SECOND’S BEST
Bob does the job to keep Bairns in the play-off driving seat
Bob McHUGH may have emerged as the late hero for Falkirk again to ensure they are in pole position to finish second in the league. Regardless of the final placings next weekend, however, Saturday’s draw with Raith Rovers only reinforced the notion that there is unlikely to be a stand-out favourite among the Championship play-off hopefuls.
Fourth-place Raith are perceived as the underdogs but, after extending their unbeaten run to 10 games and having notched up nine wins during a productive 14-match period — including victory over Hibernian — they will be anything but wistful bystanders.
This clash at Stark’s Park was a dress rehearsal for what could be a potential play-off semi-final meeting, with Falkirk safe in the knowledge that victory in their final game against Morton on Sunday should be enough to seal second ahead of Hibs, who are three points and seven goals worse off with two games left.
Alan Stubbs men play their game in hand against Dumbarton tomorrow before their final game against Queen of the South on Sunday, both at Easter Road.
but even if Hibs pick up maximum points, a win for Falkirk at home against Morton should still be enough for them to clinch that best-of-the-rest spot behind Rangers.
That would leave the capital side and Raith to scrap it out in the play-off quarter-finals.
Falkirk striker McHugh, who struck a dramatic 88th-minute equaliser at Stark’s Park on Saturday, acknowledges that playing two fewer games by dint of finishing second — and having a welcome 10-day break — would be significant.
‘I don’t think it’s the be-all and end-all, but I think it will have a big say in it,’ admitted the former Motherwell player.
‘It’s a lot easier with the two fewer games and I don’t think anyone wants to play Raith Rovers — it will be a tough game.
‘If we can miss that game, that would be a big help.
‘It would be a great achievement finishing second behind Rangers and ahead of Hibs.
‘This point keeps it in our hands — we go into next week’s game and know what we need to do. We’re capable of getting the points and sealing that second spot.’
Falkirk’s recent run of form is just as impressive as Raith’s.
Having also beaten runaway champions Rangers last month — when McHugh scored another stoppage-time winner in that 3-2 win — the striker reckons Peter Houston’s side would have nothing to fear if they reach the final against Premiership opposition.
He added: ‘It’s a confident group of boys in there and it’s boys I feel are capable of playing at that level anyway.
‘We’ve not been far away and we’re ahead of Hibs at the moment. Whoever goes into the play-off final tie will have a bit of momentum, so I’d be fully confident.
‘There’s a great spirit within the boys. The team doesn’t know when they are beaten.’
Raith’s play-off potential was further reinforced by the fact that boss Ray McKinnon felt able to make five changes at the weekend to keep his players fresh.
However, it was a different story for patched-up Falkirk, who had blair Alston, Tom Taiwo and Will Vaulks all having to play the fixture despite carrying knocks.
Rovers went ahead in the seventh minute when Joel Thomas was adjudged to have got the last touch inside a congested box after keeper Danny Rogers initially parried the same player’s header.
Craig Sibbald levelled for the bairns in the 56th minute with a neat finish from an angle inside the area.
The hosts edged back in front when on-loan Rangers forward Ryan Hardie pounced on an Alston error to score.
Hero McHugh then climbed off the bench for Falkirk to take his tally to three goals in three games with a vital near-post header.
If it was another dramatic day for Falkirk, it also proved an unusual — and potentially awkward — afternoon for Raith midfielder James Craigen, who was playing against the side he will join this summer, having signed a pre-contract with Houston’s outfit.
‘Since it came out that I signed a pre-contract I think I’ve done well,’ said the former Partick Thistle man.
‘I spoke to the gaffer and I’ve proved that it’s not really affected me. Hopefully, I can keep playing.
‘A couple of the Falkirk boys were winding me up in the tunnel, but you know what football is like.
‘I’d be doing the same if I was one of them. It’s part and parcel of football, it’s a good laugh.’