Falkirk stun wasteful Motherwell in comeback win

Scott Arfield scored his first top-flight goal for Falkirk since 2010

Scott Arfield smashed in a late winner for Falkirk as they came from behind against profligate Motherwell to pick up their second win of the Premiership season.

The hosts were superb to watch in the first half, playing free-flowing, one-touch, intricate football as they cut Falkirk to shreds.

For all that, they struggled to find a finishing touch. Ibrahim Said had a goal harshly ruled out, before Tawanda Maswanhise curled in a deserved opener.

In the second half, it was Falkirk who came out the traps quicker and they soon had their equaliser. Ross MacIver slipped the ball to Calvin Miller in the box, and he tucked it under Calum Ward.

Motherwell had another ruled out, this time justifiably so, as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos bundled the ball into the back of the net with the use of his arm.

Yet again, they paid for their wastefulness. Motherwell failed to pick up substitute Arfield in the box, and the 37-year-old lashed in to score his first Premiership goal for Falkirk in 15 years.

Analysis: Game of two halves leaves Askou scratching head

It was barely believable that the same 11 players produced two such contrasting halves of football from Motherwell.

In the first half, they completely dominated. Although the xG told a different story - owing entirely to one missed chance from Falkirk's Kyrell Wilson - they had far more shots, far more touches in the opposition box (21 to 6) and 19 more entries into the final third than their visitors.

Ibrahim Said put in his best showing in a claret and amber shirt. Elijah Just looked back to his best despite it being his first game back fit in weeks. Emmanuel Longelo marauded up and down the left with reckless abandon.

They were a little more direct than they have been in recent weeks, but it was working. Every attack looked dangerous, and at the back they looked composed.

Everything seemed rosy in the garden, apart from the fact that the cushion was just one solitary goal. Motherwell fans have been stung enough to know that's never enough.

Motherwell first-half dominance was evident in the possession stats

Falkirk were miles off it in the first half, chasing shadows as Motherwell poured forward again and again.

The second half was a totally different story. Although Motherwell still had more of the ball, they weren't able to do nearly as much with it.

Falkirk, on the other hand, looked more potent. Filip Lissah was brought on for Sam Hart at half-time at left-back, and immediately bombed down the line to set up a chance.

They were encouraged, and while they didn't have loads of chances, they made the most of them - although MacIver should have put them ahead a little quicker, missing a one-on-one that looked harder to miss.

It boosts them up to eighth in the table, and gives them a vital second win. It's another three points in a league that looks unbelievably tight, and another away win. John McGlynn will take that every day.

What they said

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "I'm extremely disappointed with a couple of things. Happy with the first half, I thought we were excellent and scored two beautiful goals.

"We should have scored another one and I don't think I'm ever going to understand how they disallowed that goal. That's one of the worst VAR decisions I've seen in my career so far - until it got beaten in the second half when Paul McGinn gets pulled just before he's about to hit the ball. That's how it is."

Falkirk boss John McGlynn: "It was a rollercoaster. First half, we were totally outplayed, out-fought, out-thought. And we were lucky to survive only being 1-0 down.

"However, thankfully there's two halves in a game of football and we certainly rose to the challenge in the second half."

What's next?

Motherwell host Livingston next Saturday, while Falkirk welcome Dundee at the same time (both 15:00 BST).