Source: Team_Talk
Riordan double delights Hughes
Riordan's brace ensured Hibs came from behind for the second straight week to maintain their 100% start to the Scottish season.
The forward netted twice after the break in a win - turning in a John Rankin set piece before scoring a stunning free-kick of his own - after Falkirk had dominated the first half of the game.
Hughes said: "Derek has it in him. He's got that ability: his movement on the free-kick coming across and getting in there and his own free-kick himself, which is just vintage Derek isn't it?
"So delighted to walk out with three points."
On-loan Liverpool winger Ryan Flynn put Falkirk ahead midway through the first half but the outstanding Sol Bamba levelled against the run of play shortly before half-time.
The goals were both players' first in Scottish football.
Hughes admitted: "Falkirk were the better side in the first half-hour. Quite fortunate to go in at the break at 1-1.
"But I always felt the players that we've got in our team, we'll score goals."
Hughes' first return to the club he managed for six and a half years was always going to be a test for the Hibs boss.
He said: "We knew how difficult it was going to be: Falkirk's first home game; myself and Brian (Rice) coming back; a few ex-Falkirk players coming back.
"I didn't think we were at our best but if you're winning football matches when you're not at your best, it just tells you there's a lot more to come."
The game also saw a debut for striker Anthony Stokes, who signed from Sunderland yesterday, and who was playing against the club for whom he scored 14 goals in 16 SPL starts during a loan spell three years ago.
Hughes said: "We all know know about Anthony Stokes and first and foremost I have to thank the board of directors for getting that kind of quality to the club.
"I've worked with him before and I've seen some of the stuff he can do.
"It never quite went for him today but in flashes you can see he's going to score goals."
The game was not without needle, Bamba and Carl Finnigan clashing more than once in the second half.
Hughes was delighted with the way referee Steve Conroy dealt with the episode and suggested Finnigan was trying to get Bamba sent off.
"Finnigan was at it knowing he (Bamba) had been booked," Hughes said.
"Other inexperienced referees might have fallen for it and sent the big guy off."
Falkirk boss Eddie May chided Finnigan for getting involved in the first place and used Flynn as an example of how he wants his players to conduct themselves.
"I think there was a boy out there, Ryan Flynn, who was fantastic," May said.
"He plays intelligently. People kick him, push him, punch him and he just goes and plays.
"It's up to our players to get that mentality rather than getting caught up in a silly battle because somebody pushes them."
This was a second straight SPL defeat for Falkirk, who were beaten 4-1 at Rangers last weekend.
May said: "I thought we played very well the first half, should really have seen it out.
"We never really started in the second half, couldn't get going.
"The game became not a football match but more of a wrestling match.
"In open play, we're more than capable. But we need to go and defend a little bit better at set plays."
