Frustrated Saints fail to halt Falkirk

Scrappy start punishes Simo’s men

- Fraser Mackie

St Johnstone were frustrated by a string of Nicky Hogarth saves as a dominant second-half rally failed to produce the rewards of a goal or two.

Saints struggled to contain the flow of Falkirk’s play for the bulk of the first period.

Last season's Championship title-winners showed all the signs of a group of players familiar with each other and a style of play from back-to-back promotions.

However, Simo Valakari’s side gradually felt their way into the friendly match and grew in composure.

Five substitutions on 64 minutes saw Saints seize control of the game and they finished much the stronger side.

Valakari admitted: "We were all over the place in the first 20-25 minutes.

"We could not get into the game, could not get close to the opponent.

"Sometimes you need to give credit, Falkirk did it very well. It took the breath out of us.

"We looked heavy-legged at first but that’s more because we could not get our structure right.

"After 22 minutes, we tweaked it a bit and it helped us get more compact.