Falkirk 1-3 Hibs: Bairns' European hopes all but extinguished after first-half horror show

Falkirk’s hopes of finishing fifth in the Scottish Premiership – and potentially earning a spot in next season’s UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying – were all but ended on Saturday after a 3-1 defeat to Hibs on home turf.

It was a performance that was uncharacteristic of the Bairns’ team that we have seen so far this season, and their poor finishing and slack defending was punished by David Gray’s side. They now sit five points clear of Falkirk with two games remaining.

A nightmare start for John McGlynn’s side saw Jordan Obita hang up a dangerous corner to the back post, with Josh Campbell climbing the highest to nod past Nicky Hogarth to give the visitors a vital opener in FK2 with just three minutes gone.

Falkirk responded well and hit back with a handful of chances of their own. Just five minutes after the opener, Filip Lissah came inches from putting it on a plate for Barney Stewart as he caused panic among the Hibs defence down the right wing before flashing it across the box, the Falkirk striker threw himself at it but it was just out of reach.

Swansea City loanee Wilson was next to cause Hibs issues on the right as he skipped by Obita before finding Calvin Miller at the back post; the winger wasn’t expecting it, though, which was displayed in his strike as he didn’t catch it cleanly.

Josh Campbell double downs Falkirk

The visitors doubled their lead soon after, courtesy of the head of attacker Campbell once more. Perhaps it was against the run of play, but Gray’s side certainly didn’t care.

This time, it was a cross from the other side, as Martin Boyle’s delivery found an unchallenged Campbell who made no mistake from close range to grab his second.

The Easter Road visitors took control from here and came close to finding a third on a number of occasions as stopper Hogarth was kept relatively busy in the Falkirk goal.

The provider became the scorer for Hibs’ eventual third goal, as a Felix Passlack cross from the right wing made it all the way to fellow full-back Obita, who made a late run into the Falkirk box before thundering a powerful strike past Hogarth five minutes from the interval.

A disappointing half for The Bairns as poor defending ultimately cost them, but it was delight for Gray’s side who looked to have killed the game with the second half still to play.

The second period was pretty end-to-end until the final twenty minutes, with neither side able to carve out many goalscoring chances.

Aston Villa loan star Ben Broggio pulled one back for the Bairns as the game was beginning to fizzle out, and he did so in spectacular fashion as he picked it up on the edge of the area before firing a powerful strike past Raphael Sallinger in the Hibs net.

Despite the lifeline, it seemed to be too little too late for Falkirk. A few more half chances came and went, with Ethan Ross’s header being the closest of the lot as it flew agonisingly wide of the post.

There was heaps of late pressure, but Hibs held firm to see out a vital win at The Falkirk Stadium.

Team information: Falkirk 1-3 Hibs

Falkirk: Hogarth, Lissah, Neilson, Allan, McCann, Spencer, Tait, Wilson, Yeats, Miller, Stewart.

Subs: Sneddon, Henderson, Donaldson, Graham, MacIver, Cartwright, Ross, Parkinson, Broggio (73’).

Hibs: Sallinger, Iredale, O'Hora, Hanley, Campbell (3’ 20’), Obita (40’), Chaiwa, Barlaser, Passlack, Boyle, Elding.

Subs: Smith, Newell, C Cadden, N Cadden, Megwa, Andrews, Garananga, Scarlett, Suto.

Referee: Ryan Lee.

Attendance: 7,644.

FH POTM: Josh Campbell.