St Mirren's search for a first league win of the season continued as the ten men Saints eventually fell to a 3-1 defeat against Falkirk at the Falkirk Stadium. However, the manner of the performance throughout the afternoon will give Jack Ross hope that that will come sooner rather than later.
Lewis Morgan gave the Buddies an early lead when he smashed the ball into the net in the 17th minute. Saints were doing well in the match before defender Jack Baird was sent off just before half time. Falkirk took advantage of the numbers game as they scored three second half goals to give themselves three points.
Kyle Magennis went on a driving run and held off the challenge from a Falkirk midfielder before finding Kyle McAllister on the right wing who curled an effort just beyond Rogers' right hand post.
Lewis Morgan had a strong header from the edge of the box that left Rogers unsure as it dipped just over the bar. It was a good start by Saints and a nice flick from McAllister found Naismith. The full back drove toward the box and played a ball across but there was no one to attack the ball.
It was Falkirk who had the best real chance to opening the scoring on 13 minutes when James Craigen forced a save from Scott Gallacher. The midfielder broke into the box on the left hand side and drove the ball toward the near post but Gallacher was equal to it as he pushed it wide.
Saints started the game strongly and got their reward in the 17th minute when Morgan put the Buddies ahead. The winger picked up the ball from a knock down and rifled it from the edge of the box beyond Rogers. The goalkeeper stood no chance as Morgan caught the ball sweetly to send Saints supporters into raptures.
The visitors were worthy of their lead and while the game had hit a bit of a lull Falkirk proved they were still in the game as Gallacher was forced into a save by Luca Gasparotto. The Canadian was on the end of Craigen's cross, but the goalkeeper was equal to it as he held the effort.
The warning signs were still there and it took a good goal saving tackle from Jason Naismith to deny John Baird from getting the Bairns level. The striker was found by Lee Miller and just as he was about to pull the trigger Naismith slid in to block the attempt and Saints cleared the danger.
Saints were dealt a major blow on 38 minutes when Jack Baird was shown a straight red card by Craig Thompson. The defender looked to have thrown a punch at Miller as both went in for a challenge and the referee showed no hesitation in sending Baird off.
Half Time: Falkirk 0-1 St Mirren
The second half was barely two minutes old when Falkirk got themselves level. Experienced striker Miller got on the end of Hippolyte's ball across from the left to tuck the ball beyond Gallacher to make it 1-1.
Hippolyte will never be a favourite of the Saints fans and was the subject of boos from the away support when he dived in the box looking for a penalty. The referee wasn't having it and the forward picked up a booking for his trouble.
Despite being down to ten men Saints were still battling hard in the match. Falkirk weren't getting any chances while St Mirren looked fairly threatening on the counter attack with the speed of Morgan, the physical threat of Sutton and the skill of Mallan and McAllister helping Saints create openings.
Just after the hour mark Morgan used his speed to burst down the left hand side and was unlucky not to find McAllister who would've been one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a great sliding challenge from Luke Leahy.
Kyle Magennis went close to giving St Mirren the lead for the second time in the match when his curling shot was headed just beyond the far post by a Falkirk defender. The corner didn't threaten
Falkirk took the lead in the 77th minute when subsitute Bob McHugh bundled home from a Bairns corner. The corner came after a wonderful save by the feet of Gallacher denied the home side the lead. But it only delayed it as the deep corner was headed back goal-ward and smashed into the back of the net by McHugh.
The Bairns killed the game off with around seven minutes remaining when Hippolyte smashed in a third for the hosts. The forward danced his way into the box and smashed the ball emphatically beyond Gallacher to secure all three points for the home side.
Full Time: Falkirk 3-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, Baird, MacKenzie, Irvine, Quinn(Stewart, 61), Magennis, McAllister (Gallagher, 87), Mallan, Morgan, Sutton (Shankland, 74)
Subs Not Used: Langfield, McLear, Clarkson, Hardie
Falkirk: Rogers, Leahy, Muirhead, McCracken, Rankin (Sibbald, 45), Kerr, Baird (McHugh, 74), Hippolyte, Gasparotto, Miller, Craigen (Shepherd, 74)
Subs Not Used: Mehmet, Kidd, Grant, Watson
Referee: Craig Thompson
Assistant Referee: Dougie Potter
Assistant Referee: Alan Hogg
Attendance: 4,486 (392 Saints fans)
Match report pictures by Allan Picken – © Allan Picken Photography.
Match Gallery Pictures by John Millar - © millarpictures
