BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
Blair Alston reckons a win over Hibs this afternoon will finally see Falkirk accepted as serious contenders in the Championship title race.
The Bairns have only lost twice in the league this season – against today’s opponents and league leaders Rangers – but have been happy so far to allow the pair above them in the table to steal all the limelight.
However, a victory at Easter Road would move Peter Houston’s men to within three points of their hosts, with a home clash with Rangers to follow next weekend.
Alston admits it could be a huge week for the Scottish Cup finalists, who are determined to give themselves a shot at promotion this term.
He said: “It’s a good thing for us to be that team that just keeps winning our games and keeps plugging away, and are always there or thereabouts.
“But it’s games like this, where if we can get a result, then people will start talking about us and saying ‘they’re actually a decent team’.
“Obviously, all the talk’s always going to be about Rangers and Hibs, and at the moment there’s a reason for it, because they’re the top two teams in the league.
“But it’s a big week for us, with Hibs and then Rangers the following week. If we can get a few points and go and close the gap then it’ll put us right in there.”
Controversy
Alston was at the centre of the controversy the last time the teams met back in October when a Jason Cummings penalty separated the pair and scooped all three points for Hibs.
Alston was deemed to have bundled over John McGinn in the box but Falkirk were enraged by Alan Muir’s soft award and Hibs head coach Alan Stubbs confessed his side had been ‘surprised’ by the referee’s decision.
However, Alston insists the Bairns will not be out for revenge this afternoon, but instead simply to get what they know they are capable of.
He added: “I don’t think it’s a case of revenge. It’s one of those things where we equipped ourselves really well, it was such a shame the way we lost the game.
“But we can take confidence and say we know how well we can play, and we know we can give them a good game.
“We’ve been on a really good run ourselves and playing good football as well, which is what we’re all about, and if we can keep that going then I’m sure we can get something.
“We’ve got to try and take points off Hibs and Rangers. That’s obviously our aim, to get as close to them as we can.
“This is a good opportunity for us to go and show what we can do in a big game.
“If we turn up and play how we know we can then we know we can get something from it. It’s about making sure we do that and playing how we can do.”
