- 2 days ago
Coverage of the Scottish Premiership match from Falkirk Stadium, as both teams play their first league game of the new campaign. The visitors stayed in this division after beating Partick Thistle 2-1 across two legs in the relegation play-off, while Falkirk had a positive season having finished sixth in the table
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00:00alongside Gary Weaver yes thank you Ailey well Scotland was the location for one of the greatest
00:07dramas football has seen last season a season for the ages a season which will be stitched into the
00:12fabric of the game here forever more a season which had the world watching but it wasn't just
00:18about the title fight other clubs dream their dream clubs like Falkirk and St Mirren showed
00:25they could dream although for St Mirren winning a major was followed by major trouble Falkirk have
00:32gone from the third tier to Scotland's top six what is next on to the teams and what magic can
00:42John McGlynn produce for his next act as Falkirk manager Scott Bain starts in goal today Ryan
00:50Strain and Scott Tanza face their old club Tanza only left St Mirren in the summer having won the
00:55League Cup with them and helped them stay up Craig Sybould is back home having returned in the summer
01:01from Dundee United after eight years away Joe Gardner and Ethan Laidlaw both arrived in the summer
01:07looking to fill Calvin Miller's boots but Ross McKeever knows this place inside out as he starts
01:12another league season in a Falkirk shirt exciting winger Paul McGovern is on the bench having moved
01:17from Glenavin Craig McLeish names his first league side as permanent St Mirren manager and after
01:25three seasons of lone goalkeepers they've signed a permanent number one in Jacob Chapman Marcus
01:30Fraser is St Mirren's new captain this season there's a debut in midfield for Paul Encio after he signed
01:36on loan from Rangers this week Samuel Ramos has scored a couple of goals already in the League Cup
01:41and Sosa Sula's mother well loan was ruined by injury last season now he's at St Mirren looking to
01:47finally make an impact in this league new signing Luke Thomas a winger from Bristol Rovers is on the bench
01:56so Jameson Fadden good to see you good to see Craig Sybil back in a Falkirk shirt too how important
02:00will
02:01that be for Falkirk yeah massive and I think the Falkirk fans are delighted to see him back in the
02:05the shirt as well great experience more importantly great quality and they've lost some quality in that
02:11midfield this season Falkirk so I think he's a tremendous signing for them Paul Encio could be
02:16hugely influential too for St Mirren yeah another another player I think Craig McLeish be delighted
02:21to have him fantastic spell at Rafe Rovers last season on loan and I'm sure he'll add a lot to
02:26that
02:26St Mirren midfield good on the ball great energy good signing for St Mirren so St Mirren in goal tops
02:34will
02:35get us underway here at the start of the Scottish Premiership season in this part of Scotland Falkirk
02:42against St Mirren Falkirk crashed into the top six last season in the Scottish Premiership some
02:50opening game as well that particular day against Dundee United here Craig Sybil was playing that
02:56particular day in the Dundee United shirt on opening weekend a year ago for St Mirren a new star guide
03:01and also it's all about for them staying out of trouble this season and maybe more Craig McLeish
03:08trying to be a bit more ambitious and aim for the top six if possible despite the words of Chris
03:12Boyd yes
03:13but I think that this this might be a one-off but very sensible from Chris Boyd I think that
03:20first and
03:20foremost they have to look and secure their safety and then you know if they can do that playing the
03:24way
03:24that Craig McLeish wants then you can start looking you know ahead and see what's in front of them
03:29there's that running behind which Sula can provide for St Mirren but Falkirk have managed to deal with it
03:36yeah I mean showing that the threat from Sula great speed to get in behind not so much quality the
03:43execution
03:46Filsen in strongly then Sula again who might fancy his chances here
03:54he's got options left and right as he wins it back but you can see as soon as he gets
04:02the ball
04:03out of his feet one thing in his mind to get a shot at goal killing Phillips you see him
04:07with his arms up
04:07wanting the pass but you want your striker to be good in that situation and go for a goal
04:14and strain has taken a hit here the referee is Duncan Nicholson Don Robertson is at the controls of VAR
04:25forward by Strane who like Scott Townsville is playing against his former employers today
04:35Phillips getting involved as Sybbold left here back in 2018 now back as a Falkirk player Craig Sybbold
04:50he's involved again looking for McKeever away by Gogich
04:56as Phillips trying to get St Mirren moving but unable to produce what he was looking for
05:01he's trying to play to feet of Sula had made the run to go in behind
05:06Kellen Phillips just doesn't quite get the execution there
05:16as Henderson
05:20followed by Tanzer
05:24Falkirk like hearts and like Motherwell have seen some of their top talent ripped
05:28away from them in the summer it's the price of success
05:33Alvin Milligan Barney Stewart likewise Dylan Tate big players influential players they weren't
05:40expecting them all to go but ultimately couldn't stand in their way you can and when you when you're
05:45successful and you've got a team that plays attractive football then there is going to be interest
05:50it's a huge blow for John McGlynn and he obviously would want to keep him but it shows you that
05:55he's doing a
05:56good job that teams are coming in and want to take these players off him in the case of Barney
06:01Stewart to
06:01pluck him from university and to make you know a million a half plus add-ons is quite remarkable
06:08yeah he's calling this his biggest challenge yet as Falkirk's boss looking to rebuild and
06:14try and replicate what Falkirk did last season
06:22he's not had the call from Scotland yet either by the way not yet no it shows you how well
06:26he's done
06:26that he's in the conversation take over Falkirk in league one looking up where they are now and the
06:33expectation that they have is all down to John McGlynn and the work that's been done here from him
06:43Henderson drop on the shoulder from Laidlaw he's a very positive player and it drops an opportunity
06:50for Jack McMillan but he couldn't direct it on target but Falkirk offering a threat yeah good play
06:57down the left hand side Laidlaw through the legs Marcus Fraser can't make up the ground and Jack McMillan
07:02I used to see him playing it right back in midfield takes a good first touch not really the conviction
07:08in the shot
07:14troubling Chapman and goal but good play from Falkirk the first real threat of the afternoon from Falkirk
07:28there's Henderson being hunted down by Sula who as we mentioned in the team news was signed on low by
07:34Motherwell last season he played in the league cup at the start of the campaign but then suffered an
07:38injury and that was the end of that loan went back to West Bromwich Albion
07:44now he's wearing the shirt of St Mirren and he's signed on a permanent basis and looking to show
07:48what he's all about in the Premiership
08:08Sybil
08:13Anderson and McKeever the targets Alex Gokic in the way for St Mirren Sula has done well to link
08:22a play but it breaks down as Encio was unable to smuggle the ball through
08:29the chance to play Kenny Phillips through first time he'd made a deep run
08:33Phillips on that back line when it drops down to Encio sees and plays it first time then Phillips is
08:40in
08:42a really good loan spell at Wraith last season Paul Encio
08:46strain with the cross for Falkirk away by Gogic it's dropped to Sybould
08:53there's Laidlaw the ball in from Tanza
09:03Sybould again perfectly placed as Falkirk looked to build some momentum here
09:10there's Ryan strain
09:20McMillan who was once coached by James McFadden and still made it
09:25a young player at Motherwell Jack McMillan full back great attitude great ability
09:32not on that occasion though
09:35maybe maybe learn something off me take too long on the ball
09:41it's Greg McLeish who has brought his own style guide to the first team he wants St Mirren ideally
09:47to build from the back shorter passes rotations and they have been playing some really nice football
09:51in the defense of their league cup at the start of this campaign
09:55he was coaching the youth teams at St Mirren he did play a 4-3-3 possession based game and
10:00he's
10:01looking to bring that on a permanent basis to the first team
10:10Tanza getting the return but running into the crowd
10:15but Falkirk have settled down into this contest now
10:34such a roller coaster season for St Mirren last time around winning the league cup
10:40into the semi-finals of the Scottish cup then losing an iconic manager and Stephen Robinson and then
10:46just about surviving by the playoffs against Partick who suffered playoff heartbreak again
10:54it's exactly what you want excitement throughout the season
10:58plenty of highs and lows
11:02NCO
11:05this Fraser who scored that all-important goal against Partick in the playoffs
11:10fantastic goal it was as well
11:12Phillips is uh tiptoe forward here and Phillips initially brought it under his spell Phillips again
11:18twice denied
11:20well Falkirk will ask how did he get into that position
11:22oh it's a sensational pass
11:25that's how he gets in great time there run
11:28Strain just switches off he can see him and then it just doesn't sit for him
11:32it said that he still manages to get shot away he wants to take it there
11:35that touch off his knee he just takes it out he's
11:39range for a shot but he still manages to get the shot away and strain recovers to clear
11:48well St Mirren won twice at Falkirk last season
11:522-1 on both occasions the goals came from set pieces but they have lost a bit of height in
11:57the summer
12:02Falkirk had problems dealing with set pieces at times last season that's in towards that near
12:08post it has been defended successfully that time by the home team
12:13so Gartha tried to race away but was caught
12:19yeah and see what it's across he's trying to put his body across to get there first
12:24he's just slightly ahead of him
12:27you're mentioning
12:29you know St Mirren said please
12:31remember the game the one here with the two set plays but
12:34killing Phillips is probably one of the bigger players take the take the corner
12:38I'll just take one of the guys out of the equation
12:45who threatened that Falkirk goal a few moments ago Killian Phillips who has been linked with a move away from
12:49Paisley
13:02team teams from MLS football keeping a watch on him amongst others
13:10Sula goes down but the referee was happy with what he saw
13:25Henderson loose from him and picked up by Ramos
13:30Ramos tries to find mockery just a little too much on it but mockery
13:34will retrieve the situation he's backed up by fields and who sends that ball in a dangerous ball too
13:43Killian Phillips there to make contact
13:46and St Mirren after survival last season looking for a revival this time around they seize control of Falkirk
13:54I feel like he should have put his team in the lead a couple of minutes ago the ball just
14:01wouldn't sit for him
14:03but this cross from fieldson is outstanding it's Falkirk trying to play through great pressure
14:09and it did look like the chance had gone when Ramos just clips it over mockery but he does really
14:13well to keep it in
14:15and this cross from fieldson
14:18just inviting
14:19someone to go and attack it and
14:21I mean he's way beyond the near post Phillips
14:24it's a wonderful finish
14:25so aggressive in the run make sure he gets there first and it's a really nice finish straight at Bain
14:32but
14:33nothing he can do about it it's a lovely goal from St Mirren
14:42big killian Phillips with a big big goal for St Mirren at the Falkirk stadium
14:49those who have traveled from Paisley are making themselves hurt
15:00and he's looking for a big goal for St Mirren at the end of it
15:29Dennis Melnick's making his lead debut for Falkirk today.
15:32What he can provide, amongst other things, is a long throw,
15:35which John McLean hasn't really had at Falkirk before.
15:40And with no stand on this near side, he's got plenty of space to gallop up into.
15:49That's a foul and a free kick. Four visitors, Simuld, committing the foul.
15:56Went wrong about the long throw, he puts that right in the middle of the box, Melnicks.
16:02Just that little nudge here, soft at me.
16:11Pogic. Back to Chapman, who will back himself with the ball at his feet.
16:17We've seen that in the League Cup already.
16:24A short throw this time, McMillan.
16:28Her strain.
16:35Henderson.
16:39Now Tanzer.
16:52Okay, looking to threaten with Leylor.
16:58There's Melnicks, Latvian defender, who can play at the heart of midfield too,
17:03and he's really impressed John McLean so far.
17:12Henderson was caught.
17:20He's just a little bit late, Kylian Phillips.
17:26Most of it, but he gets here first.
17:35Well, Falkirk's seeing more of the ball so far, but it's St Mirren who have the strike,
17:41thanks to Kylian Phillips.
17:42Can we imagine that Craig McLeish does want to play ideally a short passing game,
17:47possession base, but he knows there is more pressure at this level to get results at the
17:53academy level, so if he has to change things, he will change things.
17:56Yeah, I think that it's not been a case of just total football from St Mirren in these
18:02early stages.
18:03You look at Sula and what he brings, he's got pace, he can stretch the game,
18:07and they haven't been afraid to go and be a bit more direct and play and behind,
18:11but it's not a case of that's how they build up, it's just an option for them.
18:15It's smart.
18:16I think he's very difficult to continue to play and play and play and always play through teams,
18:21you need that threat, and certainly looks to have addressed that with Sula.
18:29Well, St Mirren know all about the delivery of Scott Tanza, who's standing over this,
18:34that's his strain, it's Tanza who sends that ball in and Chapman hits the deck and the crowd,
18:39play goes on, McIver.
18:49I think we'll look for Phil here.
18:55Judge it very well, Chapman.
19:01He may be busy again here, the St Mirren goalkeeper flung in by Melnix.
19:09Bogic with the header, and Chapman gets to it, and a quick release from the St Mirren keeper,
19:15looking to try and send Sula away at the other end.
19:23Sula.
19:28There's Ramos.
19:31Now Richardson picks up the baton.
19:34Richardson, he's done well, he sends that cross in, and it might drop in,
19:38and it did drop in, bitingly for Carr, who fires at Goldwoods,
19:41and it goes behind for a St Mirren corner.
19:43He does well, Richardson, because I thought he'd overrun it.
19:46And with this big heavy touch here, it gets there,
19:50a little stand up to the back post, Carr catches this well.
19:54Allen with a stick and a leg out, and it was goal bound.
20:02So Gogic makes his way forward.
20:12Drove short to Phillips, and Sio, and his car again.
20:18Phillips with plenty of time and space to try and measure this.
20:23The flag is up for offside, and Falker can relieve the pressure.
20:29Yeah, he goes for the spectacular there, Ramos.
20:33A lot of delivering to the Indian post area.
20:37Yeah, just ahead of the game there.
20:44A couple of goals already for St Mirren in the League Cup.
20:49Salmo Ramos controversially had one ruled out
20:51in the defeat against Dunfermline last week in Paisley.
20:58Yeah, should have been another one.
21:07Gardner.
21:09Summer signing from Nottingham Forest.
21:10The ball has stayed in play, and Gardner continues his run forward.
21:13He's still going, Gardner.
21:15The ball spins behind for a quarter kick,
21:18despite the St Mirren protests.
21:19Yeah, it's a great run from Gardner.
21:22He had nowhere to go.
21:24He didn't make something out of nothing.
21:26Direct running.
21:29The fans are unhappy.
21:30Over the corner, rightly so.
21:41Tanza in front of the fans who used to sing his name,
21:44ready to take this quarter kick for Falkirk.
21:50Chapman is surrounded on his goal line,
21:52and the referee just having to intervene.
22:04Akiva amongst those waiting to pounce here.
22:07It's gone over his head.
22:10We're looking for something on the counter-attack,
22:12but Strange steps in.
22:17The surrounding Chapman because he's not the biggest,
22:21I don't understand why they're doing it,
22:23but yet to cause a problem with it,
22:25deliveries in, defended well by St Mirren.
22:30Ancio and Mokri and then Sula looking to link up.
22:40St Mirren have been looking to lower the average age of the squad this season,
22:45and they're looking to try and produce their own players
22:49and become a trading club to get money in to the club St Mirren as they move forward.
22:59They believe this style of football will help to develop players,
23:02and also help to sell those players on.
23:10Claws around the stadium in memory of Steven Dougal.
23:15Strain on the move here, and Chapman is behind that to keep out Finn Yates.
23:21They don't have to work very hard, Chapman.
23:24It's a big opportunity for Falkett,
23:27Finn Yates just doesn't catch it, he's in space.
23:29Great play, he's trying to get him forward,
23:32so much time, there's such a tame effort for Finn Yates.
23:37Has to be going near a far post,
23:39straight at Chapman, comfortable for him.
23:43Sula's hit the deck as he tried to make his way through the middle,
23:46Henderson was in close attendance.
23:49Sula stays down, play goes on.
23:55Gardner.
23:59There's McMillan.
24:01Sula is back on his feet.
24:07Sibold, looking to try and release Tanza on the far side,
24:11Richardson gets to it.
24:18It's now the only artificial pitch left in the Scottish Premiership.
24:25Falkirk with a special dispensation to keep hold of their artificial surface for this season,
24:32but they will be changing it next summer at the cost of just over Ā£1 million.
24:36Yeah, well, that's a reward for getting into the Premiership and staying there.
24:44Kilmarnock have changed their surface.
24:47And of course Livingston were relegated last season.
24:53Yeah, I mean, Sula was looking for a foul here,
24:56Henderson just steps across him.
24:58No foul there, but I think he stands on his hand as he's on the deck.
25:04Sula, I mean, not that one that's bandaged,
25:06so he's maybe going to have to get another bandage.
25:10Yeah, it's not a target.
25:11No, it's not.
25:13Looks like he's getting ready for a boxing match.
25:29Gogic.
25:34There's Fieldson.
25:39That's the free-kick, and he gets the free-kick.
25:55Me truly was getting a free-kick there on Fieldson.
26:08A bit of an apology by the looks of it from Jacob Chapman in the St Mirren goal.
26:12Spent last season in the fourth tier in England at Crawley.
26:16Mockery commits the foul that time on straight.
26:22That's lovely from Ryan Strain.
26:24Little nutmeg, you can't beat a nutmeg.
26:27So clean as well.
26:28There you go.
26:32Do you think he called it as he hit the deck?
26:35I mean, sometimes it's just a natural reaction.
26:38I hope he did.
26:48Forward by Bain.
26:49Straight through to Chapman.
26:57So much football to come your way this season.
27:00Over 1,500 live matches on Sky Sports.
27:06The single top division game in Scotland live this weekend.
27:11St Mirren out the edge against Falkirk as Encio makes his way forward.
27:17Sula.
27:25Sula.
27:26That's Gardner.
27:31There's Gogic.
27:32Now the goalscorer, Phillips.
27:48Encio.
27:49Mockery.
27:51That's a trickle too up his sleeve.
27:55There's Fraser.
27:58Now Richardson.
28:03Phillips.
28:05Ramos, Phillips again.
28:08Richardson gives chase to this, but Bain will get to it,
28:11but they're looking to pass their way up the pitch.
28:13Yeah, there's a waste in the end from Phillips,
28:15but really good play from St Mirren.
28:17One touch in to get passing.
28:19He's over-hit.
28:21A bit ambitious from Killian Phillips.
28:25Akiva unable to get away from Gogic.
28:30The first striker to suffer that fate.
28:32Yeah, it's a battle I've been looking forward to.
28:34As much as does it look like he's really good in the air.
28:37He's not the tallest.
28:39His timing's excellent, physical.
28:41Looking forward to that battle between himself and Gogic.
28:46Had a really good start to last season,
28:47Ross McKeever, but then suffered an injury which ruined his season
28:53as Falkirk had caught offside.
28:58Yeah, then Barney Stewart come back and do the league by storm.
29:03Yeah, ten goals of Barney Stewart in the second half of last season
29:06following his return from alone.
29:07He's gone from playing university football a couple of years ago,
29:10so now preparing to play in the championship with West Bromwich Albion.
29:14It's remarkable.
29:15I think I watched him join Falkirk in the championship.
29:18You could see he had the ingredients,
29:20but I still didn't see how quick his rise would be from that point
29:24to go and learn it from Ferman last season.
29:27And really, he had the ground running there,
29:30and to come back and put in a performance season
29:32and score the goals that he did in the second half of the season.
29:35I think there's more levels for him to go up as well,
29:38considering he's very, very early in his career.
29:42As you mentioned, they've received a record fee for him,
29:45which might just pay for that pitch.
29:48Sibold.
29:51Tanza.
29:53No takers in the middle, ultimately for Falkirk.
29:57Ball has just crept out of play.
30:02Yeah, he just fires across the face of everyone.
30:06Tanza.
30:07It's that diagonal once again.
30:10That's where we keep running.
30:11He just fires it.
30:13He just can't get the McKeever.
30:18It's 200 games for St Mirren.
30:21Scott Tanza before he left looking for a new challenge in the summer.
30:25Mokri has stayed down, has strained.
30:30Mokri still down for St Mirren, so they're down to ten for now
30:32as Enseo puts a full stop to that.
30:35And it merges with the ball.
30:51I think they both get the ball at the same time there.
30:54It must just be the landing.
30:55Oh, it's a Mokri.
30:59Yeah, he's back on his feet now as Ryan Strains stares at him, Chris Mokri.
31:11John McGlynn with a problem to solve here.
31:15But he's been so good at solving problems,
31:17the ones he has had as Falkirk boss.
31:27Tanza.
31:43St Mirren with the only goal here so far.
31:46They scored just 30 goals in the Scottish Premiership last season,
31:49St Mirren.
31:50That was a huge, huge problem for them
31:52and something that Craig McLeish is trying to solve this season.
31:57They scored plenty in the League Cup.
31:58First three games, they'll be scoring four a game
32:01until they ran into Dunfermline and Paisley last week
32:03when they were beaten 1-0.
32:04They scored a goal.
32:22Richardson goes down and gets the free kick.
32:39too much on that from Chapman.
32:51Too much on that from Chapman.
32:56Anger is being regarded as Forgive Carers.
33:04St S Troine and she is finding Mokri.enti
33:11-o finding Mokri. picked
33:11up by Fieldsen. Strait
33:13stands his ground.
33:26This is where Falkirk tended to concede at the tail end of first halves last season.
33:35They've been hit once in this game by Killian Phillips for St. Mirren.
33:45They're looking to address that and maybe going to score a goal.
33:50They're making it difficult for them.
33:52They're trying to play out from the back.
33:53The press has been good.
33:55They've been playing through the midfield, forcing them at times to go a bit more direct than they would like.
34:02It was an incredible achievement to finish in the top six last season
34:06with what Falkirk believed was the lowest budget in the top division.
34:11Back-to-back promotions and then into the top six in Scotland.
34:16Some achievement.
34:17Yeah, it's an incredible achievement.
34:18Considering it was a nucleus of the squad that were playing in League One.
34:23Going that journey together.
34:30Richardson doing the defending.
34:32Of course, St. Mirren are now looking to reclaim their place back in the top six this season,
34:37having finished top six in the three previous campaigns before last season.
34:45And the Paisley drama.
34:50Chapman being hunted down by McKeever.
34:55Right, without doubt, the aim is consolidation for both clubs.
34:58Make sure you stay in the league and then you can start looking up the weight.
35:01And I know it's very boring and sounds like lacking in ambition,
35:06but you look at St. Mirren, three, you know, back, three top six finishes in a row.
35:13NCO has smuggled that through to Sula.
35:15It's Sula who tries to pick out the bottom corner,
35:18but was unable to do so.
35:20But a sight of goal again for St. Mirren.
35:22Yeah, and it comes from, again, that aggression.
35:26From St. Mirren to go and win the ball back.
35:29And Sula's looking for the ball back,
35:30but when you pass that to your striker and he's running down the goal,
35:35he's got one thought in his mind, he's to get his shot away.
35:37You know, the disappointment for Sula and St. Mirren is he's had a couple of efforts now.
35:42Not ones I'm saying he should score, but he hasn't hit the target.
35:44At least try and make the goalkeeper work.
35:49The point I was making about these teams consolidating is
35:52St. Mirren, top six, top six, top six.
35:54League Cup victory, almost get relegated.
35:56So it's important that they maintain their status
35:58and then try and take it from there.
36:03I was looking forward to the battle between McKeever and Gogic,
36:06but I haven't been able to get them involved in the game,
36:10Ross McKeever, and I think a lot of that is down to the aggressive press from St. Mirren.
36:18Yeah, they have gone from a back three to a back four this season, St. Mirren.
36:21They have gone from a back four this season, and they have gone from a back four this season.
36:49That is Sybil.
36:53Laidlaw looking to pounce upon this,
36:55former Hibbs youngster, Macmillan arriving.
36:59It's from Yates, Laidlaw again, McKeever!
37:05Well, he had a sight to go there, Ross McKeever.
37:09Acres of space as well, Gorgic gets back in,
37:13and then just loses track at McKeever, good movement,
37:18Gorgic is asleep, I mean, he deals with it at the end,
37:20but if the cross is any better, then McKeever's got a tap-in.
37:24Dennis Melnick's with the cross for Falkirk,
37:26as they look to try and hit back before the break here.
37:31Sybilt.
37:34Now strained.
37:43NCO guarding his back four, he's done well.
37:46There's Mockery.
37:48Going to drive away from Sybilt, and he's away from Sybilt for now.
37:52Mockery.
37:53There's Phillips involved again, and Bain will pick up.
37:59Driving run from Mockery and Phillips,
38:00I thought when he opened his body up there he was going to get the shot away,
38:03he's looking for a little reverse to Sula.
38:04He's looking for a walk.
38:053-0.
38:15Fielton.
38:18It's NCO who's seen, splendid the ball already,
38:22and you can see how important and influential he could be for St Mirren.
38:25Yeah, as I said, they're watching the last season that they're going for us.
38:30Makiwa, he could be in, Makiwa, but he couldn't hit the target.
38:37This is my sighted goal, I know he's had a couple of crosses where we hope to get on the
38:41end of it.
38:42It's just like from Settneron, it's trying to play a pass that isn't on.
38:46Good first hit for Makiwa, let's just try to sneak it in that near post and the champion, as you
38:53can see,
38:53he is more covering in the far post, so I don't mind it at all.
38:59A glimpse at goal for Ross McKeever.
39:02Yeah, he did score a hat-trick in their opening League Cup game this season, Ross McKeever against Edinburgh City.
39:08And a 5-0 win, Falkirk though ultimately going out of the League Cup.
39:15Settneron, the holders, well and truly still in it with a tie against Rangers to come.
39:20They've got a free kick here.
39:26I think it's just a quick kick here, Sula.
39:30I think Mounyx are fully committed.
39:43Well, a chance for St Mirren to try and test Falkirk from a set-piece again here,
39:49and once again it's Phillips who's standing over it.
39:57There have been a couple of signals from Cillian Phillips.
40:02And eventually he sends the ball in, but too much on it.
40:05Yeah, he thought about crossing it into the box and then maybe going short and decided just to kick it
40:10right out of the park.
40:12And the ball was rolling, so the goal kick must be retaken.
40:28It's been such a good feel around this town in the last few years with Falkirk doing what they've been
40:34doing,
40:34and that rise from the third tier, the invincible season, winning the second tier title, and then what they did
40:40in the last campaign,
40:42finishing in the top six.
40:45Football club very much at the heart of this town.
40:48But right now, they've got a fight on their hands against the St Mirren team.
40:52You'll have the lead thanks to that goal from Cillian Phillips.
40:59There's Sybbold.
41:16Melnix.
41:18Richardson on the retreat.
41:26He's up against Ethan Laidlaw on that far side, Jaden Richardson.
41:30Laidlaw, who has been at Brentford for the last few years, was the B-team player of the year last
41:36season.
41:36They played against some big clubs with those B-team friendlies,
41:40and they ended up scoring 12 goals in the final 12 games for Brentford B.
41:47He's returned to Scottish football looking to make an impact,
41:50St Mirren looking to make an impact of their own, but over the top from Ramos.
41:57He's just off-balance slightly, gets a little nudge in the back.
42:00Always rising, never set to get the shot away.
42:05Here is Laidlaw.
42:09Now Kars, and crashing to the ground.
42:15Frustration from Scott Tanza, which...
42:20Referee is trying to sort out.
42:23Yeah, there is frustration because they can't get through it.
42:26They have had a couple opportunities from the wider areas, but...
42:30Any time they've tried to build, it's been difficult for them to play all the way through.
42:35And that is, it's not a press well, but you look at the players...
42:39that are missing, that used to be in that midfield, Spencer Tate.
42:42I'm so pivotal to how they play it.
42:46Yeah, Spencer suspended for the first couple of games,
42:48carrying over those yellow cards from last season.
42:52Yeah, I'm speaking to him before the game, I won't get him in trouble, but...
42:56I agree with him.
42:59Yeah, we won't say what he said.
43:01I can tell you what I think.
43:03Yeah.
43:03I don't think they should carry over, is what I think.
43:11He did, though, tell the referee to have a good game today,
43:13in his own inimitable style, as he walked past us.
43:18Here's McKeeve.
43:19Not sure I heard that.
43:20No.
43:26And Sio, looking to deal with that for St Mirren.
43:31Chapman holds up.
43:33Once again, there's the quick release, trying to set Sula away up the pitch,
43:36again, it doesn't really come off, but...
43:39Chapman trying to get St Mirren on the move.
43:41Yeah, it's a good idea, but Sula's too far away from it, he does have speed, Sula.
43:47Maybe just too quick from Chapman, great execution, it's a lovely pass,
43:51but, you know, Onyx reads it and gets across and deals with it.
43:57McKeeve rising.
44:02There's a chance here for Gardner.
44:05He's backed up by Strain.
44:09McCree puts an end to that.
44:20Next time it's Fieldson doing the defending, and Falkirk win a corner.
44:35To the near 800 St Mirren fans who've made the journey to Falkirk today,
44:39sold out their allocation.
44:50Tanza prepares to deliver this for Falkirk.
44:55Looking to plot the downfall of his old club.
44:58And it goes towards that near post, which is being watched and defended by Gogic.
45:03Tanza again sends it in.
45:08Oh, the break could be on here for St Mirren.
45:10Right now it's three against two as Carr leads the break.
45:14He's found Sula.
45:16Asouza Sula.
45:18Carr again, didn't quite get to it because Henderson on the retreat did.
45:23And a wonderful opportunity for St Mirren comes to nothing.
45:29And now Falkirk looking for something of their own at the other end of the pitch.
45:34They still have to try and hit back before the break, but that comes to nothing.
45:44This is exactly what I was hoping for, nice end to end.
45:47Sula, the opportunity at one end, Falkirk straight back up, here comes St Mirren again.
45:53NCO.
46:00But St Mirren got themselves into such a good position and didn't make the most of it.
46:05No, that was a 3v1.
46:07And I think Carr picked the right option, and Phillips to his right.
46:11Sula moved, he's left, I think that was the right option.
46:14This holds up slightly, and Sula can't then find the space when he lays it back to Carr.
46:19It's a great recovery by Liam Henderson.
46:26Well, how crucial could it be?
46:38St Mirren again, looking to cause problems for Falkirk here.
46:43Killian Phillips waiting again, and Bing gets to that!
46:47Fantastic stop!
46:49I'll tell you what, I mean the football is absolutely outstanding from St Mirren.
46:54One and two touch passing, great little vision here from Sula.
46:58Everything to do is spot on, even the finish, but what a save it is from Scott Bain.
47:03It looked like a certain goal, outstanding football.
47:07Wonderful goalkeeping, and here's a chance before Carr.
47:11I felt that it was the right option, Casullo was ahead of him, but look at the ball,
47:14just bobbling into him.
47:16And this lay-off, he wants Carr to step on it and hit it first time.
47:20Henderson getting back, great defending.
47:26Well, St Mirren are right on Falkirk's doorstep again here.
47:30And Killian Phillips will take the corner in towards that near post, Bain tries to get to it.
47:35And St Mirren are claiming a second goal, but the referee unmoved.
47:42This is close, great delivery in, it just hits off Sula,
47:47he's convinced that it does look like it goes over the line.
47:52You can see here, there's no-one on Sula.
47:57Can't tell from there, he's convinced Sula that it goes over the line, but
48:01can't quite tell for sure.
48:04Well, we're into one additional minute at the end of the first half.
48:10And St Mirren with a couple of big, big chances to extend their lead.
48:14Yeah, they've certainly looked threatening,
48:16St Mirren, you see why they've scored so many goals in the League Cup, group stages.
48:20Go, go, go, go!
48:40Strain has made his way forward here.
48:44Henry Fieldson in the way for the visitors, and that, the final act of the first half
48:49for the Falkirk Stadium, and Craig McLeish, the now permanent manager of St Mirren,
48:54will be pleased with what he's seen from his side in the first half.
48:57Killian Phillips putting them in front, but it could have been more for St Mirren.
49:01Phillips denied by a fabulous stop from Scott Bain.
49:03St Mirren claimed after that that the ball had crossed the line from a corner kick,
49:08but the officials did not agree with that.
49:11Sula's had a couple of opportunities too for St Mirren.
49:14At the break at the Falkirk Stadium, it's Falkirk 0, St Mirren.