Same old story as Bairns end Jambos run

Aside from a five minute spell before half time and a ten minute spell afterwards, there wasn't a lot in this game. Two goals from Falkirk in this period were the crucial difference, as Hearts created a bit, but ultimately not enough. Scobbie's volley and Finnegan's header were too much for us, despite a fierce response from Cesnauskis later on.

The sun was setting on a glorious day - in Edinburgh at least, apparently it hadn't been quite as relentlessly bright here - by the time we got underway. Hearts could wrap up the 'bottom six championship' with a win, to complement their two successes against St Mirren and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Falkirk, who like Hearts had only narrowly missed out on another round of fixtures against the Old Firm et al, needed to win if they wanted that seventh spot.

Banks was called into action when he saved well from Finnigan's low drive, following a neat one-two between the Falkirk midfielder and Arfield. From the corner Mikoliunas exploited the lack of home midfield cover to charge towards Supple's goal, until he was stopped in his tracks by a superb covering tackle from Scobbie.

The six hundred or so Hearts fans who had made the short journey along the M9 would have felt reasonably content with the opening 15 minutes, even if it hadn't resulted in much action. Falkirk looked nervy at the back, unsure when to pass and when to hoof, an uncertainty that both Elliot and Glen were doing their best to exploit.

This they very nearly did on 23 minutes, combining well to play in Larry Kingston, who forced a good save from Supple at the keeper's left hand post. Kingston's corner was measured, allowing Berra to head at goal, but Supple held it at the first attempt.

Larry was certainly in the thick of the action, nipping in a decent free kick which Cregg felt obliged to clear before Supple could assert himself. At the other end, Palazuelos was having difficulty getting into the game and his sloppy pass teed up Moutinho to strike narrowly wide of Banks's right hand post. It was an open encounter, with plenty of room for error.

Arfield's swinging cross was miscued by Darren Barr, who headed a long way off target. His frustration was obvious and with half an hour played, this boiled off the pitch as well - John Hughes earning a talking to from referee Mr Dougal when he very vocally and publicly disputed a decision.

Young striker Gary Glen had not recovered from Aafjes's earlier crunching tackle and made way for Jamie Mole towards the end of the half. Swiftly, tthis was followed by Mikoliunas hobbling off as Lee Wallace trotted onto the pitch. Despite the two sets of fresh legs the game was meandering along against a atmosphere of total indifference. In short, bottom-six football.

We'd no sooner written this than Michael Higdon lit up the entire game with a sparkling overhead kick which was well-saved by Banks. There was no such respite from the corner, as Tam Scobbie, totally unchallenged, had time to neatly volley into the ground and beyond the Hearts number one. The Jambos had been the better team and they would now have to be better still.

Three minutes into the second half and there was no sign so far. A sweeping move from the Bairns saw Finnigan turn and fire a curvy effort that wasn't troubling Banks. Hearts looked ragged now - with Gary Glen and Miko no longer playing, they were quite evidently devoid of a goalscoring threat and natural pace.

Falkirk, who've had their share of dry spells in front of goal this season, made it 2-0 and game over in the 51st minute when some shocking defending allowed Finnegan to head home unchallenged, from around seven yards out. Sumptiously easy for them, painful to watch for us. It was difficult to imagine Hearts scoring one goal, let alone the two necessary for a point. Falkirk were dominant, Patrick Cregg dictating all of the play.

Calum Elliot was put out of his misery in 66th minute, when Cesnauskis entered the fray. He was booked for diving in the box a few minutes later. Had he stayed on his feet he might have got an effort away at goal. Go figure.

He redeemed himself very, very quickly though. Kingston was busy on the right hand side of the box, beavering in between the right sided defenders and crossing low. Mole left the ball for Chesney, who picked up the ball, cut in behind and slammed it high past Supple from a very acute angle. It was, if we weren't mistaken, his first league goal for the club he joined three years ago.

It had given Hearts confidence, demonstrated by Mole's run and shot, albeit high into the non-existent stand behind Supple's goal. Lee Wallace also employed the same approach, shooting in the end just wide of target. Kingston provided a woeful free-kick in stoppage time and that was that.

We're fast entering the time when tired and weary players can look forward to a break. Perhaps the same can be said for tired and weary fans as well.

Falkirk: Supple; Mitchell, Barr, Scobbie, Aafjes; McBride, Cregg, Arfield, Finnigan; Moutinho (Latapy, 71), Higdon. Booked: Aafjes. Subs not used: Olejnik, Clarke, Barrett, Bradley, Stewart, Staunton.

Hearts: Banks; Thomson, Karipidis, Berra, Goncalves; Kingston, Jonsson, Palazuelos, Mikoliunas (Wallace, 39); Elliot, Glen (Mole, 34) Booked: Thomson, Mole, Palazuelos. Subs not used: Ridgers, Cesnauskis, Stewart, Zaliukas, Screpis.

Referee: Stuart Dougal