Falkirk regain their missing spark

6 Feb 1995

FALKIRK acquired a timely boost for tonight's rearranged Tennents Scottish Cup tie with Motherwell, securing a comprehensive victory over Hearts.

It brought an end to a miserable few weeks for the Bairns, their first win in three months arresting a slide down the premier division table.

But tonight's tie is not uppermost in Falkirk's minds, as goalkeeper Tony Parks admitted: "We want to do well in the cup but the match with Dundee United on Saturday is more important.

"We got ourselves into a good position early in the season, then let ourselves down by playing badly.

"We haven't been playing as a team but we got that back against Hearts.

We wanted to win more than they did -- we're in a position where we can't afford to lose."

In truth, Hearts were deeply disappointing in what was never a great game.

To call the first half mediocre would be generous.

However, after the break, Falkirk pressed the advantage they had gained from a Steve Fulton headed goal from a corner after 30 minutes.

They looked the hungrier side and, as manager Jim Jefferies argued, could have had more goals if only the second had come earlier.

Eddie May, Colin MacDonald, and Fulton all had opportunities to add to the tally, but Falkirk had to settle for substitute Nicky Henderson's strike three minutes from time.

"We've got something we can build on here," said Jefferies.

"And, if we keep working hard as a team, we will do it."

He agreed that the poor run had not always been a result of poor form.

"We've been missing chances and being punished but, against Hearts, we were really fired up," he said.

Jefferies still hopes to strengthen his side before the end of the season.

Joe Allen, of Port Vale, is a target, but the English first division side are slipping into relegation trouble.

"We've made an offer," said Jefferies, "but they want to hold on to him because they are in a tricky situation.

The picture might change if they get a couple of wins."

Allen is a proven goalscorer, thought not at present making the first team.

"We don't have a natural scorer, as the Hearts match showed," said Jefferies.

He, too, played down the importance of tonight's match.

"The most important thing for us is to stay in the premier division, a run in the cup would be an extra," he said.

The first attempt at playing the match ended just after half-time last Tuesday because of a floodlight failure, but the spark seems to have returned to Falkirk.

Taken from the Herald