FALKIRK 1 - 1 KILMARNOCKChris Sampson at the Falkirk Stadium
FALKIRK started the New Year with another draw as a David Fernandez equaliser cancelled out Steve Lovell's strike in a fascinating match.
Lovell had put the home side in front with a superb piece of skill as the first half drew to a close and Falkirk looked like they would run away with the game. However, Kilmarnock never gave up and Fernandez made sure his side left with a valuable point.
Falkirk were without captain Darren Barr for the match after the Scotland international was sent off in last weekend's defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice. Kilmarnock had to draft in replacement goalkeeper Damien Rascle for the suspended Alan Combe after the Rugby Park No 1 was dismissed against Hibernian in Kilmarnock's 4-2 victory over the Edinburgh club.
Before yesterday's game, the home side sat 10th in the Premier League. Alarm bells weren't exactly ringing loud just yet, but they were equal on points with Inverness Cal-edonian Thistle and Hamilton Academical in the relegation zone and Falkirk knew they had to come out the traps right from the start. The last time these sides met Falkirk won 2-1 in a thriller in Ayrshire, and this game looked as though it wouldn't disappoint.
The home side almost took the lead with barely one minute played when Scott Arfield saw his effort dribble agonisingly wide of the right post after superb build-up play from Michael Higdon allowed the Falkirk star to shoot at goal, but Arfield's attempt was just off target.
With half-an-hour almost gone both teams should have had the ball in the net. First up was Higdon who found himself unmarked following a good delivery from Neil McCann into the area. The Falkirk striker unleashed a volley with fury, but he could only direct it straight at Rascle who smothered the ball.
Next there was Willie Gibson for the visitors, who picked up the ball and raced down the left flank into the box and only had Robert Olejnik to beat. Gibson picked his spot and drilled the ball low past the goalkeeper, but just wide of the post.
That counter attack from Kilmarnock breathed life into their game and suddenly they were up for it. Allan Russell latched on to a through ball from Fernandez and forced Olejnik into a great save.
However, Falkirk always looked like the team that were going to score and with four minutes to go before the interval Lovell did. Arfield delivered a brilliant long ball into the box and after a defensive error, Lovell latched on to the ball and beautifully flicked an effort into the goal.
"We were the better team in the first half," said John Hughes. "But they were better second. Maybe we got a bit nervous as the second half started, but the players will take this forward and , hopefully, we can go and get some victories."
After the break, Falkirk began to look shaky as Kilmarnock went for an equaliser, and they got it on 62 minutes when Gibson swung in a cross into the box which the ever- threatening Fernandez drilled home.
However, in the midst of Kilmarnock's fightback was an ongoing feud between the supporters and referee Iain Brines. Brines tried to let the game flow, but a string of hefty tackles threatened to halt play. The referee was forced to put a number of players into the book as fans started to turn up the heat on the official.
Kilmarnock almost went in front as full time approached when substitute Donovan Simmonds found himself unmarked in the box and had a free header. His powerful effort beat the stopper, only for the Ayrshire men to be denied by the woodwork.
Falkirk subs: Barrett for Riera 78. Not used: Flinders, Cregg, Finnigan, Mitchell, Mark Stewart, Lynch. Booked: Scobbie, McCann, Lovell, Holden.
Kilmarnock subs: Simmonds for Russell 74, Bryson for Hamill 51. Not used: Harpur, Clancy, Flannigan, Sammon, Nolan. Booked: Skelton, Russell, Fowler, Gibson.
Referee: I Brines
Attendance: 5375
