Alan Cochrane @ Falkirk Stadium

A big crowd, encouraged by the reduced entrance money, saw a very scrappy opening, with neither side managing to string much constructive football together.

Bell had to push a Showunmi shot round the post, and Olejnik did better to push a close-range Pascali header over, but that was about all the excitement in the first half hour.

With 14 minutes of the half left, Manuel Pascali went down off the ball and was carried off on a stretcher, to be replaced by Hamill, but the substitute was unable to inject any more animation into what was a turgid first half.

There was an injection of pace by Bryson three minutes into the second half however, which skinned the Falkirk defence, and when he laid a perfect pass across goal, Olejnik did well to block Kelly's shot. Three minutes after that, Olejnik again did well to fist away a shot, this time from Maguire, but in 57 minutes he was finally beaten. Maguire pulled down a pass from Hay with his instep, passed inside the full back to Bryson, who ran in to beat Olejnik at his near post.

Falkirk huffed and puffed for the half hour that was left, but seldom troubled the heart of the Killie defence, even more seldom troubled Cameron Bell. It may not have been the best of performances from Kilmarnock, but it was a terrific three points to get away from home, particularly with Hamilton winning at Tannadice and St Mirren and St Johnstone drawing. The effects of eight games in 26 days is starting to show though, and there were some tired looking legs showing as the game drew to a close.

Jimmy Calderwood was fulsome in the praise of his players. With Pascali going off, others, particularly Severin, had to stand up to the plate, and they certainly did that. Craig Bryson was typical, as he ran his socks off for 85 minutes before being subbed, for this was a victory built on hard work, and the industry and skill of Maguire, and the others, was another plus tonight. And St Johnstone, only two points ahead of us, come calling on Saturday. It's one not to miss.

Falkirk: Olejnik, Barr, Twaddle, McNamara, McLean, Finnigan, Arfield, Flynn, Showunmi (Moutinho), Lima (O'Brien), Healy

Kilmarnock: Bell, Clancy, Hay, Ford, Bryson (Sammon), Pascali ( Hamill), Kyle, Kelly, Severin, Maguire, Kiernan (Fowler)

Referee: Willie Collum

Listen to Jimmy Calderwood and the kicktalk team, at www.kicktalk.co.uk