BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
Falkirk manager Peter Houston is thrilled to see John Baird finally off the mark for the season – after telling the striker he needed to be more selfish.
The 31-year-old, who scored 19 times last term, had gone his opening eight games of the campaign without finding the back of the net and was becoming concerned by his drought.
But Houston has revealed a heart-to-heart with the former St Mirren, Dundee and Raith Rovers marksman is paying dividends.
Baird netted twice in Saturday’s 6-1 victory over Elgin City in the IRN-BRU Cup.
The Bairns boss said: “I felt John was actually working too hard for the team.
“That might sound ridiculous but he was working hard outside the areas he normally scores goals from. All his good work was getting done outside the box.
“We had a discussion about it and I told him to keep working hard for the team but to do it in areas where he might get an opportunity, and to get himself in the box.
“I also told him I felt we need to create more chances for him and thankfully over the last couple of games I’ve seen that start to develop.”
