Houston hoping for upturn

FALKIRK’S race with Hibs for the title has ended as they had to come from behind twice to scramble a draw with resurgent St Mirren.

And the concern for manager Peter Houston now is that his side regains form in time for their last chance of promotion going into the play-offs.

The Paisley men were ahead twice – through Rory Loy and then Stephen McGinn – however Lee Miller countered before Bob McHugh levelled again 13 minutes with his first touch.

Houston said: “I felt individually and as a team we were short. I wasn’t even thinking about the Hibs game because I knew it [winning the title] would happen eventually. Now we want to try to build momentum in our final three matches but we will have to do better than we did today.”

Saints took only six minutes to take the lead. Stevie Mallan’s cross from the left was poorly defended as John Sutton challenged in the air and the ball was diverted into the path of Loy who smashed it past Robbie Thomson.

Falkirk drew level in 20 minutes when Saints slackened off at a setpiece.

Eckersley tried to usher James Craigen’s free-kick out for a goalkick but Luca Gasparotto made the ball his, cut it back across goal and Miller slammed home from six yards.

St Mirren regained the lead in spectacular fashion in 59 minutes when McGinn took a pass from Cammy Smith 20 yards out and curled a fantastic right-foot shot into the top-left corner.

However, with 13 minutes remaining Houston introduced McHugh for Miller and he made a sensational impact, scoring with his first kick.

St Mirren failed to deal with Fraser Aird’s free-kick into the box which broke to McHugh who had only been on the pitch for 10 seconds, and he drove a low shot into the right corner.

Saints boss Jack Ross said: “It’s a measure of where we have come as a team that we come to one of the most difficult venues in the Championship to face a top four team and we’re disappointed not to win.

“The manner of the goals we conceded was disappointing but I can’t be too critical.

“My belief has always been that we will stay up but we know we face three tough games in the final period. but it’s in our own hands. This was another small step forward for us.”