SCOTT ARFIELD is hoping Falkirk's relegation rivals will be struck by nerves in the coming weeks as they look over their shoulders at the rejuvenated Bairns.
John Hughes' bottom-placed side built on the boost of their Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final victory over bitter foes Dunfermline to battle to a crucial 2-1 win against Motherwell yesterday.
With results elsewhere, the victory cut the gap at the
foot of the table to three points to Kilmarnock and St Mirren and gave the Westfield outfit renewed hope they can couple their cup final appearance against Rangers on May 30 with SPL safety.
A brilliantly-worked ninth-minute goal from Carl Finnigan and Tam Scobbie's second-half header had Falkirk ahead against a Motherwell team whose disappointment at missing out on the top six was all too evident in their insipid display. However, David Clarkson's 70th-minute penalty – and Gerard Aafjes' red card for hauling down the Scotland striker – ensured a tense climax for the home side as they grimly held on for the win.
With Kilmarnock their next opponents at Rugby Park next weekend, Falkirk now know another victory will move them away from the relegation spot.
And midfielder Arfield, who will join Bairns skipper Darren Barr in the Scotland B squad to face Northern Ireland on Wednesday night, is hoping he and his team-mates now have the impetus to survive.
He said: "We needed the win from a confidence point of view as well. Obviously, we took great confidence from last Sunday and this game. We've got another four cup finals and the one at the end of the month but the next game will be another massive game for us and it was great that we got the win.
"It's going to be very tight. It's six-pointers against teams that are fighting for their lives as well.
"It's such a tight league but we're full of confidence. Getting to the cup final gave us a massive, massive boost and this win has as well.
"I'm sure the other teams will be looking over their shoulder knowing that we've got a great win and a wee bit of tension might creep into their game." Arfield played his part in the opening goal as he fed winger Neil McCann eight yards out.
The latter then brilliantly turned marker Mark Reynolds and unselfishly laid a pass across the six-yard box for Carl Finnigan to score.
McCann also set up the second with a superb curling corner-kick delivery that the unmarked Scobbie headed into the top corner.
Arfield was then guilty of passing up a gilt-edged opportunity to seal a great afternoon's work when he neglected to shoot when through on goal and instead overhit his pass to the supporting Finnigan.
Clarkson's spot-kick set up a fraught finale but the Bairns saw the game out, with the experienced Steven Pressley springing from the bench to successfully bolster the tension-filled ten-men.
Arfield added: "From a very, very personal point of view it was so pleasing to hang on. I was cursing myself for absolutely everything.
"When we got the red card, I've never felt like that before in my life – I thought it (the missed chance) was going to come back and bite me. But thankfully it didn't."
