SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP
ST MIRREN 1 Walsh (87) FALKIRK 1 Sibbald (9)
A LATE Tom Walsh strike rescued a vital point for St Mirren and haulted Falkirk’s recent winning run on a disappointing afternoon’s entertainment at The Paisley 2021 Stadium.
On an afternoon that St Mirren were in danger of being booed off by their own faithful the late point-saver could well be a turning point for Saints as they aim to move from bottom spot in the table.
Falkirk manager Peter Houston was disappointed not to keep the winning run going, stating: “It was disappointing not to take all three points as we did dominate the game and St Mirren only had two shots on target.
“However, unfortunately David McCracken slipped in the middle of the park at a vital moment and we lost the ball and it proved to be crucial.
“If we had gained a second goal then St Mirren would have lost all confidence with the way things have been going for them but unfortunately we did not create enough chances or take the ones we did create.
“John Baird was superb for us today and it’s a shame the chances we did create did not fall for him as he is on fire.
“It is hard to criticise the players but the way the results went today we had a good opportunity to be in a higher position. But we will start again and aim to be on another winning run.”
Falkirk’s goal came in the ninth minute when Craig Sibbald’s free-kick from just outside the penalty area took a deflection from the St Mirren wall and left keeper Jamie Langfield helpless.
John Baird then almost doubled the lead when his twist and turn and shot was well handled by Langfield.
Saints only effort of the half came just before the break when Kyle Hutton headed a long ball back across goal but Ryan Hardie blasted the loose ball high and wide.
Falkirk thought they had the match won five minutes into the second period but Bob McHugh’s effort was ruled offside.
The hard working Baird then created the best opportunity for Falkirk to get a vital second goal but Miller headed too close to Langfield when he needed to find a corner of the goal.
That miss proved vital with Saints finding the equaliser with three minutes remaining when substitute Walsh robbed McCracken of the ball and his long shot flew into the corner of the goal to the delight and relief of the Paisley-faithful.
Stand-in manager Allan McManus said of his Saints men’s display ‘We started the game well and unfortunately it was another freak goal that we lost. That tends to happen.”