THERE was the perception that Hearts' esteemed unbeaten SPFL Championship record had become something of a hindrance rather than an impelling force.
After guiding his team to a 3-2 victory at Tynecastle on Saturday and simultaneously inflicting a first league defeat on the leaders, Falkirk manager Peter Houston suggested that Robbie Neilson's side "had the monkey off their back".
Prior to the weekend, the Tynecastle club had encountered - in 20 matches - little resistance in establishing what was regarded an insurmountable 13-point lead over Rangers at the summit. So much so that it was even suggested that Hearts' unbeaten run had become overbearing. The party line was that Hearts were not bothered by it, and captain Danny Wilson's terse reply reinforced that theory when asked if it was a monkey off Hearts' back.
"I'd have rather won," he said. When asked to elaborate, Wilson said: "We weren't looking at the unbeaten record. We knew we had it but they are there to be broken and it has come to an end. "We weren't too focused on that and now we have to look at next week and come away with three points [against Alloa].
"Had we lost our first game of the season and then gone unbeaten until now, we'd have taken that. The run we have been on was always going to come to an end at some point and we are just disappointed that it has happened, but we will move on and hopefully it will refocus us."
With Rangers' match at Cowdenbeath postponed, the visit of the Falkirk was a chance for Hearts to stretch their lead at the top to 16 points. That looked on the cards after only 90 seconds when Genero Zeefuik capped his home debt with a goal following an assist from Osman Sow, who was returning from a four month injury lay-off. That was as good as it got in the first half for the hosts.
John Baird converted a penalty for Falkirk in the 33rd minute following a sustained spell of pressure before Rory Loy added another in the 52nd minute.
James Keatings climbed off the bench to level for Hearts but just went it seem as if the pendulum had swung in their favour, Craig Sibbald notched an 80th minute winner for Falkirk. For former Rangers and Liverpool centre-half Wilson, this was a timely reminder that Hearts cannot afford to become complacent.
"I don't know what it will do for the [belief of] other teams but it might galvanise us," he added. "We are hoping that is the case. There has been a lot of talk with people saying we are favourites and that's a tag we are going to have to deal with. Maybe this defeat will make sure we're grounded and ready for the challenge that is ahead."
Following an indifferent start to the season, Falkirk are now among the play-off places in fourth spot following a run of just one defeat in 10 matches. "We were young and little bit naive at the start of the season," said Jamie MacDonald, the Falkirk goalkeeper.
"A lot of them had played games in the Championship but were still inexperienced players. Now we have a good mix of young talented players and a few old heads in the team."
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