a magnificently-worked second in the 33rd minute ending with Baird heading in off the bar.

The two-goal advantage lasted just three minutes until Kallum Higginbotham curled a superb ball in from the left flank for El Alagui to get the vital touch with his bald pate.

The comeback was completed with 62 minutes gone. Millar curled in a brilliant free-kick and Dods ghosted in to power in a pin-point header.