KING IS ACE OF HEARTS

Stephen's stunner caps another huge win for Jambos

- FRASER WILSON

THEY dumped the Bhoys last week to stay top of the class.

Last night it was the Bairns who were given a lesson in their own playground by a Hearts side who are beginning to make their position at the Premiership summit look like child's play.

Derek McInnes' side took just 65 SECONDS to get their noses in front through Claudio Braga here.

And it was left to ex-Falkirk star Stephen Kingsley to climb off the bench to rifle home a trademark half volley to secure three points that edges Derek McInnes' side six points clear of Celtic at the top.

This was billed as a banana skin for the Gorgie men, particularly with the Falkirk Stadium hit by a deluge of rain and wind.

But they mastered the conditions - and breezed ahead with just over a minute on the clock. Lawrence Shankland's 20-yard piledriver caused Scott Bain all sorts of bother and the keeper could only palm the ball onto the bar leaving Braga, following in, with the easiest of headers from two yards.

Falkirk grew into the game but were badly lacking Ross MacIver to provide an end product.

However, the Bairns were spewing two minutes from the break when Kyrell Wilson rounded Alexander Schwolow and saw his goal-bound effort blocked by the backtracking Harry Milne.

Replays showed the Jambo blocked the shot with his forearm. VAR Andrew Dallas took a look.

And to Hearts' relief he decided against sending ref Calum Scott to the monitor.

It was a huge call. Braga forced Bain into a flying save with a 56th-minute header as Hearts turned the screw.