Falkirk 0-0 Gretna

Apr 20 2008 Jordan Costello At Falkirk Stadium

SHOT-SHY Bairns struggled to pick themselves after the upset at finishing in the bottom six - but gaffer John Hughes insists his men should still be hungry to finish in seventh place.

It was a meaningless match for both sides yesterday and it showed with little passion or creativity on show.

But Hughes has demanded his men to match last season's seventh-place finish and insists he was disappointed to only gain a point.

Yogi said: "It was little bit end-of-the-season stuff but I felt we created enough chances to win. Three points would have gone a big way to trying to get that seventh spot and I'm hoping the boys are as hungry as me to grasp it.

"I've six or seven guys out of contract and I want to finish as high up the league as we can to generate the cash to keep them, plus bring in two or three new faces. That's what we're playing for."

Bairns brought Pedro Moutinho back in to the starting line up but veteran Russell Latapy had to settle for a place on the bench.

Skipper Paul Murray was out for relegated Gretna after breaking his ribs in the 0-0 draw with St Mirren.

There was a start for on-loan Sheffield United striker Kyle Naughton who has pledged to stay until the end of the season.

Falkirk were still reeling after narrowly failing to finish in the top six while Gretna were hunting for their first win since February 27 when they beat Kilmarnock 4-2.

Not surprisingly it was a low key start, neither team forcing the issue.

Gretna almost created an opening early on when John Paul Kissock found space on the right of the box and fired in low cross - but it failed to find Brendan McGill in space and keeper Shane Supple collected.

Bairns had a decent penalty shout when Arnau Riera's through ball found Micheal Higdon who was then bundled over by Rostyn Griffiths.

But referee Steve O'Reilly waved away the claims.

In 15 minutes Graham Barrett sent a long ball for Moutinho but Gretna keeper Greg Fleming was off his marks quickly to race out and head the ball clear.

Falkirk tried to keep the pressure on and five minutes later Tam Scobbie's cross found Higdon but he couldn't get enough on his header and the ball flew harmlessly over.

The home side nearly opened the scoring when Riera played a neat ball through to Scott Arfield bearing down on goal - but the midfielder dragged his shot just wide.

The Black and Whites then created their best chance of the half.

McGill's ball across the box found Kissock who laid the ball off to Abdul Osman and his right-foot effort was deflected past the post.

Bairns hit back two minutes later with their best chance.

Higdon set up Barrett and his scuffed effort beat Fleming - but Rhys Meynell got back to block.

Higdon had another effort just before the break, heading over after Moutinho's run and cross.

Both sides remained cagey at the start of the second half.

Bairns played some neat football but struggled to create chances while Gretna looked happy to soak up the pressure and hit on the break.

In 54 minutes Arfield ballooned over from 20 yards as the crowd's frustration began to show.

Next Kevin McBride's cross found Higdon out wide but he shot straight at the keeper from a tight angle.

Fleming was superb to push over Barrett's long ranger then divert Higdon's follow-up from the corner.

But Gretna escaped lightly as ref O'Reilly twice denied Bairns penalty shuts after fouls on sub Carl Finnigan.

REF WATCH

STEVE O'REILLY certainly won't be Falkirk striker Carl Finnigan's favourite referee after he TWICE denied him what were stonewall penalties. O'Reilly was fussy throughout the game but it was those two big decisions that incensed the Falkirk faithful. 4/10.