FALKIRK boss John Hughes saw his side avoid relegation – then insisted this could be a season to remember for all the right reasons.
Hughes has come under fire from a section of his own support in recent months after seeing his side slide to the bottom of the SPL table, with some fans even writing a letter to the club to demand his resignation.
However, Hughes and Co defied th
eir critics by avoiding the drop on the final day of the season, a second-half goal from Michael Higdon handing the Bairns all three points against ten-man Inverness, who had Ross Tokely sent off just before half-time.
Hughes was clearly delighted with Falkirk's great escape and, with a Scottish Cup final still to come against Rangers on Saturday, he believes that this could turn out to be one of their best campaigns in years.
He said: "I've learned a lot of lessons this year. It will stand me and the team in good stead. Hopefully we can kick on from here.
"In the end, what a fantastic season it has been, staying in the SPL, semi-final of the CIS Cup and a Scottish Cup final still to look forward to. It's not too bad.
"We've really been through the mire this year. We were just glad to get a second opportunity after last week and thankfully we've taken it by going up to Inverness and won the game.
"I had a go at the players at half-time but we got our reward. My commiserations go to Inverness. I really feel for them as it is a wonderful club.
"It is not a nice way to win when you play against ten men and my heart goes out to Ross Tokely, who has been a great servant to his club over the years.
"I said to my players at half-time not to bother going out for the second half if they were going to continue to play in the same way they did in the first half.
"I'm very thankful that we got our reward in the second half. I'm really pleased for the team, especially Michael Higdon. The players have worked so hard over the past few months. I think we will all be better for having gone through this experience."
Inverness has Falkirk on the rack in the opening stages thanks to the pace and invention of Richie Foran and Filipe Morais, the former only denied an early goal by a brilliant block from Dani Mallo.
And the Bairns keeper denied the same man again just minutes later when he was set up by Morais, this time from close range.
Caley were in the ascendancy but their plans were thrown into disarray just before half-time at the Caledonian Stadium when Tokely was red carded by referee Eddie Smith for tugging on the jersey of Steve Lovell and hauling the Bairn back. After the break, Hughes replaced Arnau Riera with Mark Stewart and the substitute almost bagged the lead for Falkirk, only for his lob to be cleared at the last minute by Russell Duncan.
They got the goal they craved, though, with just over 20 minutes remaining through substitute Higdon, who got on the end of a cracking cross from Jackie McNamara.
Caley manager Terry Butcher saw a late chance for Duncan again saved by Mallo and admitted that he was gutted for the club's supporters, who have followed their side through thick and thin in recent months. "I feel so sorry for the fans, for the players and for everyone involved with the club because they have given everything.
"I've been relegated before with Ipswich back in 1986 and it felt terrible then, but it probably feels worse now.
"My players have been fantastic for me and for this football club and I can't thank them enough.
"We gave it a good effort and to lose out on goal difference is a really bitter pill to swallow. We had opportunities last week and against Falkirk.
"I thought that we did well, we made chances and possibly should have taken the chances. We didn't, but we were doing well.
"Even after the red card my players were tremendous and really gave everything.
"If we'd been relegated seven or eight games ago and not put up any kind of fight, then I'd say fair play. We weren't far away and I think that's what makes it even more soul destroying."
