Falkirk 3 St. Johnstone 1

Last updated : 20 November 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Falkirk made one change from the team that beat Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy putting John Hughes in for Neil Scally.

But the league leaders did not get off to the start they wanted. In the fifth minute, Falkirk keeper Allan Ferguson brought down St Johnstone's Peter MacDonald and referee Hugh Dallas awarded a penalty. Saints captain David Hannah dispatched from the spot.

This spurred on the Bairns and they exerted a long period of sustained pressure which resulted in the equaliser in the 33rd minute.

Scott MacKenzie picked up the ball from a throw-in, made his way to the byline and cut back to Daniel McBreen who converted from eight yards out - his second in two games.

Just before the break a moment of madness from Saints defender Kevin Rutkiewicz - he was dispatched from the field for deliberately stamping on McBreen.

After the break Falkirk's Darryl Duffy came close when he skipped past Ross Forsyth and shot wide across goal.

Ten minutes later another chance fell to the home side when McBreen went very close with a snap-shot. But the home side went two in front in the 68th minute - a beautifully worked one-two between Pedro Moutinho and Russell Latapy in the box - and the Trinidadian converted from eight yards out.

The third goal came eight minutes later when Latapy again teamed up with McBreen for another beautifully worked one-two and McBreen shot a low angled volley from 14 yards out to give the home side three points and maintain their lead at the top.