Absolutely brilliant performance from us. We should have won the game comfortably but missed a few chances.
We lined up:
------------------------Fraser-------------------------
---Tokely---------Duff---------McGuire-----Hastings---
---Vigurs--------Mcbain-------Black--------Cowie-----
----------------Rooney---------Wood-------------------
We started brightly and had an early opening when Garry Wood made a break into the box but he couldn't convert. Falkirk came at us but we defended very well indeed - the defence handled everything that they were presented with, with Jamie Duff a particular stand out. Duff read the game well, won headers, blocked shots and tackled well. That's the first time I've seen him play and he was excellent. Going forward in the first half, we looked lively, playing some good passing football. Rooney had a couple of great chances, one where the Falkirk defender (Barr I think, having read the Beeb report) cocked up and let him in and another when he was played in by Rosscoe, after a classic ball juggling class from Tokeldinho. The keeper masde a couple of cracking saves to keep us out then. Falkirk carved out one really clear cut chance whena ball over was headed inches wide, if that had been on target there was no way Fraser was getting it.
Second half and we carried on pushing on. I thought Vigurs was a bit below-par in the first half but he certainly made up for it in the second period, most breaks seemed to come down the right hand side of the park. We forced a series of corners which Vigurs floated in tot he back post - Blackie got his head to one and caused a bit of consternation in the Bairn rearguard. On the hour mark Wood came off for Barrowman and Falkirk scored just after that. A ball in behind Hastings was cut back and Mark Stewart knocked it home, a poor goal to lose, Dick will be disappointed he let himself be turned like that.
Fortunately we rallied and moved forward. Vigurs and Rooney both carved out chances and we seemed to have taken the setback in our stride when a corner wasn't cleared and after some penalty-box pinball Cowie rifled in a low shot to equalise. After that we pushed forward, McGuire had a header cleared off the line and then another just over the bar. Brewster threw on Imrie and Wilson, very attacking, positive play from the gaffer to do that a 1-1 away from home. It paid off hamdsomely when Imrie rattled in a shot to the top corner after Falkirk again couldn't clear their lines.
Overall, I thought we were well worth our win, absolutely superb performance. The only downside was the goal but the way we reacted, the way we passed the ball, created chances, fought for each other and pulled the game back was magnificent. Ian Black was great in the centre of the park, Jamie Duff was cool at the back and Vigurs (after a shaky first half in my view as I said aobve) came onto a great game in the secondhalf. What really impressed me about the young lads was the confidence and composure they had - none of them looked nervous, no-one seemed to require any baby-ing through the match. Falkirk are a decent side, they pass the ball well and have some good looking players but we outplayed, outfought and outpassed them.
As I said on the way back to the town centre, I've seen us play twice this season and win twice. What are you miserable lot all moaning about? Champions League here we come! :thumb04:
