Match ends, Falkirk 1, Heart of Midlothian 2.
Falkirk 1-2 Heart of Midlothian
- From the section Football
Scottish Championship leaders Hearts stretched their advantage over Rangers to six points with victory against Falkirk.
Kevin McHattie finished superbly for Hearts' opener after being found at the end of Billy King's skilful run.
Soufian El Hassnaoui converted Jamie Walker's low cross to double the visitors' lead.
Botti Bia Bi's turn and shot reduced the Bairns' deficit but Peter Houston's side could not find a leveller.
Hearts fans travelling to the Falkirk Stadium had been buoyed by the news that second-placed Rangers were held to a draw by Alloa Athletic earlier on Saturday.
El Hassnaoui and Prince Buaben had early shots for Hearts before King's driving run stretched the Bairns defence and McHattie turned well before lifting his shot into Jamie MacDonald's top-right hand corner.
Robbie Neilson's side were not content to sit on their lead and Walker's guile and vision led to El Hassnaoui sliding in to apply a simple finish.
David Smith and Will Vaulks shot wide as Falkirk rallied, while David McCracken headed straight at Hearts goalkeeper Neil Alexander after half-time.
The hosts' endeavours were rewarded when Peter Grant's replacement, Bia Bi, spun in the box to send a low shot across Alexander and into the net.
Falkirk almost found an equaliser in the final minute when Joe Shaughnessy fired over from close range following a free-kick.
Line-ups
Falkirk
- 1MacDonald
- 3ShaughnessyBooked at 66mins
- 5McCracken
- 14GrantSubstituted forBia Biat 50'minutes
- 19LeahyBooked at 42mins
- 6VaulksBooked at 78mins
- 9SmithSubstituted forCooperat 49'minutes
- 8AlstonBooked at 59mins
- 7TaiwoSubstituted forShepherdat 84'minutes
- 10Sibbald
- 33Loy
Substitutes
- 2Duffie
- 12Bowman
- 16Grant
- 17Maybury
- 20Cooper
- 23Shepherd
- 28Bia Bi
Hearts
- 1Alexander
- 30McGhee
- 22McKayBooked at 89mins
- 5OzturkBooked at 42mins
- 3McHattie
- 12King
- 17BuabenSubstituted forKeatingsat 68'minutes
- 6GomisBooked at 62mins
- 14Pallardo Gonzalez
- 9El HassnaouiSubstituted forHoltat 76'minutes
- 7Walker
Substitutes
- 8Robinson
- 10Holt
- 11Nicholson
- 13Hamilton
- 19Keatings
- 28Buchanan
- 34McKirdy
- Referee:
- Calum Murray
- Attendance:
- 7,003
Match Stats
Home TeamFalkirkAway TeamHearts
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home2
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away13
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Falkirk 1, Heart of Midlothian 2.
Attempt missed. Joe Shaughnessy (Falkirk) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is too high following a set piece situation.
Booking
Brad McKay (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
Botti Bia Bi (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Brad McKay (Heart of Midlothian).
Foul by Will Vaulks (Falkirk).
Kevin McHattie (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Falkirk. Scott Shepherd replaces Tom Taiwo.
Botti Bia Bi (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Kevin McHattie (Heart of Midlothian).
Attempt missed. James Keatings (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Booking
Will Vaulks (Falkirk) is shown the yellow card.
Will Vaulks (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by James Keatings (Heart of Midlothian).
Luke Leahy (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian).
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Jason Holt replaces Soufian El Hassnaoui.
Blair Alston (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian).
Foul by Alex Cooper (Falkirk).
Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Heart of Midlothian. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
Goal!
Goal! Falkirk 1, Heart of Midlothian 2. Botti Bia Bi (Falkirk) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Blair Alston.
Foul by Rory Loy (Falkirk).
Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. James Keatings replaces Prince Buaben.
Attempt saved. Jamie Walker (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt blocked. Alim Ozturk (Heart of Midlothian) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Booking
Joe Shaughnessy (Falkirk) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Joe Shaughnessy (Falkirk).
Billy King (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tom Taiwo (Falkirk).
Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. David McCracken (Falkirk) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Booking
Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
Joe Shaughnessy (Falkirk) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Morgaro Gomis (Heart of Midlothian).
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Brad McKay.
Booking
Blair Alston (Falkirk) is shown the yellow card.