We are still in a wonderful position with our top six place guaranteed and an automatic European place certainly not out of reach. Of course we are hoping the Scottish Cup semi finals go well and fifth will also reach the Europa League but regardless, three points from this match are surely a must. With Celtic away being our last game pre-split and then the other top sides to come once more, it is arguable that this match at home to Falkirk is our last ‘should’ win of the year. But it will certainly not be easy.
Jutkiewicz' first goal wins the game
Falkirk have led in their last four matches before being pegged back and were unlucky not to take something from Hibs last weekend. The games between the sides have been tight so far with only one goal arriving in 180 minutes of football so anyone going to Fir Park expecting a thriller may well be disappointed.
We are still without Fitzpatrick and Hutchison but Craig Brown may decide to change in midfield or the attack to freshen things up. Squeezing Jutkiewicz, Murphy and Sutton into a 4-4-2 hasn’t always been easy and with Forbes, McGlinchey, Humphrey and Coke available should a switch be made, we are not lacking options.
Falkirk will be without the banned McLean and injured Pele but their injury situation is generally getting better. Flynn and Arfield will pose problems from the midfield while big striker Showunmi seems to flip between brilliance and mediocrity throughout every game. Our defence isn’t the biggest but we have coped with better attacks than Falkirk in the past so shouldn’t be quaking in our boots.
Hearts could well drop points at St Mirren while we defeat Falkirk and that would all but wrap up fifth place for us. Alternatively a Jambo victory while we lose again will cause doubt to creep in but while we cannot control the result in Paisley, we can at least take care of business ourselves. It may not always be pretty but a 2-0 win should get us back on the path to Europe.