Falkirk were their own executioners

DOUGLAS CAMPBELL

30 Sep 1991

JIM Jefferies was slumped in a seat in the sponsor's room late on Saturday evening wearing a bright Falkirk tracksuit, and a glum expression.

The Brockville manager was meeting the press following his side's 2-1 home defeat against Hearts, and although he was at pains to emphasise the good in Falkirk's showing, and of that, there was much, the jarring note came when he touched on execution of the chances created.

Simon Stainrod and his chums repeatedly caused the Hearts defenders moments of great distress, especially in the opening spell, but when the finishing touch should have been applied, the prowess of Falkirk's strike force was nothing of which to speak.

Jefferies admitted that what his club needed was a poacher, a guy who would be there in the danger zone at just the right moment to capitalise on the others' creative toil.

Alas on Saturday, no such fellow wore a Falkirk shirt.

The wisdom of asking Kevin McAllister to perform like a centre forward with the likes of defenders Craig Levein and Dave McPherson bundling in from the back on his tiny frame should be questioned.

McAllister did score for his club to equalise a strike by Scott Crabbe.

But Falkirk's player is a born winger who is at is best when zipping past defenders and making them look like chumps, not looking round in trepidation wondering on which part of the turf he going to be dumped unceremoniously.

Enthuasism and work rate disguise flaws in the Falkirk make-up as they strive to stay in the big time.

Despite the blatant lack of someone with a killer instinct up front, central defence also may prove to be an area which, as the long season trundles on, could prove worriesome to Jefferies.

John Hughes, who is built from the ground up, is an awesome sight to on-rushing attackers.

But his command of the air and direction of headed clearances are somewhat hit and miss for this class of football, while Crawford Baptie, especially when the ball is on the grass, gives the impression of being that half-yard behind everyone else.

He had a glaring opportunity to score midway in the opening half, but appeared to find difficulty in deciding with which foot to nudge the ball into Hearts' net, and once that decision was taken, the opening had closed.

John Millar, who has taken a little time to strike up a rapport with the Tynecastle following, caused great commotion in the away end of the ground when, with the interval approaching, he was given the time to compose himself before belting the ball past Ian Westwater for what proved to be the clincher.

Joe Jordan, Hearts' manager, is happy with having to cope with life at the top of Scotland's main division.

"I'd rather be there than have the start we had last season," he remarked, adding that Hearts' decent form away from the capital is due largely to home sides coming at them, leaving space in which his people can perform.

And after the break perform is exactly what Derek Ferguson did, displaying much in the way of skill, with sweet passing in conjunction with fair tackling of a teeth-clattering nature.

Hearts showed steely determination in defence, to which little McAllister will bear witness, and as Jefferies observed, their forwards were not shy when it came to displaying a similar attribute.

Proof of this came in the closing sequence of the match when Crabbe was cautioned for having Baptie fold like an accordion.

Falkirk Football Club may not have much of the folding stuff to chuck around, but if Jefferies can extract some cash from the board for a much-needed striker, it should not be too long before the smile returns to his face.

Taken from the Herald