Falkirk 5-0 Alloa Athletic

Baird scored a hat-trick for Falkirk

John Baird scored a first-half hat-trick as Falkirk swept Alloa aside to move to within one point of second place in the Championship.

Bob McHugh and Luke Leahy added goals after the interval in a one-sided contest.

Peter Houston's side have lost just twice in the league this season, to the teams above them: Hibs and Rangers.

The struggling Wasps remain rooted to the bottom of the table - five points adrift of ninth place.

Falkirk took a 12th-minute lead when the prolific Baird was sent clear by Mark Kerr's long pass and slammed home.

The striker found the net once more when he linked up with Craig Sibbald and after the midfielder's shot was blocked he followed up to score his 12th goal of the season.

And his treble was completed from Sibbald's corner after Blair Alston's long-range blast was blocked by defender Kyle McAusland.

It was Baird's eighth goal in four games.

Home keeper Danny Rogers did well to deny Michael Chopra and Mark Williams before McHugh made it 4-0 from close range after Leahy's ball in.

Rogers made an excellent save from Scott Hynd and Leahy rounded off a convincing win with a good header from Aaron Muirhead's cross.