Bairns in need of a right good smack

Last summer, John Hughes, his side having missed the top six by the skin of their teeth, was able to convince some damn good players to ply their trade at Not-Brockville stadium (no, I can't be bothered checking what it is actually called, but I bet it's the Falkirk stadium or something) this campaign. Seasoned veterans appeared to be queuing up to sign - Jackie McNamara (albeit after a horrendous year in Aberdeen), Lee Bullen, Neil McCann. Joining them were two players most non-Old Firm teams were crying out for - Steve Lovell, who has hit double figures for goals this year, and Burton O'Brien, who like Bullen had hardly looked out of place in the Championship. Meanwhile, they had not lost Higdon or Arfield, their two best players.

If you thought the disappearance of Lord Lucan was a mystery, that is nothing to the puzzle regarding Falkirk's current plight.

Now, anyone could have foreseen ICT's troubles this year, what with the loss of some good players over the last few years and a reliance on unproven youngsters, plus a horrendous finish to last season. As the newly promoted side, Hamilton were expected to be rather near the bottom than the top. And St. Mirren, well, they seem allergic to moving above tenth in the table.

But Falkirk? A team with an experienced, proven manager and a set of players with a mix of experience and youth, professionalism and flair? And one that hasn't really been hit all that catastrophically by injuries? Figure that one out.

Suddenly, courtesy of the latest Terry Butcher miracle (you tell me a man who has carried out more of those since the death of Jesus), the Bairns find themselves rock bottom with only ten games to go, including showdowns with both the Old Firm before the split. The big date on their calendar just now is 21st March - a home game with Inverness. This Saturday's cup clash between the two is likely to be a marker for that one, as each team tries to get one over in advance.

When asked about the SPL's basement battle in the last two months I have confidently predicted (at least since Brewster was banished across the Kessock Bridge) that Inverness will put plenty of points on the board, and so will Falkirk. The first prediction is proving accurate, but Yogi's boys have, I believe, one win in fifteen in the league. I still think, much to my dread as a Caley Thistle fan, that they will find some momentum and stay up. My confidence of that, though, is lessening by the week. Anyone who can explain to me how it has managed to go belly up for them has my full attention!

This Saturday will be interesting indeed. If Falkirk lose the cup quarter final in the Highlands, just what sort of impact will that have on the league meeting in a fortnight.

The road to SPL relegation has a good few twists on it yet, methinks.

L.