falkirk-spread betting spread bet spread spreads

Liam ready to end journey - Soccer

2006-05-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

The roller-coaster journey of Newcastle Jets keeper Liam Reddy finally looks set to end at the Queensland Roar – this time as a replacement for second-string stopper Scott Higgins who has been offered a trial by Scottish club Falkirk.
Reddy was originally slated to sign with Queensland in a straight swap for No. 1 keeper Tom Willis before Roar coach Miron Bleiberg blocked the exchange.
With Willis's job safe, Higgins is on his way to Scotland to join former Roar teammate Karl Dodd, leaving a convenient vacancy for Reddy, one of the A-League's best goalkeepers.
Reddy still has two years to run on his $90,000-a-season contract with the Jets but is keen to cut ties with the club because of a long-standing feud with new coach Nick Theodorakopoulos.
Reddy would not detail yesterday how the rift began, saying only that it had been simmering since he played under Theodorakopoulos at Parramatta Power in the NSL between 2000 and 2003.
It is believed the issue began when Theodorakopoulos was involved in a fracas with Reddy's father Rod, the former St George rugby league player who was an assistant coach of the Parramatta Eels at the time.
"I don't want to go there. I don't even like talking about him," Reddy said.
"Hopefully I can work something out with Queensland as soon as possible.
"I'm good friends with (ex-Newcastle striker) Ante Milicic and since he signed with them a few weeks back I have heard nothing but good things about the club.
"It would be good to work in that environment."
But the deal has not been inked yet. As late as yesterday afternoon Queensland was also talking to former Wollongong keeper Les Pogliacomi who recently returned from a stint at Oldham.
A former Young Socceroo who stands at 197cm and has five years of English club football under his belt, Pogliacomi could also be a handy pick-up for Queensland.
But it is understood he comes with a hefty price tag, a factor that could count in Reddy's favour.
Pogliacomi is also believed to be in talks with the Jets.
"It's not a question of ability. It will come down to finance," said Bleiberg, who will make a decision today.
"Both of them are impressive and are of a higher pedigree than the player I am losing."
If Reddy, 25, is not signed by Queensland, he will have no choice but to honour his contract with the Jets.

Scottish 'championship' could work out to benefit everyone

2006-05-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

IT WAS something of a coincidence that Motherwell, Livingston and Dundee should find themselves in the news last week. These three clubs are linked through having gone through the painful process of administration in recent years while in the SPL. There the similarities end, though.
The Fir Park side are the only one of the trio to have come through financial meltdown and remain a highly competitive member of the top flight. That, I would maintain, is anything but unrelated to the continuity within their coaching staff. It is ideal for the club that Maurice Malpas has stepped up from the role of assistant manager to fill the vacancy created by Terry Butcher's move to Sydney. Maurice knows the set-up inside out and has been Terry's right-hand man since Motherwell sank to the bottom of the league in 2002-3.
But for Falkirk being refused entry on the stadium criteria, Motherwell would have slipped into the First Division three summers ago, but Terry and Maurice certainly made the most of the escape.
The directors stuck by the pair at this difficult time. That contrasts sharply with the post-adminstration landscapes at Almondvale and Dens Park. In John Robertson, Livingston owner Pearse Flynn is now on to his fifth manager in two years. A huge turnaround in personnel and playing philosophy tends to follow any change at the top of the football department. That must be factored in to why both Livingston could not beat the drop and Flynn is now desperately trying to push for a breakaway league along the lines of the English Championship.
As Dundee have discovered, relegation from the Premierleague is disastrous for revenue. The gulf between the two set-ups in monetary terms is monumental. It is arguable whether a second-tier distinct from the Scottish Football League but running as a counterpart to the SPL would successfully bridge that gap. But part-time clubs in the Third Division don't bring in an awful lot less from their membership of a - currently - sponsorless SFL than teams recently jettisoned from the top flight. And that has the potential to send many of our middle-ranking clubs down the part-time route or even out of business.

SOCCER: BEENHAKKER FINALISES T&T SQUAD

2006-05-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Trinidad & Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker has finalised his 23-man squad for the World Cup after dropping Evans Wise from the provisional party.
Wise, a winger with Waldhof Mannheim in Germany, will be invited to remain with the squad during the forthcoming training camps as a reserve player.
However, United Petrotrin midfielder Anthony Rougier has been cut following last Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Peru.
Los Angeles Galaxy forward Cornell Glen keeps his place despite sustaining a hamstring injury in a recent Major League Soccer game. Glen is likely to sit out much of the team's preparations but will work with the national team's doctors.
The squad will head to Manchester, England on Saturday for a week-long training camp before playing Wales in a friendly on May 27.

Trindad & Tobago squad for 2006 World Cup:

Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Shaka Hislop (West Ham), Clayton Ince (Coventry); Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham), Cyd Gray (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Rangers), Brent Sancho, Ian Cox (both Gillingham), Atiba Charles, Avery John (New England Revolution); Silvio Spann (unattached), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Aurtis Whitley (CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh), Anthony Wolfe (Jabloteh), Densill Theobald (Falkirk), Carlos Edwards (Luton), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC); Russell Latapy (Falkirk), Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Collin Samuel (Dundee United), Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Cornell Glen (Los Angeles Galaxy).

Trinidad names World Cup soccer squad as key player retires

2006-05-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

Leo Beenhakker, the Dutch manager of Trinidad and Tobago's national soccer team, unveiled his World Cup squad on Thursday when local soccer hero Russell Latapy announced his retirement.
Latapy, 38, who played for Scottish team Falkirk, was included in Beenhakker's World Cup list. He said he would make the 2006 World Cup his last professional football journament.
Latapy said he hoped one day to train his country's national team, but added that he respects Beenhakker's work and does not want the Dutchman to step down.
"I don't want the current coat to leave his post, but I really want that chance to give something back to Trinidad, for all of the things that it had done for me," he said.
Beenhakker told press that Latapywas is a decisive factor in the Trinidadian victory over Guatemala, which gave the team a drive needed to win the World Cup qualifing matches.
He also said that he had excluded Antony Rougier, a multi-talented player beloved of Trinidadian critics, from the 23-man squad, known as the Soca Warriors, following a Wednesday night draw with Peru.
The manager voted for Cornell Glen, an injured forward playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who will joint the team if he can reach full fitness before the June 9 World Cup kickoff.
Evans Wise, who plays for a German league team, has been asked to travel to Germany as a reserve, taking part in the Cup only if Glen fails to recover in time.
Trinidad will play a series of friendlies before its first World Cup match against Sweden on June 10 in Dortmund.
The friendlies are against Wales on May 7 in Austria, against Slovakia on May 31, and the Czech Republic on June 3.
Trinidad is in Group B facing England, Paraguay and Sweden.

Inverness CT 2 Falkirk 0

2006-05-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Inverness won their fourth successive match since the split in the Bank of Scotland Premier League, as the Highlanders defeated Falkirk thanks to goals from Russell Duncan and Craig Dargo.
Duncan opened the scoring thanks to a long-distance drive, before Dargo netted his 20th goal of the season when he latched on to Darren Dods' flick from Alan Morgan's corner.
The Bairns were without manager John Hughes, who suffered a family bereavement, and were led by assistant Brian Rice.
Vitor Lima came close to scoring for the visitors with a clipped first-half effort which drifted just wide.
Caley Thistle boss Charlie Christie lived up to his pre-match promise of freshening up his side and reserve goalkeeper Michael Fraser was handed a rare start, which brought an end to Mark Brown 's run of 176 consecutive appearances.

2006 UEFA CUP Tournament - Soccer

2006-04-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

The UEFA Cup is handed over to the Dutch city of Eindhoven, and in preparation for hosting this season's final, golden memories of 1978 will come flooding back.
It was on 9 May 1978 that local side PSV Eindhoven established themselves as a major force in European football as they beat SC Bastia 3-0 at the Philips stadium - the venue for this season's final - to win the UEFA Cup, following a goalless draw in the first leg in Corsica two weeks earlier.
By that time, PSV had already broken the cast-iron grip that the big clubs from the west of the Netherlands - Feyenoord and AFC Ajax - held on the Dutch title by winning the Eredivisie in 1974/75 and 1975/76, but in taking the UEFA Cup, they announced their presence to the whole continent.
With the final being contested over two legs in those days, PSV had not enjoyed an easy time in the opening fixture against Bastia. Heavy rainfall turned the first leg into a boring show. But the second leg, however, was much more one-sided, and with the elements no longer blocking their route to goal, PSV shone with Willy van de Kerkhof, Gerrie Deijkers and Willy van der Kuylen finding the target as they secured a famous victory in front of 27,000 fans.
With Feyenoord and Ajax both having won major European competitions in the early 1970s, PSV were the third Dutch club to triumph in UEFA competition, and added to their trophy cabinet by winning the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1987/88 before reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2004/05.
The memories of that first success back in 1978 will be celebrated as 2004/05 UEFA Cup, against all the Sportsbooks odds. Winners of last year’s cup PFC CSKA Moskva hand the trophy to Eindhoven, with goal scorers Van de Kerkhof and Van der Kuylen in attendance. Sadly Deijkers died of heart failure at the age of 56 back in October 2003.
Deijkers' story was an odd one. He had played as a defender in previous seasons but coach Kees Rijvers - who will also be at the handover - decided to hand him a chance to become a striker as PSV were having attacking problems in 1977/78. He went on to score 18 league goals and six in the UEFA Cup that season. While Deijkers will be missed at the ceremony at the Evoluon building in Eindhoven, plenty of other PSV stars of 1978 will be there to make up the numbers. Among them will be Willy's twin brother René van de Kerkhof, Jan Poortvliet, Adri van Kraay and Kees Krijgh all eager to get their hands on the trophy again.

Falkirk 1 - 0 Dundee United

2006-04-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

Jack Ross, the Falkirk match-winner, claims his team are still not safe from relegation after having recorded their first home Bank of Scotland Premierleague win of the season against Dundee United.The result moves Falkirk above Dunfermline into 10th in the table, and maintains the 10-point gap to Livingston in bottom spot. However, Ross is taking nothing for granted, and said: "If Livingston had lost, then we might have said we were there, but when you hear that result, you realise how massive it was for us to win again."This is the thing about the split, it does keep the interest going. Livingston will look at their fixtures and say they've got to win them, but they are winnable. For us it's now a huge derby next week against Dunfermline a fortnight after the last one."We're certainly not there. The manager has spoken all along about two wins. Perhaps that's one of them and the other one will get us there."Falkirk, had not previously won at home on league business in the Falkirk Stadium since they clinched last season's Division 1 title against Ross County more than a year ago.Ross added: "It was a massive result. We got a bit nervy towards the end and that's understandable. However, as a squad of players, we didn't want to go through the season with that tag of not winning at home."It was for the manager and the supporters because they pay decent money for season tickets and still follow us in big numbers."The only goal of the game came in 23 minutes when Ross appeared to fire in a right-foot effort from the edge of the box, his second goal in as many games.Falkirk were forced to rely on a string of fine saves from Mark Howard, the on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper, to keep their noses in front.John Hughes, the home-team manager, said the club will now look at extending the deal of the goalkeeper into next term, after he recently replaced the injured Allan Ferguson. "He's on loan until the end of the season," said Hughes. "He has been very patient and waited his time. With that kind of form, Fergie's going to have to push him very hard to get back in."We'll have to look at it at the end of the season and see exactly what the situation is, but we've got a good relationship with Arsenal and, hopefully, we can get something tied up."Hughes also insisted that his side are not yet safe from the drop. He said: "Our job's not done yet. We're still looking over our shoulder. I'm delighted to jump a place above Dunfermline, but we've got Dundee United in our sights, and to do that we need to dig out three or four results, which we're capable of doing."Craig Brewster, the United manager, did not believe his side deserved to lose. He also says he will now try out young players in United's remaining five matches."I think I'll have to. At the end of the day, there's Barry Robson out for another three games," said Brewster."I can't believe it, for a so-called midfield playmaker to have so many cards, to be suspended for three games is frightening."However, I think that just sums up the season for me today."

Falkirk v Dundee Utd

2006-04-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

Falkirk finally claimed their first Bank of Scotland Premier League home win of the season, after a first-half strike from Jack Ross gave the Bairns all three points against Dundee United.
John Hughes' side had not previously won at home on league business in the Falkirk stadium since they clinched last season's First Division title against Ross County more than a year ago.
The defeat means United's poor form on the road continues, with Craig Brewster's side now having failed to win in their last 11 away games.
United skipper Derek McInnes was dropped to the bench in a visitors line-up which included four changes from the side which lost 4-1 at home to Rangers last week.
Grant Brebner replaced McInnes in midfield, with Alan Archibald and Stuart Duff also brought in.
Goalkeeper Craig Samson took over from Derek Stillie for United, with the former Aberdeen man having broken a finger.
Falkirk included Steven Thomson in the starting line-up, with the midfielder having recovered from a foot knock.
Prior to kick-off the Falkirk FC gate from the club's former Brockville home was unveiled at the entrance of the new stadium's tunnel by former boss Alex Totten, now part of the club's financial team.
Samson was called into action inside a minute. Alan Gow's cross from the left was touched on by Daniel McBreen into the path of Patrick Cregg, but the midfielder's effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
The visitors wasted a glaring opportunity to net after four minutes when Collin Samuel robbed defender Tiago Rodrigues inside the Falkirk box, but the ex-Bairn's right-foot effort was saved brilliantly by home keeper Mark Howard.

Dunfermline 1 - 1 Falkirk

2006-04-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

Dunfermline supporters no doubt spent much of last week bemoaning their side's propensity to park the team bus in front of goal. This week, the groaning should be replaced with a light sigh of relief after their team virtually secured SPL safety with a hard-earned point.Jim Leishman, the Dunfermline manager, used the matchday programme to defend defensive-minded tactics in recent encounters with the Old Firm. He said of some Pars supporters: "We have our own fans getting on the bandwagon in the media about our style of play. I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not going to apologise for what we tried to do at Ibrox."And so, from the offset, Dunfermline scampered feverishly in the opposing half, winning a series of early corners. Noel Hunt started brightly and featured in every home attack with quick darts in behind the Falkirk defence. It was just a shame the Pars midfield was slow in offering support.

FOOTBALL FUNDING NEEDED - CALDERWOOD

2006-03-30T12:02:00.000-08:00

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood has urged the Scottish Executive to invest in improved facilities throughout the country.
The Dons boss, who has received the Bank of Scotland manager of the month award for February, has seen his preparations for the trip to Celtic disrupted by heavy snowfall.
But Calderwood believes the standard of facilities across the country continue to lag behind other European nations.
Norway have just announced plans to build 50 indoor soccer schools, prompting the Pittodrie manager to call for more funds for football facilities in Scotland.
Calderwood said: "If you look at other countries, such as England and Holland, they have both got it spot on when it comes to training facilities.
"And I have been told Norway are investing in 50 indoor centres which are being built throughout the country.
"But, unfortunately, we don't have a clue.
"Training has been a nightmare for us this week and I think it will be the same for many other teams because Rangers are the only top club with the right standard of facilities.
"I don't think it is a mentality within Scottish football which is being highlighted, because we would all like better places to train. I just think there is a lack of funding to get it done.
"What we are lacking is people with vision and, although I don't like to get involved in politics, the government have to try and fund this because the clubs won't be able to do it themselves.
"I don't think it would do us any harm in producing better players as a nation if everyone could train twice a day every day throughout the season."
However, despite bemoaning the lack of investment in the game by politicians, Calderwood was cheered by his award and paid tribute to his players who remain unbeaten in the SPL since the turn of the year.
He added: "We received a lot of criticism just before Christmas, but the players have taken that on the chin and are now playing really well.
"We have had some big wins away to Hibernian and Hearts and against Rangers at home.
"And, apart from our last game with Falkirk, I have been very happy with the level of performance.
"So, hopefully, that will continue in what will be a very tough game against Celtic this weekend."
Aberdeen will be without Jamie Smith (hamstring), Ryan Esson (knee), Richie Byrne (shoulder) and Michael Hart (groin) for the trip to Celtic Park.
Defender Andrew Considine will not be risked after recovering from tonsillitis.
But striker Stevie Crawford returns after overcoming an ankle knock he picked up in the Tennent's Scottish Cup defeat at Hearts last month.
Defender Zander Diamond is also fit after having two stitches inserted in a head wound during the 4-0 win for the Scotland Under-21 side against Iceland on Tuesday.

Kilmarnock 2 Falkirk 1

2006-03-21T12:58:00.000-08:00

Steven Naismith sealed a top-six finish for Kilmarnock in the Bank of Scotland Premier League with his winner in the 2-1 triumph over Falkirk at Rugby Park.
Danny Invincibile had given Killie a third-minute lead before Daniel McBreen equalised for the Bairns 16 minutes later.
But, after spurning a number of chances, the Ayrshire club were grateful to Naismith when he slotted home the winner in the 74th minute.
The home side got off to the best possible start with a goal in the third minute.
Garry Hay's corner was only partially cleared and Invincibile met the ball 15 yards from goal and drove it low inside Allan Ferguson's right-hand post.
Naismith should have doubled the lead minutes later but sliced his shot wide with only the Falkirk goalkeeper to beat.
Killie went on to dominate the opening period but the final ball into the box let them down all too often.
Then came a let-off for the home side on 13 minutes when Steven Thomson slid a McBreen cross inches wide of Graeme Smith's post.
Then came an amazing series of chances in the Falkirk box with Naismith, Colin Nish and Allan Johnston all having shots at goal blocked.
And Killie were punished for their earlier misses when the Bairns grabbed a 19th-minute equaliser against the run of play.
Smith brought off a good save from McBreen's initial shot, but the striker followed up to net with the rebound.
Ferguson then denied Hay from putting his side in front again when he punched away the Killie skipper's 20-yard free-kick.
Just before the break, Johnstone missed another golden opportunity when he shot wide of the target from 15 yards.
The opening period of the second half followed much the same pattern, with Killie on the offensive.
Wales almost stole in to reach a Nish head flick but the ball just ran out of play.
In the 67th minute, the visiting fans called for a penalty when McBreen's shot was blocked but the referee waved aside the appeals.
Killie at last went ahead in the 74th minute when Naismith netted his eighth goal of the season.
The 19-year-old latched on to a loose clearance 15 yards from goal and curled the ball past Ferguson.
Minutes later, Wales was only inches away from connecting with Naismith's low cross as the home side stepped up a gear before running out deserved winners.

McLEISH PRAYING THE BUG WON'T BITE

2006-03-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

Rangers manager Alex McLeish fears a flu epidemic could decimate his team ahead of the Champions League game against Villarreal in Spain.
Injury and illness forced the Ibrox boss to make three changes for the 2-1 win over Falkirk in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
And he hopes his plans will not be thrown into disarray again as they prepare to fly out on Monday for the second leg of the last-16 clash.
A 2-2 draw in the first leg in Glasgow means the Primera Liga team are favourites to progress and McLeish knows he will need his strongest team at his disposal.
But Chris Burke and Ian Murray were both sent home from training earlier this week suffering from flu symptoms.
And, although Burke played in the second half of an uninspiring game against the Bairns, McLeish is worried the bug may spread.
He said: "There were many enforced changes to the team from the last game, but we hope that the squad is intact for Tuesday night.
"Burke and Ian Murray both had the flu. There is a bit of a flu epidemic going about and that caused us to make the changes.
"It's worrying. I hope it doesn't spread because, if it does, we've got problems."
He added: "We thought about leaving Chris at home. We asked him if he could play for 20 minutes or so if we needed him, and we needed him even before then and he said he felt fine.
"I looked at the bench and there was a lot of good quality but, in terms of real creative quality, it was welcome to have Burke there."
Thomas Buffel, Peter Lovenkrands and Hamed Namouchi were all nursing knocks picked up during the week and only Lovenkrands made the bench for the trip to the Falkirk Stadium.
McLeish admits Namouchi, who suffered a knee injury during Tunisia's friendly against Serbia & Montenegro, is his biggest concern ahead of the trip to the Madrigal Stadium.
He added: "Thomas didn't play during the week because he had a slight knock and we didn't want to risk him.
"Lovenkrands was the same, which is why we didn't throw him on until very near the end of the game.
"Namouchi came back with an injury to his knee.
"It looks favourable for Thomas and Peter to be OK, but Namouchi is more of a doubt."
A 2-1 win gave Rangers a much-needed victory over Falkirk ahead of the trip to Villarreal and kept them in third spot in the SPL.
A Kris Boyd header was cancelled out by Russell Latapy but a scrappy own-goal from Mark Twaddle handed Rangers the three points.
Falkirk were thrashed 5-1 by Hibernian in the Tennent's Scottish Cup last week and head coach John Hughes sensed a lack of belief from his players against Rangers.
He said: "I couldn't have asked for any more effort, although we maybe lacked a bit of cutting edge.
"I was pleased with the way they went about their business, but you need real belief to beat Rangers and I'm not sure if we had that today."

Falkirk 1 Hibernian 5

2006-03-01T11:32:00.000-08:00

Hibernian blazed their way into the semi-finals of the Tennent's Scottish Cup following a pulsating tie at Falkirk.
It was a nightmare day for Bairns goalkeeper Allan Ferguson, who spilled a Derek Riordan free-kick for the first goal, before another blunder allowed Garry O'Connor to double the lead.
Falkirk hauled themselves back into the game again through Daniel McBreen in the 70th minute.
But late goals from Ivan Sproule, Gary Caldwell and Steven Fletcher secured Hibs' passage to the last four.
The last time Hibs won the Scottish Cup was 104 years ago and their failings in the tournament had become almost legendary since then.
If that wasn't a big enough incentive to book their place at the showpiece final at Hampden Park on May 13, Hearts had disposed of Partick Thistle earlier in the day, keeping alive the prospect of an all-Edinburgh final.
It was Falkirk who looked the brighter in the early stages but they were shell-shocked when Hibs took the lead in the ninth minute.
Kenny Milne bundled into Michael Stewart from behind to earn Hibs a free-kick 30 yards out and what happened next is likely to haunt Ferguson for months to come.
Riordan stepped up to send a powerful curling effort towards goal, and the Bairns' keeper initially appeared to block at the post, but could only watch in horror as the ball slipped out of his grasp and over the line.
Falkirk immediately tried to haul themselves back into the game and Patrick Cregg was not too far away when he drilled just wide of target, before Jack Ross fired over.
The Bairns then screamed for a penalty with 25 minutes gone, when Steven Whittaker appeared to handle in the area, and they were furious when the pleas were ignored by the referee.
They did win a free-kick on the edge of the box, however, earning Riordan a booking for hauling down Alan Gow, but Cregg sent his effort curling just over.
At the other end of the park, Riordan was keen to grab his second of the day before the break only to send the shot sailing well over.
Falkirk came closer to finding the back of the net when Kenny Milne rose above everyone else in the box to meet a Liam Craig corner only for his header to smack off the crossbar.
Desperate to haul themselves back into the tie, Falkirk were looking dangerous after the restart.
Cregg slotted into the path of Pedro Moutinho but David Murphy intercepted the move before he could pull the trigger.
Hibs were forced into more desperate defending when McBreen burst into the box before squaring into the path of Gow in front of goal but he was robbed of possession by a Hibs defender.
Instead, it was Hibs who should have taken the lead when Sproule unleashed a ferocious shot which flashed just wide of the upright.
It was proving to be a day to forget for Ferguson when he failed to hold a Riordan shot and the ball fell to the feet of Garry O'Connor to bullet home in the 67th minute.
The goal caused uproar in the main stand when Hibs fans celebrated among the home supporters but they were silenced three minutes later when Falkirk pulled a goal back.
Russell Latapy had replaced Craig a few minutes earlier and he had an immediate impact on the game when he supplied a superb ball for McBreen to lash home.
However, Falkirk's joy was short-lived when Hibs found the back of the net again in the 73rd minute when a Fletcher cross bounced fortuitously off the body of Sproule and into the back of the net.
The tie was killed off three minutes later when Caldwell met a Glass corner to squeeze a close-range header home at the near post.
Fletcher completed the rout when he grabbed Hibs' fifth goal of the day with two minutes to go to compound Falkirk's misery.

CALDERWOOD UPSET DESPITE WIN

2006-02-22T13:42:00.000-08:00

Despite a Jamie Smith goal maintaining Aberdeen's push for a top-six place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League, manager Jimmy Calderwood was bitterly disappointed with his players' performance in their victory over Falkirk.
Smith's 33rd-minute strike ensured the Dons remained a point behind sixth placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the table, but the Pittodrie boss insisted the goal and the result were the only positives he could take from a frustrating afternoon.
Aberdeen failed to build on their impressive showings in recent wins over Rangers and Hearts and Calderwood warned his players they cannot afford to play that poorly if they want to maintain their fine run of form.
He said:
"I am never happy with a performance like that and although we have won three games in a row, if we play like that in the future then we will get beaten.
"The only two positives we can take from the game are the result and Jamie Smith's goal and I thought we were very fortunate to win the match.
"Falkirk will take all the plaudits for the way they played, but thankfully we are taking away the points.
"I have the second best job in the world - only behind the players here - but it certainly didn't feel like that today."
Falkirk manager John Hughes bemoaned the fact his side could not score the goal he believed their performance deserved, but was encouraged by the improvement from the last time his players visited Pittodrie.
The Bairns' lost 3-0 in Aberdeen earlier in the season, with Hughes revealing he was forced into "damage limitation" on that dreadful day for Falkirk.
But on this occasion the visitors were unfortunate not to earn a hard-fought point and the determined efforts of his spirited side pleased Hughes.
He said:
"We lost a cheap and scrappy goal and unfortunately we don't score goals like that, because playing poorly and picking up three points just does not happen for us.
"But you have to take positives out of the game and the players gave everything they had which was shown by the fact that we went on to dominate the second half.
"We came up here earlier in the season and we got turned over 3-0 and what I was wanting today was an improvement in performance.
"That definitely happened and the day will come when we come to places like this, Tannadice and Tynecastle and take some scalps."

Falkirk 0 Hibernian 0

2006-02-13T14:03:00.000-08:00

Hibernian suffered a blow to their hopes of staying ahead of Rangers in the Bank of Scotland Premier League as they failed to break down struggling Falkirk at Westfield.
The result means champions Rangers can now leapfrog the Edinburgh side into third place with victory in Sunday's Old Firm derby.
The visitors dominated the first half but had an early scare when Russell Latapy sent Daniel McBreen clear, but the veteran midfielder's pass was overhit and Hibs goalkeeper Simon Brown rushed out to collect.
Hibs went close three minutes later when Derek Riordan sent Ivan Sproule clear in the box, but keeper Alan Ferguson was on hand to block with his legs.
The visitors had the bulk of the early pressure and threatened again in the eighth minute.
Steven Fletcher worked an opening in the box but he dragged a left-foot effort wide of Ferguson's post.
Tony Mowbray's side had Brown to thank for keeping them level on 16 minutes when he brilliantly tipped over a long range effort from Steven Thomson.
Latapy's resultant corner was then headed narrowly wide by Jean Lescinel.
The heavy rainfall throughout the match did not help any attempts to play flowing football.
Falkirk thought they had grabbed the lead in the 27th minute when Michael Stewart was sloppy with a goal-line clearance from a McBreen header, but referee Craig McKay had blown for a foul.
The hosts nearly snatched the lead in the 38th minute when a free-kick was lofted into the Hibs box.
McBreen ghosted in ahead of Caldwell, but the striker headed narrowly wide from close range.
Fletcher then had a fine opportunity for the visitors in the 42nd minute when a Stephen Glass corner found him at the back post, but the midfielder headed weakly into Ferguson's arms.
Hibs again went close in the 54th minute when Killen was sent clear on the right.
Team-mate Ivan Sproule was unmarked in the box and screaming for the ball to be released but Killen delayed and Kenny Milne cleared the danger.
This seemed to be enough for Tony Mowbray, who replaced his front-line two minutes later, with Amadou Konte replacing the struggling Killen, while Gary O'Connor came on for Sproule.
The home side then threatened in the 59th minute when Alan Gow was sent clear and laid the ball off to Steven Thomson, but the midfielder fired over from the edge of the box.
Three minutes later Hibs keeper Brown did well to save a low 20-yard effort from Steven O'Donnell.
Riordan almost broke the deadlock in the 70th minute with a left-foot snapshot from the edge of the box but Bairns keeper Ferguson did well to tip it over.
Latapy almost worked an opening for the hosts after 77 minutes when he jinked down the left flank and squared for Gow but the striker was unable to direct a left-foot effort on target.
The Bairns might have scored in the 81st minute when a Liam Craig free-kick was headed on target by Kenny Milne but Brown saved well.
Then O'Connor almost snatched a dramatic winner seven minutes from time with a powerful right-foot shot from 25 yards which rattled the crossbar with Ferguson beaten.
But the keeper was on hand to ensure the scoreline remained even with a fine point-blank save from Steven Fletcher in the 90th minute.

BHOY BOBO BACK

2006-02-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will be able to call on defender Bobo Balde again for the Bank of Scotland Premier League visit of Falkirk.
The Guinea international has missed the last five games after representing his country in the African Nations Cup.
Strachan is considering reinstating Balde with Paul Telfer returning at full-back after a foot injury. Roy Keane may also start in midfield against the Bairns.
Falkirk midfielder Neil Scally will miss the through suspension after breaking through the disciplinary points barrier.
Head coach John Hughes will make a late decision on striker Alan Gow (foot) and midfielder Stephen O'Donnell (groin) ahead of the game.