I think it’s fair to say that when the fixture list was released and Falkirk were pencilled in to visit us here at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium today, not many would have imagined the Bairns to be sitting only two points above the relegation play-off place almost a third of the way into the season.
Many tipped Falkirk as title favourites in pre-season yet eleven games into the campaign and Steven Pressley’s men have only picked up two wins so far – both of which came away from home.
Every time the Falkirk fans think their team has started to turn the corner, a lack of consistency seems to stop that and force the Bairns to take a step backwards.
Defeats away to Partick and at home to Raith opened the season but that looked to have been put down as merely a slow start as game day three seen Falkirk make the trip to Cappielow and return with all three points. You could forgive the Falkirk fans for thinking that was the kick-start their season needed but that win against Morton was followed up with defeat when we visited the Falkirk Stadium back in early September.
Four draws on the bounce were then ended with a win away to basement boys Dumbarton and again, this looked to be a turning point. A home draw against Partick the following week made it six games without defeat but as quick as the Falkirk faithful could begin to think about marching up the table, last week’s 2-1 defeat away to Raith Rovers put a stop to that.
Pressley will be all too aware that defeat here today coupled with results going against him elsewhere and his side could occupy that relegation play-off place themselves.
No wins and only four goals scored at home so far won’t have made for great viewing and those fans who only attend Falkirk’s home games will be starting to get a bit restless.
The loss of striker Farid El Alagui to Brentford in the summer has undoubtedly been a factor in the lack of goals so far this season but his ‘replacement’, Lyle Taylor, has been doing his bit, finding the net six times in the league so far. Pressley described Taylor as being more mobile and quicker than El Alagui so our backline will need to be on top of their game to shut him out again this afternoon.
The Falkirk fans haven’t even had the luxury of a cup run to take their mind off the poor league form although financially, the club will be rubbing it’s hands together thanks to being paired with The Rangers in the second rounds of both the Ramsdens Cup and the Scottish Communities League Cup. Despite losing both, a 26,500 crowd at Ibrox and a three-quarters full Falkirk Stadium will both have went a long way to helping with finances. The Scottish cup has thrown up an away tie to either Stenhousemuir or Berwick so the Falkirk fans will be hoping to advance through a few rounds in that one.
Last season, the four games between ourselves and Falkirk produced 19 goals. Of course, the games at The Falkirk Stadium definitely served up more entertainment but here at the BMCS, we didn’t manage a victory in two attempts against the Bairns and boss Steven Pressley will be reminding his players of their good record here in recent times.
A win today would really set Falkirk up nicely with their next two games being against Hamilton and Cowdenbeath, two sides who are also currently occupying places in the bottom half of the table.
Pressley and his team do have time on their side just now but unless they start to turn these draws into wins soon, it could be a long hard season ahead.
Dave Black.
As published in 'ROAR' - the Livingston FC matchday magazine.
Many tipped Falkirk as title favourites in pre-season yet eleven games into the campaign and Steven Pressley’s men have only picked up two wins so far – both of which came away from home.
Every time the Falkirk fans think their team has started to turn the corner, a lack of consistency seems to stop that and force the Bairns to take a step backwards.
Defeats away to Partick and at home to Raith opened the season but that looked to have been put down as merely a slow start as game day three seen Falkirk make the trip to Cappielow and return with all three points. You could forgive the Falkirk fans for thinking that was the kick-start their season needed but that win against Morton was followed up with defeat when we visited the Falkirk Stadium back in early September.
Four draws on the bounce were then ended with a win away to basement boys Dumbarton and again, this looked to be a turning point. A home draw against Partick the following week made it six games without defeat but as quick as the Falkirk faithful could begin to think about marching up the table, last week’s 2-1 defeat away to Raith Rovers put a stop to that.
Pressley will be all too aware that defeat here today coupled with results going against him elsewhere and his side could occupy that relegation play-off place themselves.
No wins and only four goals scored at home so far won’t have made for great viewing and those fans who only attend Falkirk’s home games will be starting to get a bit restless.
The loss of striker Farid El Alagui to Brentford in the summer has undoubtedly been a factor in the lack of goals so far this season but his ‘replacement’, Lyle Taylor, has been doing his bit, finding the net six times in the league so far. Pressley described Taylor as being more mobile and quicker than El Alagui so our backline will need to be on top of their game to shut him out again this afternoon.
The Falkirk fans haven’t even had the luxury of a cup run to take their mind off the poor league form although financially, the club will be rubbing it’s hands together thanks to being paired with The Rangers in the second rounds of both the Ramsdens Cup and the Scottish Communities League Cup. Despite losing both, a 26,500 crowd at Ibrox and a three-quarters full Falkirk Stadium will both have went a long way to helping with finances. The Scottish cup has thrown up an away tie to either Stenhousemuir or Berwick so the Falkirk fans will be hoping to advance through a few rounds in that one.
Last season, the four games between ourselves and Falkirk produced 19 goals. Of course, the games at The Falkirk Stadium definitely served up more entertainment but here at the BMCS, we didn’t manage a victory in two attempts against the Bairns and boss Steven Pressley will be reminding his players of their good record here in recent times.
A win today would really set Falkirk up nicely with their next two games being against Hamilton and Cowdenbeath, two sides who are also currently occupying places in the bottom half of the table.
Pressley and his team do have time on their side just now but unless they start to turn these draws into wins soon, it could be a long hard season ahead.
Dave Black.
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