Houston backing floored Falkirk to get up off the ropes
FALKIRK could have moved nine points clear of Hibernian and taken an enormous step towards securing second spot in the Championship yesterday but they missed out on their big chance.
After their excellent victory against Rangers last weekend, Peter Houston’s players dominated possession but could not take the lead and found themselves trailing to two second-half goals.
They should have salvaged a point, however, after Will Vaulks pulled a goal back in stoppage time and then John Baird was given an opportunity to level from the penalty spot, but he was denied by a brilliant save from Livingston goalkeeper Marc McCallum, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today.
Falkirk remain six points ahead of Hibs but the Edinburgh club now have three games in hand.
‘That’s just our second home defeat of the season, and we really need to remember that,’ said Houston. ‘I’m not going to criticise the players and I’m not going to criticise John for missing the penalty.
‘There’s a long way to go and the big question for me is how we bounce back in our next game at Queen of the South. We still have loads to play for and we still have to play against Hibs.’
Falkirk dominated the opening 45 minutes and should have made their pressure count. Their movement off the ball was impressive and their control when in possession was a pleasure to watch.
They came close to breaking the deadlock on two occasions, firstly on eight minutes when Bob McHugh’s effort was cleared off the line by Ben Gordon. They also had the final effort of the first period when a blistering shot from Vaulks skimmed the top of McCallum’s crossbar.
But Livvy also had a chance, which came in the 33rd minute. Scott Pitman’s powerful shot from 12 yards was beaten away by Bairns keeper Deniz Mehmet, offering the strugglers some hope for after the interval.
The script in the opening stages of the second half was very familiar. Falkirk were in control and Baird — booked in the first half for simulation — got on the end of a chance at the back post but could not find the target.
Mark Kerr continued to keep Falkirk ticking and he always had an available outlet in left-back Luke Leahy. The youngster has a lovely first touch and the ability to join in the action in the final third of the pitch.
Leahy and his defensive colleagues were worried in the 55th minute, though, when Gordon’s header flew just inches wide of Mehmet’s left-hand post.
Shortly afterwards, Houston made two changes — Lee Miller and Myles Hippolyte replacing McHugh and Aaron Muirhead.
Miller showed his experience and displayed his influence when he sent a lovely, delicate chipped pass to Craig Sibbald, and he looked certain to score from 10 yards out until he was brilliantly blocked by Jackson Longridge.
And then the sucker punch arrived, the moment all involved with Falkirk were dreading. Liam Buchanan’s cross from wide right went into the heart of the danger area, and White was first to react to sweep a shot home from seven yards.
That was in the 76th minute, and he almost scored again five minutes later but was denied from pointblank range through a stunning onehanded stop from Mehmet.
As the visitors counter-attacked well, Pitman was clean through but failed to hit the target from 10 yards.
Sam Stanton showed him how to do it, however. Mark Fotheringham found the former Hibs man with a fine pass in the final minute, and he then executed a powerful left-foot shot from the edge of the box, low past Mehmet. Game over? Not quite.
In stoppage time, Vaulks headed home, then Falkirk were handed a glorious opportunity to salvage a point when Longridge fouled Miller in the penalty area, and the defender was sent off for a second booking.
Baird took the spot-kick but his drive was parried away by McCallum to give Livvy three precious points and leave the home team wondering what might have been.
Livvy are now just two points behind Dumbarton, the team directly above them in eighth place, although they have played one game more than the Sons.
And boss David Hopkin feels his side can escape the relegation playoff spot. He said: ‘We came here with a game plan and it worked. We’re a young team and all of the players played their part.
‘I think we deserved the result. We have legs in our side and we have been playing well. We want to remain in this league.’