Sunderland loan signing '˜a handful' says Bairns boss

Andrew Nelson was in the thick of it at Cappielow, and leapt over this Gary Harkins challenge. Picture Michael Gillen.

Though Nelson didn’t find the net – and has still to score for the Bairns since joining on a six-month loan from the Black Cats on New Year’s Day, he came close again at Cappielow.

And his work-rate pleased the Bairns boss during the win.

Hartley said: “ Nelson is a handful, he probably should have scored. He had some good opportunities.

“But I tell you what he goes out there and works centre-backs. He takes the ball in and keeps it.

“Both Andrew and Louis Longridge have a really nice partnership going on and we’ve added Alex (Jakubiak) from Watford too, so the team is beginning to take shape now.”

The Bairns’ attacking options have increased significantly after a shot-shy start to the season, though the winner came from Craig Sibbald in the midfield.

Hartley added: “The new guys in the team have only been together two weeks and we’ve worked pretty hard in training on how we want to play and we’ve brought a new style and how to work with a new shape, but it’s working just now, but we’ve got to keep working hard doing the right things.”