Scottish Premier League - Inverness relegated

Eurosport - Sat, 23 May 22:43:00 2009

Michael Higdon scored a second-half goal as Falkirk beat 10-man Inverness 1-0 to relegate them from the SPL and complete their great escape after starting the final day of the season in bottom place.

FOOTBALL Falkirk's Michael Higdon - 0

Substitute Higdon turned home Jackie McNamara's inviting cross after 68 minutes to ensure the Bairns remained in the top flight.

The turning point of the match came after 39 minutes when Ross Tokely was sent off for a last-man challenge on Steve Lovell.

With so much at stake it was, as expected, a nervy and tentative start from both sides. The home side made the first foray forward when Foran latched onto a Filipe Morais flick-on before darting past Gerard Aafjes and unleashing a low drive that was comfortably gathered by Mallo in the Falkirk goal.

Richie Foran should have given Inverness the lead iafter 12 minutes but was denied by an excellent stop by Dani Mallo. The talking point of the half came after 39 minutes when the home side were reduced to 10 men when Tokely was sent off for a last man challenge on Lovell.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Inverness made the better start to the second half and Bairns striker Finnigan breathed a sigh of relief when his defensive header from an Ian Black free-kick went over his own crossbar.

Falkirk manager John Hughes made his first change after 53 minutes withdrawing Arnau Riera and bringing on Mark Stewart. And the substitute almost made an immediate impact when he lobbed Michael Fraser with a first-time volley but the retreating Duncan headed the ball off the line to safety.

Inverness were sitting deeper and deeper in their own half and Higdon was introduced for Lovell after 65 minutes in attempt to prise open the stubborn home defence.

And this change did make the difference. Jackie McNamara exploded down the right and played a pin-point cross into the path of Higdon and the substitute prodded the ball past the helpless Fraser to the delight of the vocal travelling support.

In the dying stages Kerr shot over before substitute Russell Duncan was denied by Mallo but the Highlanders could not find the goal to secure their top-flight status.

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. Mary, ask your friend Donneysbeck. They know each other­ well. (If you know what I mean, wink, wink).

    From the real adrian, on Sat 23 May 11:43PM

  2. ALREET SINGAN GANGAR BYE. MARAY ASINAY ME BYE MARAY AS­ EROL FLANN. BAT YAR REET THON WEE LASSAY LACKS A BAT­ LEEK MAY DENTOST. A REET WEE SHEG ASANT SHAY?

    From donneysbeck, on Sat 23 May 8:18PM

  3. ALREET MARY HOV YEE CHENGED YAR PACURE. YAR EVAN MAT­ BEAUTAFOL HI. A SAY, DAY YE HOV A HENG OVAR OFTAR LAS­ NEET. I DINNAY. A TOK 10 PARCETAMOLS OND SAX GLASEES A­ ANDREWS LAVAR SALTS WHEN A WOKE OPP OND A WAS FEEN.

    From donneysbeck, on Sat 23 May 8:16PM

  4. Here, DONNEYSBECK - is that a fotie of yir wee dentist­ burd, MARY? You remember.. The wan wi' the big­ baps?.. LOL!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Sat 23 May 8:14PM

  5. THARS A NOSTY WEE BYE WATH THE NAYME MOBILECLAY HEW­ THANKS THAT MA PAL DONNAY AN ME AS WAN-OND-THA-SAME,­ BAT A HOF NAVAR HARD AF FRANCAS S.

    From Mary, on Sat 23 May 8:00PM

  6. OM AFRIDE AH DINNEA KEN THAS FRANCAS S - HEWZ FRANCAS­ S?

    From Mary, on Sat 23 May 7:58PM

  7. Mary. are you Francis S in disguise??

    From the real adrian, on Sat 23 May 7:56PM

  8. AT'S YER MON TARRY BATCHER HEW HAZ BROT ABOOT THAS­ RALAGAYSHAN - TAPICAL O' AN ANGLASH FALLAH. THA MON­ WAZ SHYTE WAN HE WAZ A PLYAR AN'AWE, SO HE WAZ.

    From Mary, on Sat 23 May 7:53PM

  9. Great to see the Inverness tinks relegated, bring on­ the derbies against County, caley were and always will­ be a first division team with first division­ attendances, first division players and a first­ division stadium!!! and to have a politician, david­ stewart, telling the rest of us highlanders we should­ be supporting his team was typical of the contempt­ inverness, its councillors and david sutherland have­ for anywhere out of their wee parochial views.
    Away and­ bile yer heids!!
    Andy Logie

    From Andy, on Sat 23 May 7:01PM

  10. AWW DEARAY ME POR WEE ANVERNASS. A SAY A LAVE ANVERNASS­ ME A HOV BEN THAR MANAY TEEMS.

    From donneysbeck, on Sat 23 May 6:33PM

  11. well done yogi and falkirk football team now get off­ yogis back

    From paul, on Sat 23 May 5:42PM

  12. yeag sure you do

    From grahamteuchter, on Sat 23 May 5:15PM

  13. well done to yogi i feckin hate ict we (Hibs) can never­ get a result there

    From markwright846, on Sat 23 May 4:55PM

  14. now 4 the cup

    From cacbrown21, on Sat 23 May 4:05PM

  15. yea Right - enjoy your day, but be real here­ mate.........

    From B, on Sat 23 May 3:31PM

  16. forget the premiership and cl final,this is the main­ event,manu r tossers come on the bairns,over paid­ tossers that r man u

    From yvbrand, on Sat 23 May 2:53PM
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