12 hours ago
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Hearts’ recent resurgence under Wouter Vrancken came to a jolting halt as they were unable to seize the opportunity to climb into second place in the Premiership table.
The Belgian coach and his players could have no complaints as their run of six straight domestic victories was ended by a Falkirk side who were more than good value for their first league win of the campaign.
They took full advantage of a desperately poor defensive display from Hearts who coughed up possession in dangerous areas and conceded chances with alarming regularity. Unless Vrancken can address that vulnerability, their prospects of mounting another serious title challenge are surely slim.
This was an evening to savour for John McGlynn whose team produced some effervescent attacking football and had the outstanding player on view in Derby County loanee Owen Eames who richly deserved his winning goal midway through the second half.
A draw would have been enough to edge Hearts above Rangers in the table but although James Wilson cancelled out Ben Krahaus’s opener in the first half, the hosts always looked more likely to earn all three points.
Ben Krauhaus gives Falkirk the lead against Hearts
Despite their indifferent start to the season, there has been no sense of panic in the Falkirk camp amid a justifiable belief their performance levels have been far better than the results had suggested so far.
There was certainly no shortage of confidence in the approach of McGlynn’s side who began the contest with degrees of pace and verve which Hearts struggled to get to grips with.
Falkirk fully deserved their eighth minute breakthrough from a passage of play which left the visitors stretched and woefully exposed at the back.
An astute and precise pass from a deep position by Bairns captain Brad Spencer sent right-back Ryan Strain scampering free down the right. With Hearts back-pedalling desperately to try and provide cover in the penalty area, Strain showed admirable composure to pick out Krahaus. From around 14 yards out, the Brentford loanee drilled the ball beyond the helpless Beau Reus into the roof of the net.
Falkirk were swarming all over Hearts who looked especially vulnerable down their left flank where Harry Milne lacked his usual assurance.
The left-back made amends for his rocky start, however, by playing a part in Hearts’ 22nd minute equaliser. Securing some sustained possession for the first time, Vrancken’s men moved the ball patiently but purposefully across Falkirk’s defensive third.
Milne fed Josh McPake on the left and the winger, who had been anonymous up until this point, burst into life as he showed great strength to drive into the penalty area. His low ball across the face of the six yard box caused mayhem and it was Wilson who got the vital touch from close range for his fifth goal of the season.
The striker should have taken that tally to six just a minute later. McPake was again the provider from the left as his cutback picked out the unmarked Wilson around 12 yards out, only for the teenager to wastefully scoop his shot well over.
Loan winger Owen Eames fires home the winner for Falkirk
Referee John Beaton would have been forgiven for experiencing an involuntary shudder of dread when he received notification he would be taking charge of this game.
It was the first time the official had been involved with a Hearts fixture since his role in the controversy which overshadowed the end of last season.
Forgiveness certainly wasn’t going to be on the agenda of the Hearts supporters who were outraged by Beaton’s decision to back VAR’s intervention and award Celtic their late penalty winner against Motherwell at Fir Park in May which ultimately proved crucial to the Gorgie club missing out on the Premiership title.
Beaton was jeered from the moment he emerged from the tunnel for his pre-match warm-up. Midway through the first half, he must have been dreading being called to the VAR screen after he booked Claudio Braga for a late challenge on Spencer. With the Falkirk fans baying for a red card, VAR backed Beaton’s decision and spared him the prospect of having to dismiss the Hearts fans’ poster boy.
A mistake from Braga so nearly led to Falkirk regaining the lead before the break. The Portuguese forward’s loose ball set Eames racing clear down the left and his low cross spelled real trouble for the Hearts defence. Stuart Findlay managed to get there first but his clearance was anything but comfortable as he sliced the ball narrowly wide of his own goal.
Hearts made a change at the break as American striker JJ Williams replaced Wilson but they
continued to live dangerously at the back and were fortunate not to fall behind again three minutes after the restart.
Finley Barbrook of Falkirk is shown a yellow card by the match referee John Beaton
Finlay Barbrook, another of the English loanees brought in by McGlynn to bolster his squad last month, showed neat footwork to get himself into a great position on the edge of the penalty area. The Ipswich midfielder’s shot was too close to Reus, however, who managed to make an unorthodox save with his feet before Jamie McCart headed the ball clear.
As Hearts tried to respond, Williams should have made a rapid impact when he found himself on the end of Yan Dhanda’s low cross but from no more than six yards out he fired his shot straight at Scott Bain.
It was Falkirk who generally remained the more progressive side and Eames served notice of his threat when his shot was deflected narrowly wide in the 62nd minute.
Hearts didn’t heed the warning. Six minutes later, Eames made no mistake as he punished yet more slackness from the visiting defence and rolled home a low shot which went in off the inside of Reus’ right hand post.
It should have been more emphatic for Falkirk with sub CJ Fodrey blazing over an open goal after Ethan Ross hit a post in the 90th minute but nothing was going to dilute the celebrations of the home fans.
