Falkirk aim to catch Hibs in Championship race - John Baird

Baird scored his 17th goal of the season at the weekend

Falkirk top goal-scorer John Baird says his team are aiming to beat Hibernian to second place in the Championship.

Following back-to-back defeats for the Easter Road side, Falkirk closed the gap to two points on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Queen of the South,

"It's something we've aimed for all season, just to get in about the big two [Rangers and Hibs]," said Baird.

"They have got massive resources compared to us, so I think as a team we should take a lot of credit."

Rangers are now 11 points clear at the top, with 10 matches remaining.

The teams finishing third and fourth meet in the play-off quarter-final, with the winners then taking on the runners-up over two legs to determine who progresses to the final against the second bottom side in the Premiership.

"We have got a chance [of finishing second]," added 30-year-old Baird, who has 17 goals for the season.

"If you look at the Hibs result [Saturday's 3-2 loss at Dumbarton], it was massive."

Falkirk and Hibernian are in action again on Tuesday, with away games against St Mirren and Queen of the South, respectively.

At the weekend, the Bairns turned around a 1-0 deficit against Queens at half-time to win the match 3-1, with Baird scoring the equaliser.

And the striker admits a combination of hearing the Hibs scoreline plus a dressing room rollicking from manager Peter Houston helped inspire the Falkirk players.

"We were coming off and we were told Hibs were getting beat 2-0," he said. "Obviously the manager has his bit, and then that [scoreline] gets leaked into the players and we all knew what was needed. If we didn't win and Hibs get beat, then it would have been difficult.

"The manager had a go at us to be honest and he questioned us - asking what sort of side are we and if we had the bottle. I think that we proved that we did. He was just looking for a reaction, and he got it.

"The fire was in the belly after the gaffer had a go at us. But Hibs getting beat does give us a lift."

Meanwhile, defender Aaron Muirhead has signed a new two-year deal at Falkirk, following the announcement of the same deal for Luke Leahy last week.