Date:02 Jan 2012
Kick-off:15:00
Venue:Almondvale Stadium

McNulty (65)
El Alagui (11) Higginbotham (71)

Goal!

Live Commentary

89mins Paul Watson challenges Kallum Higginbotham unfairly and gives away a free kick. Paul Watson goes into the referee's book. Free kick taken by Mark Millar.

86mins Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Fotheringham, Header from close in by Craig Barr misses to the right of the goal.

85mins Farid El Alagui produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

84mins Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Fotheringham, clearance made by Dale Fulton.

84mins Dale Fulton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robert Barr. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Mark Fotheringham from right channel, Farid El Alagui manages to make a clearance.

79mins Liam Fox leaves the field to be replaced by Rory Boulding.

79mins The ball is sent over by Marc McNulty.

78mins Corner taken right-footed by Mark Millar to the near post, clearance made by Robert Barr.

77mins Iain Russell concedes a free kick for a foul on Kallum Higginbotham. Iain Russell is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour. Thomas Scobbie takes the free kick.

76mins Mark Millar takes a shot. Andrew McNeil makes a fantastic save.

74mins Kieran Duffie produces a cross, Callum Fordyce makes a clearance.

73mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Iain Russell by Dale Fulton. Free kick crossed right-footed by Mark Fotheringham.

70mins Craig Barr gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Weatherston. Kallum Higginbotham finds the net with a shot from the free kick from 18 yards. Livingston 1-2 Falkirk.

69mins Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Mark Millar, Darren Dods takes a shot. Blocked by Callum Fordyce.

67mins Kieran Duffie sends in a cross, Close range header by Farid El Alagui misses to the right of the goal.

66mins The ball is delivered by Kieran Duffie, Craig Barr makes a clearance.

66mins The ball is sent over by Mark Millar, save made by Andrew McNeil.

65mins Goal scored by Marc McNulty from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Livingston 1-1 Falkirk.Assist on the goal came from Iain Russell.

62mins Robert Barr produces a cross, Close range header by Callum Fordyce misses to the right of the goal. Jay Fulton leaves the field to be replaced by Dale Fulton.

59mins Unfair challenge on Jay Fulton by Marc McNulty results in a free kick. Marc McNulty is cautioned. Thomas Scobbie takes the free kick.

56mins Thomas Scobbie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robert Barr. Mark Fotheringham crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance made by Thomas Scobbie.

56mins Craig Sibbald sends in a cross, save made by Andrew McNeil.

54mins Unfair challenge on Iain Russell by Kieran Duffie results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Mark Fotheringham from left wing.

52mins Kallum Higginbotham takes a shot. Andrew McNeil makes a fantastic save.

51mins Centre by Kallum Higginbotham, Craig Sibbald has a header from close in and clears the crossbar.

49mins Farid El Alagui is ruled offside. Andrew McNeil restarts play with the free kick.

49mins The official flags Farid El Alagui offside. Indirect free kick taken by Andrew McNeil.

47mins Robert Barr crosses the ball, Headed effort from close range by Iain Russell bounces off the post.

46mins Kieran Duffie crosses the ball, Andrew McNeil makes a save.

45mins The referee blows for offside against Farid El Alagui. Free kick taken by Andrew McNeil.

45mins Thomas Scobbie fouled by Marc McNulty, the ref awards a free kick. Thomas Scobbie takes the direct free kick.

44mins Maurice Ross leaves the field to be replaced by Callum Fordyce.

44mins Shot by David Weatherston. Save made by Andrew McNeil.

42mins Kallum Higginbotham has an effort at goal. Save by Andrew McNeil.

40mins The ball is delivered by Kieran Duffie, save by Andrew McNeil.

38mins A cross is delivered by David Weatherston, Robert Barr makes a clearance.

35mins Mark Millar takes a corner.

35mins Iain Russell is brought on as a substitute for Kenny Deuchar.

29mins Darren Dods gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kenny Deuchar. Caution for Darren Dods. Kenny Deuchar goes into the referee's book. Strike on goal comes in from Mark Fotheringham from the free kick, save by Michael McGovern.

28mins Murray Wallace fouled by Kenny Deuchar, the ref awards a free kick. Michael McGovern takes the indirect free kick.

26mins Kyle Jacobs takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.

24mins The official flags Farid El Alagui offside. Free kick taken by Paul Watson.

20mins Corner taken right-footed by Mark Millar to the near post, clearance made by Maurice Ross.

17mins Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kyle Jacobs by Mark Millar. The referee cautions Mark Millar for unsporting behaviour. Free kick crossed by Mark Fotheringham, clearance by Thomas Scobbie.

16mins Keaghan Jacobs challenges Farid El Alagui unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Scobbie.

15mins Foul by Mark Millar on Mark Fotheringham, free kick awarded. Mark Fotheringham takes the direct free kick.

14mins Free kick awarded for a foul by Kallum Higginbotham on Mark Fotheringham. Mark Fotheringham takes the direct free kick.

11mins Farid El Alagui finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Livingston 0-1 Falkirk.Assist by David Weatherston.

11mins Shot by Kallum Higginbotham. Andrew McNeil makes a fantastic save.

9mins Maurice Ross crosses the ball, Headed effort from close range by Kenny Deuchar goes wide left of the goal.

7mins The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Andrew McNeil.

6mins Paul Watson takes a shot. Save by Michael McGovern.

5mins Corner taken right-footed by Mark Fotheringham, clearance made by Darren Dods.

5mins Mark Fotheringham takes a corner.

Marc McNulty challenges Mark Millar unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael McGovern takes the indirect free kick.

Match Preview

Livi duo sign up Livingston have received a new year boost with experienced duo of Maurice Ross and Mark Fotheringham signing deals until the end of the month that will allow them to feature against Falkirk. But full-back Jonathan Brown is out with an injury and fellow defender Jason Talbot is a major doubt. Manager Gary Bollan said: "The games have been exciting with Falkirk getting an injury-time penalty to draw in our first meeting and then we came back from 3-0 down to level before losing 4-3 in the next game. "It would be great to have another exciting meeting, but with a Livingston win this time." Falkirk defender Darren Dods is expected to shake off a knee knock. However, midfielder Stewart Murdoch looks set to miss out with a knee injury. The Bairns will attempt to get over the disappointment of conceding an injury-time equaliser to leaders Ross County on Boxing Day. Technical director Alex Smith said: "We may be disappointed at losing a late goal but we were pleased with the performance and are looking for more of the same against Livingston. "We have had two great games already this season and are looking forward to a third. A win will keep us right on the tail of Ross County."

Formation:442Manager: Gary Bollan

Livingston

Formation: 442Manager: Steven Pressley

Falkirk

Andrew McNeil
Maurice Ross
Craig Barr
Paul Watson
Robert Barr
Kyle Jacobs
Liam Fox
Keaghan Jacobs
Mark Fotheringham
Kenny Deuchar
Marc McNulty
SUBS
Andrew Murphy
Rory Boulding
Iain Russell
Stefan Scougall
Callum Fordyce

Home

Away

Michael McGovern
Kieran Duffie
Darren Dods
Murray Wallace
Thomas Scobbie
Craig Sibbald
Mark Millar
Jay Fulton
David Weatherston
Farid El Alagui
Kallum Higginbotham
SUBS
Graham Bowman
Rhys Bennett
Stephen Kingsley
Dale Fulton
Blair Alston

Match Report

Bairns close in on summit Falkirk closed the gap at the top of the Scottish First Division with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Livingston. Kallum Higginbotham scored the winner 18 minutes from time to move Steven Pressley's side three points behind league leaders Ross County. Goalkeepers Michael McGovern and Andrew McNeil traded fantastic saves before the division's top scorer Farid El Alagui put the visitors into a 12th-minute lead. He headed in David Weatherston's cross for his 20th goal in all competitions this season but Marc McNulty drew the hosts level midway through the second half with a cool finish from inside the box. Darren Dods' goalbound effort was then blocked by Callum Fordyce but Falkirk's perseverance paid off when Higginbotham curled in a free-kick from the edge of the box to give them victory.

Form Guide

LWLLWW Livingston VS Falkirk LLWDWD

Last Meetings

Falkirk 4 - 3 Livingston 05/11/2011 Livingston 1 - 1 Falkirk 10/09/2011 Livingston 3 - 0 Falkirk 24/04/2001 Falkirk 1 - 0 Livingston 13/01/2001 Livingston 4 - 1 Falkirk 02/12/2000 Falkirk 3 - 2 Livingston 30/09/2000

Top Scorers

Livingston K Deuchar 4 M McNulty 3 R Barr 2 D Sinclair 2 M Fotheringham 2 I Russell 2 K Jacobs 2 R Boulding 1 C Barr 1 K Jacobs 1 Falkirk F El Alagui 10 K Higginbotham 4 D Weatherston 3 D Dods 2 B Alston 2 M Wallace 2 C Sibbald 2 K Duffie 1 J Fulton 1

Goals

Livingston Total goals 44 Goals per game 23 2 (For) 1 (Against) Period 0-10 mins 1 (For) 4 (Against) Period 11-20 mins 1 (For) 1 (Against) Period 21-30 mins 2 (For) 3 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 1 (For) 1 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 6 (For) 2 (Against) Period 51-60 mins 5 (For) 4 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 1 (For) 3 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 4 (For) 2 (Against) Period 81-90 mins Falkirk Total goals 51 Goals per game 30 3 (For) 3 (Against) Period 0-10 mins 3 (For) 1 (Against) Period 11-20 mins 1 (For) 1 (Against) Period 21-30 mins 4 (For) 2 (Against) Period 31-40 mins 3 (For) 3 (Against) Period 41-50 mins 1 (For) 5 (Against) Period 51-60 mins (For) 3 (Against) Period 61-70 mins 6 (For) 2 (Against) Period 71-80 mins 9 (For) 4 (Against) Period 81-90 mins