Falkirk 0-0 Kilmarnock

Mar 30 2008 Brian Welsh At New Brockville

CARL FINNIGAN last night set his sights on smashing a 57-YEAR hoodoo after faltering Falkirk left their top-six hopes hanging in the balance.

Bairns failed to find a way past Killie's stubborn rearguard and have to get a result against Aberdeen to book their place with the big boys.

The omens aren't good - they haven't won at Pittodrie in more than half a century.

But Finnigan - who came closest to securing the three points yesterday only to be denied brilliantly by keeper Alan Combe - is just delighted their fate is still in their own hands.

The English striker can't wait for the do-or-die clash next Monday night and is confident Bairns can pip Dons and Hearts to the top six.

Finnigan said: "It'll be a big game but everyone's looking forward to it.

"We've struggled against them this season but it's still in our hands sowe will only have ourselves to blame if we give it away.

"My main chance came from a great pass from Gerard Aafjes and my first touch was good but the keeper has made a good save.

"Everyone knows we need the strikers to score more goals to win games."

Falkirk have now scored just once in their last six league clashes and did little to suggest a purple patch in front of goal is just around the corner.

Killie settled quickly and knocked the ball about well in the opening stages. But the first decent chance fell to Bairns in 12 minutes.

Aafjes stepped forward from defence and tried his luck with a 30-yarder that came straight back to him after striking team-mate Scott Arfield.

Second time round Aafjes picked out Finnigan in the box with a fine pass.

And the hitman's curling effort would have sneaked inside the far post had Combe not produced a fantastic diving save.

The keeper denied Falkirk again seconds later when Kevin McBride's corner was controlled by captain Darren Barr.

He volleyed goalwards only for the Killie No.1 to block the effort with his body.

Killie boss Jim Jefferies (below) was urging his side on and they responded with a terrific team move in 20 minutes.

David Fernandez played a cute one-two with Mehdi Taouil and slipped a pass to Danny Invincible. The Australian turned and fired in a shot but Aafjes put in a vital block.

The final chance of the half came from another McBride corner. His kick found Barr unmarked at the near post but the youngster mistimed his jump and headed tamely wide.

Falkirk boss John Hughes made an attacking change at the break, sending Pedro Moutinho on for defender Kenny Milne.

And the Portuguese winger almost made an immediate impact when his lowshot allowed Combe to provide another display of his assured handling.

Killie's Craig Bryson pulled a shot past after a fine run of his own and that summed up the lack of quality in the final third.

Combe saved again when Finnigan flicked Tam Scobbie's cross goalwards before Arfield's shot was deflected over when Patrick Cregg unselfishly teed him up inside the box.

Hughes made two further changes, with Russell Latapy and Arnua Riera introduced in 75 minutes. He clearly hoped one of them could produce the single moment of magic the game was crying out for.

But it was Killie who came closest late on when Invincible was within a whisker of converting Bryson's low cross.

It was a match that seemed destined to be goalless and Falkirk's misery was complete when they learned of Dons' late winner in Inverness.

REF WATCH

WILLIE COLLUM had few difficult decisions tomake the three bookings handed out were merited. He showed common sense to stop play after a couple of head knocks but he angered both sets of fans and confused the players with his use of the drop ball. Rating: 6/10.

MATCH STATS

FALKIRK

SHOTS ON 7

SHOTS OFF 3

OFFSIDE 4

FOULS 13

CORNERS 7

BOOKINGS 1

KILMARNOCK

SHOTS ON 3

SHOTS OFF 4

OFFSIDE 1

FOULS 11

CORNERS 3

BOOKINGS 2