Source: Team_Talk
Happy Hughes hails resolute Bairns
Following a fruitless spell prior to the festive period, the Bairns boss has tightened up his defence by deploying five players at the back and sacrificing the free-flowing football they are renowned for.[LNB]Only Rangers have managed to beat the Bairns since the turn of the year and Hughes reckons that is because he has set his side up so they are harder to break down.[LNB]Hughes, whose team welcome Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday, said: "We are in good form, I think we are unbeaten since the turn of the year if you take away the defeats against Rangers and we have had some good victories.[LNB]"We have shown resilience in keeping clean sheets. I was a little disappointed with the two goals we lost last week in the 2-2 draw at St Mirren, I have watched them again.[LNB]"The way we set it up, it didn't allow us to go and play our usual style of football but it's been like that for the last four weeks.[LNB]"We have played five at the back, it's been looking good and resolute and we have been trying to hit teams on the counter attack.[LNB]"There was a wee bit of pride in the way we came back into it last week and we carried a wee bit of luck."[LNB]If second-bottom Falkirk are to register maximum points against Hamilton to ease their relegation fears, they will have to do it without a host of first-team players.[LNB]Neil McCann (hamstring), Dean Holden (hamstring), Steve Lovell (knee), Jackie McNamara (back), Tam Scobbie (groin), Gerard Aafjes (knee) and Kevin McBride (back) are all set to miss the clash.[LNB]However, Hughes is still confident they can cause Billy Reid's side problems.[LNB]He said: "The young kids are going to have to step up to the plate.[LNB]"I feel a lot for the boys that are out, I feel for guys like Aafjes and Neil McCann because it's been stop-start, stop-start.[LNB]"Being a former player, I know you need a run of games where you are injury-free, that's where your confidence and fitness comes.[LNB]"I still think I have got enough in the squad to get a strong XI out there to hopefully pick up the three points."[LNB][LNB]
