Hibernian 0 Falkirk 0

Last updated : 28 February 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Hibs and Fallkirk shared the points in a barren tussle at Easter Road in which neither side carried a sustained threat.

The closest to a goal was a shot from Michael Higdon in the second half which came off the crossbar but neither goalkeeper had to work for their wage.

Hibs had an early scare when Higdon anticipated a back-pass from Lewis Stevenson and slid in to tackle Grzegorz Szamotulski but could not succeed in putting the ball on target.

The goalkeeper was then slack with a clearance which Burton O'Brien intercepted but Hibs had enough players back to clear.

A great break down the left by Derek Riordan created the first chance but Colin Nish's final header was well wide.

But there was a let-off for Hibs after 13 minutes. Joe Keenan and Rob Jones went for the same ball and Keenan only succeeded in heading it into the path of Steve Lovell.

Szamotulski got his angles right to block the striker but it was an early warning to Hibs.

Jonatan Johansson had a chance at the other end but Darren Barr put enough pressure on him and his half-hit shot from the edge of the box was easily gathered by Dani Mallo.

Nish then sent Riordan scampering clear but he was outnumbered and, with only Keenan in the box, his effort across the face of the goal was diverted for a corner by Mallo.

Falkirk were passing the ball better than Hibs and also working harder to close their opponents down which was ominous for the home side.

The Bairns had a chance ten minutes from the break when Tom Scobbie curled over a delightful cross but Higdon could not steer his header on target from ten yards.

Falkirk should have taken the lead after an hour. Higdon tried his luck from 25 yards and the ball smacked against the Hibs crossbar.

The home defence struggled to clear their lines and, when the ball broke to Lee Bullen six yards out, he looked certain to score.

But he ballooned his effort high and wide much to the relief of the home fans.

Hibs tried to change things and sent on Alan O'Brien and Denes Rosa but Falkirk still had a firm grip of the midfield.

Rosas came close late on with a half-hit shot which threatened to drift into the far corner of the net but Mallo managed to push it over his crossbar. Falkirk looked the more threatening in the closing stages but had to settle for a point.