Higdon Saves Falkirk and Sends Inverness Caledonian Thistle Down

Falkirk saved their SPL skin and sent their hosts Inverness Caledonian Thistle down after supersub Michael Higdon scored the only goal in a fraught relegation battle at the Caledonian Stadium.

The Bairns started the day two points adrift at the bottom, and were beginning to look desperate for the win they required as Higdon was introduced after 65 minutes.

But within 180 seconds, Higdon had prodded home a Jackie McNamara cross to send the traveling support wild.

Inverness were, by then, a man down, after Ross Tokeley was sent off just before the interval for a last-man challenge on Steve Lovell.

With so much at stake it was a tense first period, although Richie Foran should have given the hosts the lead after 12 minutes only to be denied by a magnificent save from Dani Mallo.

Caley enjoyed the better chances of the half but were reduced to 10 men just before the break when Tokely was dismissed.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Inverness made the better start to the second half and Bairns striker Finnigan breathed a sigh of relief when his defensive header from an Ian Black free-kick went over his own crossbar.

Falkirk manager John Hughes made his first change after 53 minutes, withdrawing Arnau Riera, who was having a quiet game, and bringing on Mark Stewart.

And the substitute almost made an immediate impact when he lobbed Michael Fraser with a first-time volley but the retreating Duncan headed the ball off the line to safety.

Inverness were sitting deeper and deeper in their own half and Higdon was introduced for Lovell after 65 minutes in attempt to prise open the stubborn home defence.

And this change did make the difference. McNamara exploded down the right and played a pinpoint cross into the path of Higdon and the substitute prodded the ball past the helpless Fraser to the delight of the vocal traveling support.