Appearances & Goals To Date
Starting Lineup
| Youngest Player: | Richard Hastings (29 years 359 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Graham Bayne (2008 years 278 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 29 years 359 days |
| Domestic Players: | 10 (90.91 % of starting eleven) |
Matchday Squad
| Youngest Player: | Ross Tokely (28 years 65 days) |
| Oldest Player: | Zander Sutherland (2008 years 278 days) |
| Average Player Age: | 31 years 49 days |
| Domestic Players: | 17 (94.44 % of matchday squad) |
First Team Debuts
Milestones
Carl Finnigan scored the only goal of this game in the 78th minute. This was a game where the most sustained piece of action came in a three minute spell that saw Falkirk made three substitutions and then score a goal!! Other than that, you would never guess that each league finishing spot was worth a reputed 80K more than the one below as this was typical end of season fare (from both sides) that is best forgotten. Club Historian Ian Broadfoot reports on the match.
When these two sides meet you can usually expect goals. In four 2006/07 matches to date they had shared twelve goals but this was to be an exception – just one freak goal separated the sides.
Both Barry Wilson and Ross Tokely were free from suspension but could only make the ICT bench as Charlie Christie retained most of the team from Tannadice. Craig Dargo came back from injury to replace Markus Paatelainen in the starting eleven and resume his striking partnership with Graham Bayne.
Falkirk made one change with Patrick Cregg being replaced by Vitor Lima. Rangers-bound Alan Gow played for Falkirk but the home supporters were clearly impatient with his performance and it was no surprise when he was substituted with fifteen minutes left.
It was not a match to remember but the second half was an improvement on the first. Falkirk ’s John Stewart headed wide in six minutes then two minutes later Richie Hart hit just off target following a knock-on by Bayne. In 13 minutes Mike Fraser saved from Gow after a good run past the ICT defence.
Hart was in fine form and in 28 minutes he took a Roy McBain pass but shot wide of the target. Six minutes later Craig Dargo sent a back-post header wide from a Hart cross. In 35 minutes Mike Fraser was called into action when Vitor Lima tried his luck from 35 yards but the ‘keeper touched it over the bar.
Half Time: 0-0
Into the second half and Carl Finnigan missed the chance of the match in 48 minutes when Stewart headed into his path and he somehow hit the underside of the visitors’ bar from a few yards out. At the other end a Hart free kick was met bravely by the diving Bayne but his header went wide. Another Hart strong effort on the hour mark went wide from 18 yards.
The goal that broke the deadlock came in 78 minutes when Falkirk ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel sent a 70 yard free kick into the heart of the ICT box. Finnigan stuck out a foot and it looped over Mike Fraser and into the net. Paatelainen was sent on for Stuart McCaffrey with eight minutes left to push for at least an equaliser but it did not happen.
Full Time: 1-0
A disappointing 1-0 defeat with two games left and a chance to climb the table missed. Falkirk stay seventh and Caley Thistle ninth. The relegation battle goes on with St Mirren taking three precious points at Tannadice and Dunfermline having all to play for against Motherwell on Monday.
Match report written by Ian Broadfoot
