Falkirk 2 Hearts 1

Hearts suffered a demoralising fifth consecutive defeat in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League as Falkirk stunned them with two late goals.

The Tynecastle side went ahead in the 27th minute through the head of Ruben Palazuelos and had chances to double their lead prior to the break.

But the hosts hit back in the second half with substitute Carl Finnigan finding the net in the 78th minute, and Michael Higdon secured three points for Falkirk soon afterwards with a well-placed shot.

Hearts had started well, but the way they allowed Falkirk back into the match will come as another shattering blow to the club.

They were the first to threaten after four minutes when Michael Stewart planted a dangerous cross in the box from Andy Driver's short free-kick.

In a goalmouth scramble, the ball broke to Ibrahim Tall but his left-footed shot was blocked and the Bairns defence eventually cleared the danger.

Falkirk got into their passing rhythm and began to dominate possession but were met by a Hearts side snapping at their heels.

The hosts' first sight of goal came on 14 minutes from Tam Scobbie's in-swinging set-piece.

Robbie Neilson headed the ball straight into the path of Dean Holden but Steve Banks pushed his shot behind.

From the subsequent corner, Holden was allowed time to get a header in but the ball landed comfortably in Banks' hands.

The chances created by both sides were a welcome sight and the next arrived in the 17th minute after Calum Elliot was allowed to run at the Falkirk defence before unleashing a venomous left-footed shot which drifted just wide.

Hearts grew in confidence after a steady start against Falkirk and upped the pressure on the home defence.

Lee Wallace showed great determination to dispossess Patrick Cregg in the middle of the park and ran at the Falkirk rearguard.

Space opened up courtesy of Michael Stewart's decoy run and Tim Krul pulled off a great save to push his 18-yard right-footed shot wide.

The Tynecastle outfit then went ahead two minutes later through Spaniard Palazuelos.

Driver crossed from the right wing and the midfielder rose high in a packed box to bullet a header beyond Krul.

Palazuelos rushed to the Hearts supporters behind the goal to celebrate and was subsequently booked.

Kestutis Ivaskevicius should have doubled Hearts' lead in the 37th minute after sneaking into the box unnoticed but dragged his shot wide.

Wallace was booked by referee Kenny Clark early in the second half for felling Pedro Moutinho as he charged at the Hearts defence.

The Portuguese midfielder took the free-kick himself but wasted the chance by blasting the ball well over the bar.

Hearts looked more composed after the restart and some neat exchanges in the midfield led to Driver skipping past a challenge on the edge of the box but his tame shot was easily collected by Krul.

Referee Clark then got involved to defuse a heated row between Jack Ross and Elliot and both players were booked.

Falkirk went close through substitute Russell Latapy in the 62nd minute after the ball broke to him on the edge of the box but Banks got down well to his low shot.

Winger Driver caused problems for the Falkirk defence with his direct running and his ball-carrying created the next chance in the 71st minute.

The Englishman fed Ivaskevicius from inside the box and the Lithuanian found Stewart 18 yards out but his fierce shot went wide.

Christophe Berra's foul on Moutinho 20 yards from goal provided Falkirk with another chance to test Banks in the 74th minute.

Veteran Latapy stepped up to take the set-piece but failed to clear the defensive wall.

The hosts did get an equaliser, however, 12 minutes from time courtesy of substitute Finnigan's close range strike.

Moutinho's corner was knocked down by Higdon and Finnigan stabbed the -ball home from inside the six-yard box.

And Falkirk stormed into the lead in the 82nd minute with a clinical finish from Higdon.

Latapy's run around the box caused problems and Higdon found the net from 18 yards with a well-placed effort.

Teams

Falkirk Krul, Ross, Holden, Scobbie, Aafjes,Cregg (Latapy 54), Arfield, Thomson, Barrett (Finnigan 67),Moutinho, Higdon.

Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Allison, Riera, Milne, Mitchell.

Booked: Higdon, Ross.

Goals: Finnigan 78, Higdon 81.

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Wallace, Berra, Tall, Stewart,Ivaskevicius (Mikoliunas 84), Driver, Palazuelos,Elliot (Pospisil 80), Zaliukas (Jonsson 84).

Subs Not Used: Basso, Goncalves, McGowan, Beniusis.

Booked: Palazuelos, Wallace, Elliot.

Goals: Palazuelos 28.

Att: 6,614

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com