TWO goals in three minutes consigned Hearts to a seventh consecutive game without victory as Falkirk came from behind to record three points on Saturday.
The inluential Russell Latapy entered the fray to inspire the overhauling of a 1-0 deficit f
ollowing Ruben Palazuelos' first-half header for Hearts. It was the Spaniard's first goal since arriving in Scotland.
The Tynecastle side had dominated the first 45 minutes, however a revitalised Falkirk emerged after the interval and scored twice in a three-minute span late in the game through Carl Finnigan and Michael Higdon. The result leaves the Tynecastle side ninth in the SPL and toiling to cope with the relegation battle that is now upon them.
HEAD TO HEARTS: Ruben Palazuelos, partially hidden right, puts Hearts on top in the first half. Picture: SNS
Hearts, with three changes from the Boxing Day defeat by St Mirren, encountered a Falkirk side which hoped to attack from the kick-off. But the visitors employed an adventurous 4-3-3 formation themselves and quickly began harrying their opponents out of possession at every opportunity.
Falkirk fashioned a half chance on 13 minutes through Dean Holden, although goalkeeper Steve Banks was alert to the danger following Tam Scobbie's flighted free-kick. Then Hearts replied after Michael Stewart intelligently stole possession in midfield. A pass was delivered to Calum Elliot, who opted to shoot rather than supply Andy Driver with the ball despite the winger having a clear view of goal. As Elliot's effort trundled wide, Driver could only lament the outcome.
The game lacked cohesion for most of the first half, however Hearts produced a priceless opener just before the half-hour mark through Palazuelos. Full-back Lee Wallace had galloped forward to force Tim Krul into action and earn a corner. The set-piece wasn't cleared convincingly and when the ball returned to Driver his pinpoint cross was powered into the net by the Spaniard.
The relief was clear amongst both player and supporters as visiting fans rushed to celebrate with Palazuelos behind Krul's goal. The exuberant celebrations irked referee Kenny Clark, though, and a yellow card was quickly issued.
Elliot and Ibrahim Tall combined on 37 minutes to present a one-on-one opportunity to the hitherto ineffective Kestutis Ivaskevicius. Faced by Krul, the Lithuanian steered his shot wide of target.
Hearts' interval lead was thoroughly deserved, for Falkirk had failed miserably to showcase any attacking invention. That would change upon the resumption of play.
PITCH BATTLE: Calum Elliot of Hearts and Falkirk's Gerard Aafjes fight for the ball. Picture: SNS
Jack Ross could consider himself fortunate to be cautioned rather than dismissed shortly after the restart for an altercation with Elliot in which the defender appeared to lift a hand. Elliot was enraged and his protests saw him join Ross in having his name taken.
Banks held a low drive from Latapy, the home substitute who was introduced to aid the search for an equaliser, and by this juncture of the match Falkirk were the dominant force. On 78 minutes, they forced parity through Finnigan. From Pedro Moutinho's corner, Higdon's knockdown was rammed beyond Banks by the substitute with the Tynecastle defence static.
Latapy then inspired a second Falkirk goal just three minutes later. He indulged in a mazy run from midfield, past three Hearts players and squared to the edge of the penalty area. Higdon calmly steered the ball into the corner of the net with his left foot to consign the Edinburgh side to a seventh game without victory.
Three points was nothing more than Falkirk deserved on the evidence of their second-half display, but Hearts could only wonder why they capitulated after their own impressive first 45 minutes.
Falkirk (4-4-2): Krul; Ross, Aafjes, Scobbie, Holden; Thomson, Cregg, Arfield, Moutinho; Barrett, Higdon. Subs: Olejnik, Allison, Latapy 54 (for Cregg), Riera, Finnigan 67 (for Barrett), Milne, Mitchell.
Hearts (4-3-3): Banks; Neilson, Tall, Berra, Wallace; Stewart, Zaliukas, Palazuelos; Ivaskevicius, Elliot, Driver. Subs: Basso, Goncalves, Pospisil 80 (for Elliot), Mikoliunas 84 (for Ivaskevicius), Jonsson, McGowan, Beniusis.
Attendance: 6,614.
Referee: Kenny Clark.
The full article contains 667 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
