St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk

Sep 21 2008 Rob Fairburn Reports

FALKIRK fall guy Kevin McBride apologised to his team-mates after conceding the penalty that cost his side a second victory on the trot. Bairns were looking good for a rare win on the road after Graham Barrett opened the scoring in the 48th minute.

But McBride's handball from a Steven Robb cross just two minutes later gave Saints a lifeline and Billy Mehmet smashed home an equaliser from the spot.

Gutted McBride confessed: "I thought our keeper was fouled when the cross came over but play carried on, I led with my arm and the ball struck my hand.

"I have to hold up my hands, accept the blame and apologise to the boys.

"We had planned to stay tight for 10 minutes after scoring - then I ended up doing something stupid like that.

"It would have been a different game if we had managed to keep them out for a few minutes more."

The Buddies were trying to build on their first win of the season at Inverness and carved out a series of early chances.

Jim Hamilton's hooked shot from 18 yards sailed wide before he had a header tipped round the post by Robert Olejnik.

Bairns created their first chance after 18 minutes when Barrett got in front of keeper Mark Howard to meet Thomas Scobbie's cross but sent his header wide.

Saints continued to have the upper hand though with Will Haining and Mehmet firing narrowly wide.

Michael Higdon came close for Falkirk with a snap shot from the corner of the box that Howard tipped over.

But the game burst into life just minutes after the restart.

Neil McCann's cross was headed home by the alert Barrett with Howard wrong-footed.

And within two minutes the Buddies had levelled.

Robb's looping cross to the back post caused panic and McBride's waving arm made contact with the ball right in front of referee Euan Norris.

Mehmet sent Olejnik the wrong way from the spot for his sixth goal of the season and McBride copped a booking to add to his woes.

Play raged back and forth with Higdon's knockdown blasted over by Burton O'Brien then Andy Dorman was almost gifted a goal when he intercepted Olejnik's throw out - but he could not get enough dig on his attempted lob from 30 yards.

Hamilton proved the main threat to John Hughes' side and he squared up to Olejnik after the pair clashed in the box.

The striker claimed he was fouled while the keeper insisted Hamilton had dived. Ref Norris awarded a bye-kick and stayed out of the controversy.

Falkirk pressed for a late winner - and Franco Miranda battled for the cause but ended with a bloody head wound after an aerial collision with Howard - but the match petered out.

Bairns boss Hughes said: "It is frustrating to concede the equaliser so soon after scoring.

"We had given away a soft free-kick in the build-up as well.

"Coming away from home to St Mirren and getting a point is a good result - but I do not believe we have reached the heights we can."

REF WATCH

EUAN NORRIS was slammed by Gus MacPherson for being too keen to blow his whistle - and changing the course of the game. The rookie ref slipped up three times by not playing the advantage rule when Saints were in decent positions. Rating 5/10.

ST MIRREN

Shots On 5

Shots Off 4

Offside 0

Fouls 12

Corners 7

Bookings 1

FALKIRK

Shots On 2

Shots Off 5

Offside 1

Fouls 19

Corners 4

Bookings 2