Lewis Neilson has called for Falkirk to show a nastier side to stop dropping points from late goals. The defender's warning comes with the team sitting 11th in the Premiership on six points after eight games, a position worsened by costly concessions in the final minutes.
Neilson was direct in his assessment after the recent 2-1 home defeat to Dundee, where Ashley Hay's 91st-minute winner from a set-piece sealed the loss. "But if we don't add that kind of nastier side to our game, we're going to find ourselves in trouble," Neilson said. He stressed the team must man up and see out games, maintaining intensity for the full 95 to 100 minutes to avoid repeating the pattern.
The cost of late lapses
Falkirk have dropped five points from goals conceded in the dying stages this season. They conceded a 96th-minute equaliser to Enes Alic in a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone before the international break. Last month, they let a lead slip in a 1-1 draw at Dundee United. The trend continued last Saturday against Dundee, undermining what Neilson felt would have been a fair draw. These results have contributed to a recent form of one win, two draws and two losses in their last five outings.
Neilson, the 23-year-old former Hearts centre-back, believes he is the best defender at the club this season and is focused on repaying the faith of manager John McGlynn. He was an unused substitute against St Johnstone but has since returned to the starting lineup, determined to help solidify a back line that has conceded 11 goals so far. The squad has seen significant change, with 17 new signings arriving since the summer, but the core issue of game management remains.
Focus turns to Easter Road
The immediate test is a trip to Easter Road this weekend to face Hibernian, who sit one place above Falkirk in 10th. Neilson said spirits within the camp remain high ahead of the key fixture, acknowledging the message before the Dundee game was that it was a must-win. With the team second-bottom and 15 points behind leaders Celtic, the need for resilience is acute.
John McGlynn's side will need to tighten up defensively to get a result against Hibs. The manager has kept continuity in a period of high squad turnover, and Neilson's public challenge is a clear signal that the players recognise the problem. Falkirk travel to face Hibernian on Saturday, 17 October, needing to prove they can close out a match.
The original report is at Falkirk Herald
