St Mirren 0-2 Falkirk: Stephen Robinson’s Saints’ continue to struggle

St Mirren 0-2 Falkirk: Stephen Robinson’s Saints’ struggles continue

Second half Falkirk goals from Finn Yeats and Calvin Miller ensured the Buddies fell to their third straight defeat. John McGlynn’s newly promoted Falkirk side are now comfortably placed in sixth, with a five-point buffer over the nearest competitors, Dundee United and Aberdeen.

Despite the visitors having more of the possession, it was the home side who looked more likely in the first period, in a half which lacked any clear-cut chances.

The second half followed a similar theme, until Yeats took advantage of a wandering Shamal George. The Wycombe Wanderers loanee goalkeeper had come well outside of his area to deal with a Falkirk attack and when it fell to the 21-year-old midfielder he finished expertly from around 30 yards out. His first goal of the season.

Five minutes later, Miller had his initial shot on the edge of the box blocked before driving towards goal and lifting his second effort into the roof of the former Livingston stopper’s net. The former Celtic man’s strike sent the travelling supporters into joyful celebration behind the goal but in contrast, the home crowd had to wait until the 94th minute to see their side even register a second half attempt. St Mirren debutant, Allan Campbell had a speculative effort which posed no threat to Scott Bain’s sixth clean sheet of the season, with all of them coming in the last nine matches.

After the match, John McGlynn spoke to BBC Scotland: "We were the far better team second half. Our mentality was very good. The clean sheet is always pleasing. We defended really well, kept them fairly quiet."

St Mirren had the chance to cut their deficit to the top half places to just six points but now find themselves 12 behind the Bairns. The only club outside the Old Firm to finish in the top six in the last three campaigns sit in 10th, just four points above Kilmarnock. Neil McCann’s debut in the Killie dugout saw his side play out a 1-1 draw with Livingston, as the relegation favourites only move closer to the stalling League Cup winners.

The speculation surrounding Robinson as one of the main candidates for the Aberdeen job won’t help but four wins from 20 Scottish Premiership matches is a record which will need to dramatically improve if the Northern Irishman is to continue his remarkable top six record.