Match Report and RedImages

Falkirk 1-0 Aberdeen
Higdon 54

A poor performance from Aberdeen saw their fine run of form over Falkirk come to end this afternoon. After a goalless first half Michael Higdon grabbed the only goal of the game in the 54th minute with a stunning strike, which left Jamie Langfield with no chance. The only consolation for the Dons is there is little change in the battle for third as Dundee United and Hearts were also defeated.

Jimmy Calderwood made two changes to the side which beat Celtic and drew with Rangers. Zander Diamond failed to make it after picking up a leg injury against Rangers and Sone Aluko dropped to the bench. Lee Mair replaced Zander and Javan Vidal, who impressed last week, got his first start.

As the game kicked off referee, Eddie Norris, was called into action straight away as Dean Holden was booked for a clumsy challenge on Lee Miller. The Dons top scorer required some treatment and was able to continue.

Under a minute later it was the Falkirk physio who had to leap into action as a fierce Stuart Duff drive took out Darren Barr.
With both sides lining up in a similar fashion, there was little between the two sides in the opening exchanges.

After quarter of an hour ex-Don Stevie Lovell scuffed a shot straight into the hands of Jamie Langfield.
Stuart Duff won a free kick form the Dons after a hand ball by Jackie McNamara but Charlie Mulgrew couldn’t find a man in red with the resulting free kick.

The game came to life midway through the first half. A Mulgrew corner resulted in a Scott Severin shot being cleared off the line by Riera. The Dons kept the pressure on but neither Duff nor Kerr could find that lethal final ball.

At the other end Michael Higdon should have given the home side the lead but he ballooned his shot over the bar after a lay off from Lovell.

A minute later Miller played in Mackie and his shot was tipped round the post by Dani Mallo. Mulgrew’s corner again found Severin but this time he was unlucky to see his goal bound header deflect off Mackie and out for a goal kick.

Falkirk then had the best chance of the first half, with Stevie Lovell this time guilty off passing up the chance to break the dead lock. A quickly taken corner by McCann caught out the Dons defence but Lovell headed over from six yards.

Half Time
Falkirk 0-0 Aberdeen

Nine minutes into the second half and Higdon made amends for his earlier miss when he gave the Bairns the lead. The striker left Langfield with no chance as he drilled the ball into the top corner.

Stuart Duff was replace by Sone Aluko on the half hour mark as the Dons pushed for the equaliser.

The most bizarre incident occurred on 64 minutes when Stevie Lovell was ordered to leave the field of play after he ripped his shorts!

Gary McDonald came to the Dons rescue as headed away a dangerous Falkirk free kick. Chris Maguire then replaced Mackie.

With 20 minutes remaining a Dons free kick fell to Aluko but despite being crowded out by four Falkirk players he managed to lay the ball back to Vidal but his left footed shot was blocked.

The Dons then went for broke as they threw on Tommy Wright for Javon Vidal, with the game flowing from end to end as the Dons pushed forward.

Stevie Lovell should have put the game beyond the Dons but after racing through one v one with Langfield he put his shot inches wide of the post.

The Dons managed to force a corner in the dying minutes but the home side managed to hold out for a deserved win.

Team: Langfield, Foster, Severin, Mair, Vidal (Wright 78), Kerr, McDonald, Duff (Aluko 63), Mulgrew, Mackie (Maguire 69), Miller.

Subs Bossu, Young, Paton, Crawford .

Falkirk: Mallo, Bullen, Holden, McNamara, McCann, Riera, Pressley, Higdon, Lovell, Artfield, Barr

Subs: Barrett, Olenjnik, Finnigan, Mitchell, Staunton, Murdoch, O’Brien

RedImages click here

Jimmy Calderwood post match quotes click here