Source: Team_Talk
Mallo to make amends at Hampden
The Spanish goalkeeper was handed a surprise debut in January's Co-operative Insurance Cup semi against Rangers and was forced to pick the ball out of the net three times in what was a comprehensive defeat.[LNB]He returns to the scene of that disappointment on Sunday afternoon when the Bairns face arch-rivals Dunfermline for a place in the Homecoming Scottish Cup final.[LNB]Mallo's bid to showcase his talents against Rangers back in January were not helped when he foolishly raced yards off his line to allow Kris Boyd to seal Falkirk's demise.[LNB]But he will not allow it to affect him on Sunday.[LNB]"I forgot it two days later," said Mallo, who joined Falkirk from Braga during the last transfer window.[LNB]"I remember, of course, my first match at Hampden but I don't remember only this mistake.[LNB]"I remember the whole match because it was a great, great atmosphere, my first match for Falkirk.[LNB]"I have nothing to prove to anyone.[LNB]Mallo's mistake was shrugged off by manager John Hughes and the 30-year-old has been Falkirk's first-choice goalkeeper ever since.[LNB]He is determined to repay Hughes' faith by helping the Bairns achieve their twin aims of staying in the Scottish Premier League and winning the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1957.[LNB]For some, the cup may be an unwelcome distraction from the business of SPL survival, with Falkirk four points adrift at the foot of the table.[LNB]But Mallo believes success breeds success, no matter the competition.[LNB]He said: "We need confidence; we need to fight for something good, because we're fighting for our lives in the SPL.[LNB]"To fight for something else is much, much better.[LNB]"It could be good for the team because it will help us to be confident for the league."[LNB]Mallo insists league results can feed into the cup as well, with the squad getting a real boost from last weekend's goalless draw with high-flying Hearts following the disappointment of a 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals Kilmarnock.[LNB]He said: "Two weeks ago against Kilmarnock was very bad for us, for the team.[LNB]"We were very disappointed because it was a very important game for us to put Kilmarnock in the relegation battle and win three important points.[LNB]"But I think the team reacted very well against Hearts, because Hearts are one of the best teams in this league.[LNB]"A draw against them was not a bad result and this is the path that the team has to take: hard work, and try to be a hard rival for the other teams.[LNB]"At Hampden, it will be different because it's a semi-final.[LNB]"If you win, you go to the final; if you lose, you come back home.[LNB]"But I think the team will be better than last week because I think our confidence is high from the last game against Hearts."[LNB]Mallo's parents will, on Sunday, watch him for the first time since he moved to Scotland and he is determined to give them a day out to remember.[LNB]They could be forgiven for having not heard of Irn-Bru First Division Dunfermline but Mallo has vowed there will be complacency on his part on Sunday.[LNB]"I know we are the favourites but we have to respect Dunfermline and play as if they are Rangers," he said.[LNB]"We have to do our best because they are in the semi-final, the same as Falkirk."[LNB][LNB]
