Against All Odds: Falkirk to struggle after cup exit

 

Falkirk host Dumbarton in the Scottish First Division this evening and with nothing to play for coupled with their Scottish Cup disappointment on Saturday, Paul  Robinson thinks the home side could be there for the taking.

 

Falkirk are lying third in the league which coincidently is where they finished last season. With only one team going up though, they have no chance of promotion as  they are 23 points adrift of leaders Partick. Given that fact, the Scottish Cup has been their focus in recent weeks and the Bairns suffered terrible heartache at  Hampden this past weekend.

 

The Bairns led Hibernian of the Premier League by three goals to nil at half time and looked certain to make it to the final for only the fifth time in the club's 137  year history. Hibs produced a miraculous comeback though, forcing extra time and when Leigh Griffiths scored the winner in the 115th minute, Falkirk hearts were  broken.

 

It will be interesting to see if Gary Holt can lift his player's spirits back in the league as they had won their last four in a row prior to Saturday. I just have a  feeling that they will be too deflated though, and interestingly, despite their good league form, Falkirk have won just one of their last three at home.

 

Dumbarton have slipped into the relegation play-off place after losing their last three on the spin. They are level on points with Cowdenbeath above them but have a  vastly inferior goal difference. Tonight is their game in hand though so even a point would move them to safety, and with so few fixtures to go, it could prove vital  come the end of the season.

 

Ian Murray's men need to arrest this slide though and they need to stop conceding late goals. The Sons led at Hamilton in their last away match before conceding two in  the last 10 minutes to lose 2-1. They then lost their next two at home, conceding another late winner to Raith last time.

 

On the road, Dumbarton have quite a decent record this term, as after losing their first four away from The Bet Butler Stadium, they have avoided defeat in eight of  their next 12, winning seven of them.

 

Falkirk have to put their cup woes behind them but it will be very difficult for the manager to get over it that easily given the manner of their exit. They don't have  much to play for now and Dumbarton are fighting for their lives. That's why, at around the 1.78 mark, I have to make Falkirk my lay of the day.

 

Recommended Bet

Lay Falkirk v Dumbarton @ 1.78

 

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