ST MIRREN 1
Higdon 53

FALKIRK 1
Finnigan 88
(HT 0-0)
Attendance: 4033
(Falkirk: 573)
Scottish Premier League

The Geordie striker found the back of the net with just two minutes remaining at St Mirren Park to cancel out Michael Higdon's stunning second half goal.

It keeps Falkirk in touch with next weekend's opponents Kilmarnock, albeit four points adrift, after their 1-1 draw with high-flying Hibernian at Rugby Park, while the same gap remains to St Johnstone, who were defeated 3-0 by Rangers.

New signing Toufik Zerara was handed his debut by Eddie May for this encounter and Marc Twaddle stepped into the back four, at the expense of Brian Allison and Chris Mitchell from the team that lost to Rangers seven days previously. Alex MacDonald, meanwhile, was crocked during the warm-up and replaced by youngster Blair Alston.

St Mirren Park wasn't affected at ground level by the lingering fog but the match did go ahead in freezing conditions and the hosts started at a blistering pace, forcing a corner in the first minute which Chris Innes headed a couple of feet wide.

The Bairns quickly found their footing though, and a smart ball from Zerara gave Scott Arfield a clear shooting chance, but Paul Gallagher easily gathered the low drive which followed.

Things continued at a high tempo with the Saints, in particular, having some good passages of play down the right flank, which ultimately came to nothing, while Vitor Lima shot wide from distance at the other end.

However, the home side carved open the best chance in the 19th minute when two former Bairns combined. Jack Ross played a low ball to Higdon's feet, and the big striker turned smartly before sending in a low drive which Robert Olejnik did well to save. The Austrian stopper then denied Stephen O'Donnell with a good block after the midfielder tried to capitalise on a slip in the box by Twaddle.

There was very little else in terms of goal-scoring opportunities for either side until 10 minutes before the break when Lima hit a screaming shot from 22 yards that was deflected narrowly wide. Then, from a subsequent Zerara corner kick, Finnigan found space at the near post but headed straight into the arms of Gallagher.

The game threatened to boil over as the first half drew to a close when John Potter wrestled Finnigan to the ground and a shoving match ensued. Several players got involved but referee Craig Thomson calmed it down and decided against showing any yellow cards before bringing proceedings to an end shortly afterwards.

Falkirk looked more determined as the second half got underway and a neat cross from Ryan Flynn was just missed by Lima. The visitors continued to enjoy the majority of possession but, in the 53rd minute, they were hit by an almighty sucker punch that came out of nothing.

A loose ball broke to Higdon in midfield and sat up nicely for the striker who didn't hesitate in hitting a tremendous right foot shot from fully 35 yards over the outstretched fingertips of Olejnik and into the back of the net.

The Buddies' heads were lifted by their lead and they went on to enjoy a good spell, forcing a number of crosses - one of which Olejnik had to tip onto the bar before collecting - while the only reply was a couple of half-hit efforts from Arfield.

Higdon then had the ball in the back of the net again with 20 minutes remaining but referee Thomson chopped it off for an earlier handball in the box.

May sent on Lee Bullen and Danijel Marceta in an attempt to salvage something from the game and it looked like they may have done just that minutes later. Gallagher was bouncing the ball when Pedro Moutinho stuck in a toe and won possession before rounding the keeper and slotting home. But, despite the protestations of every visiting player, Thomson deemed the ball had still been in Gallagher's possession and awarded a free-kick to Saints instead.

Finnigan was then inches away from finding the target with a diving header from a raking Marceta cross and the hard-working Bullen nodded a Zerara corner over the crossbar as Falkirk pushed hard for an equaliser.

And, with just two minutes remaining, it duly arrived. Tremendous footwork by Moutinho on the edge of the box saw him turn three defenders inside out before slipping through to the unmarked Finnigan who slid a shot from 10 yards past Gallagher and into the bottom left corner.

EDDIE MAY: "I thought we played well enough for long spells but we were hit by a great goal by Michael Higdon. You have to applaud him for that, rather than criticise our keeper.

"However, we still created a few chances ourselves and Carl Finnigan got a good equaliser.

"I thought the back four were very good today but we still need to come up with the right combination from the middle to up front.

"Saying that, we're still delighted to come here and win a point. It's a very difficult venue and to also only restrict St Mirren to a couple of chances is pleasing as well."

GUS MACPHERSON: "It was a frustrating game. We got into a position to win the game, without playing particularly well, and it is hard to take losing a goal so late on.

"We should have been able to see the game out – it would have made a big difference to our league position – but then we need to defend these situations properly, which we didn't."

FALKIRK: Olejnik, Barr, McLean, Pele, Twaddle, Arfield (Marceta 73), Lima, Zerara, Flynn (Bullen 70), Moutinho, Finnigan
NOT USED: Wagenaar (GK), Allston, Murdoch, Allison, Duffie
BOOKED: None

ST MIRREN: Gallagher, Ross (Mair 68), McGinn, Potter, Murray, O'Donnell (Robb 84), Brady, Barron, Innes, Higdon, Mehmet
NOT USED: Howard (GK), Camara, Dargo, Devlin, Ramsay
BOOKED: None

REFEREE: Craig Thomson