Bairns target second
IF Hibernian have been distracted by their three-pronged bid for silverware, then Falkirk look set to take full advantage.
Successive – and unexpected – defeats at the hands of Morton and Dumbarton have left Hibs vulnerable and Falkirk could even nudge them out of second place tomorrow evening. Tom Taiwo, the former Hibs’ midfield player now plying his trade at Falkirk, believes there is everything to play for after his side’s 3-1 win over Queen of the South.
After a wretched first-half performance when they trailed to a Chris Higgins’ goal, Falkirk won comfortably with John Baird, and own goal from Andy Dowie and a late strike from Blair Alstson, settling it. He has set his sights on upsetting his former club.
“For the last three or four weeks the manager has only been talking about second place,” Taiwo revealed. “While it’s up for grabs there’s no point looking down.
“By setting our sights high if we do fall just short we’ll definitely be in that third position.
“I still keep in touch with a couple of my former team-mates. The last time I saw a couple of the boys was about two or three weeks ago.
“I saw Lewis Stevenson and Paul Hanlon and they seemed really confident about their chances of winning the so-called treble, I don’t think that’s looking too likely now. But I’m sure it’s just a blip.”
The concern for Hibs’ manager Alan Stubbs is that, while his side dominated for long spells in the 3-2 defeat at Dumbarton and showed admirable battling qualities, the defence has given up six goals in two games.
Goals from Kevin Cawley and former Hearts’ pair Christian Nade and Darren Barr left Hibs with too much to salvage.
Livingston pushed Alloa Athletic into deeper trouble at the foot of the table with a 3-1 win at the Indodrill Stadium, all of the goals coming in the first half (from Jackson Longridge, Jordan White and Sam Stanton).
Raith Rovers pushed their playoff claims with a last-gasp 3-2 won over Morton at Stark’s Park, Ryan Hardie contributing a last-minute winner. Joe Cardle hit a hat-trick as
Dunfermline held their eight-point lead at the top of League One with a 6-1 win over Stranraer.
“The boys have been fantastic all season. We have a really tight-knit group here and we’ve got on so well all season,” Cardle said.
“We need to keep it going for the last ten games now because we’re desperate to get this club back to where it belongs.”
All of the top three won - Rory McAllister hit a hat-trick in Peterhead’s 4-1 win over Brechin. Elgin City moved two points clear at the top of League Two by beating East Stirlingshire 2-0 through goals from Craig Gunn and Brian Cameron as East Fife lost 3-0 at Queen’s Park.