We're Only Half A Team Says Raging Rice

Feb 24 2008 By Gordon Waddell

FUMING Falkirk No.2 Brian Rice split his team after scraping a point - and told his front six to thank the back five for their bonus.

The Bairns took a 90-minute beating yet somehow escaped with a clean sheet and their place in the top six intact.

But that wasn't enough to spare them from the wrath of Rice or boss John Hughes who saw a game with noefforts on target and one corner as an affront to their reputation.

Rice growled: "The keeper and back four won the point - the rest need to take a right good look at themselves.

"We train all week to play a certain way and this just wasn't acceptable. A few of them froze out there.

"To be fair to Russell Latapy he made a difference when he came on at half-time.

"Scott Arfield had a wee knock but could have played on. We just didn't feel it was his day and he was losing the battle with his man." It was a fair assessment from Rice - and the Bairns back four can take huge credit for keeping a bigger physical force at bay.

But defender Kenny Milne insisted: "There have been games in the past where our strikers have got us out of a hole so we can't take the plaudits.

"The conditions maybe didn't suit our style too much and with their size they had the option of playing route one when they had to.

"But the gaffer wasn't happy. He kicked a few things around the dressing-room and had every right to.

"Now we just need to regroup ahead of the Hibs game on Wednesday night because that's huge.We can go ahead of them with a win."

REF WATCH

MIKE TUMILTY started the game well but his decision-making got steadily worse. The whistler took flak for some avoidable bookings and a few strange free-kicks. Not the worst show but could easily have earned more plaudits. Rating: 6/10.