Scottish League Cup
St JohnstoneSt Johnstone3FalkirkFalkirk0

Scottish League Cup: St Johnstone 3-0 Falkirk

By Alasdair LamontBBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park
Danny Swanson
Danny Swanson scored twice from the spot in the first-half against Falkirk

Two Danny Swanson penalties in a remarkable first half helped St Johnstone to victory over Falkirk.

The home side were awarded three spot kicks in that first period, the first of which from Liam Craig was saved by Danny Rogers.

But Swanson was more clinical as Tommy Wright's side made it two wins from two in the League Cup, leaving Falkirk with just three points from three games.

Joe Shaughnessy scored from close range in the second half to kill Falkirk off.

The visiting side were stunned by referee Bobby Madden's decision to award Saints those three crucial first-half decisions, venting their anger at half-time.

There was little doubt about the first award as Swanson was brought down by Tom Taiwo just inside the penalty area.

But Rogers guessed correctly and pushed Craig's tamely-hit effort away to his right.

Paul Watson was then penalised for grappling with Shaughnessy as a Craig corner was swept into the box and this time Swanson took responsibility.

Rogers was a little unfortunate not to make a second stop as he got a hand to Swanson's shot, but it had too much power and Saints had a deserved lead.

Falkirk's bemusement turned to fury when Madden pointed to the spot again seven minutes before the break, with Luke Leahy pulling the jersey of Graham Cummins.

Swanson gave the keeper no chance on this occasion as he hammered the ball to his right and into the net.

Falkirk had new signing John Rankin in their midfield and he unleashed a trademark long-range strike, which brought Alan Mannus into action for the first time, the keeper tipping the ball round the post.

And Shaughnessy ensured there would be no way back for Peter Houston's team when he tapped over the line from a yard out after Cummins had headed goalwards.

Line-ups

St Johnstone

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Mannus
  • 14Shaughnessy
  • 6Anderson
  • 3Scobbie
  • 24Easton
  • 4AlstonSubstituted forPatonat 74'minutes
  • 7Millar
  • 26Craig
  • 11SwansonSubstituted forCoulsonat 71'minutes
  • 29CumminsSubstituted forKaneat 70'minutes
  • 9MacLean

Substitutes

  • 12Clark
  • 15McKay
  • 17Coulson
  • 18Paton
  • 25Kane
  • 27Thomson
  • 39Comrie

Falkirk

Formation 4-5-1

  • 1Rogers
  • 4Muirhead
  • 44WatsonBooked at 24mins
  • 15Gasparotto
  • 3Leahy
  • 28Craigen
  • 8Kerr
  • 6Rankin
  • 7TaiwoSubstituted forAustinat 45'minutes
  • 10Sibbald
  • 9BairdSubstituted forMcHughat 70'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Kidd
  • 5McCracken
  • 11Hippolyte
  • 16Austin
  • 18Miller
  • 19McHugh
  • 58Mehmet
Referee:
Bobby Madden
Attendance:
2,725

Match Stats

Home TeamSt JohnstoneAway TeamFalkirk
Possession
Home53%
Away47%
Shots
Home6
Away3
Shots on Target
Home5
Away1
Corners
Home9
Away2
Fouls
Home5
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, St. Johnstone 3, Falkirk 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 3, Falkirk 0.

  3. Post update

    Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Danny Rogers.

  4. Post update

    Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by John Rankin.

  5. Post update

    Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Michael Coulson (St. Johnstone) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

  7. Post update

    Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Luca Gasparotto.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, St. Johnstone. Paul Paton replaces Blair Alston.

  9. Post update

    Attempt saved. Craig Sibbald (Falkirk) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, St. Johnstone. Michael Coulson replaces Danny Swanson.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Falkirk. Robert McHugh replaces John Baird.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, St. Johnstone. Christopher Kane replaces Graham Cummins.

  13. Goal!

    Goal! St. Johnstone 3, Falkirk 0. Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone) header from a difficult angle on the right to the centre of the goal following a corner.

  14. Post update

    Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by John Rankin.

  15. Post update

    Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Paul Watson.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Steven MacLean (St. Johnstone).

  17. Post update

    Craig Sibbald (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. James Craigen (Falkirk) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Alan Mannus.

  20. Second Half

    Second Half begins St. Johnstone 2, Falkirk 0.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Saturday 23rd July 2016

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1East Fife32105238
2Dundee21107344
3Peterhead21013213
4Forfar201124-22
5Dumbarton3012410-61

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1St Johnstone22006156
2Stirling21012203
3Brechin210145-13
4Falkirk310234-13
5Elgin310258-33

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Dundee Utd31208357
2Dunfermline22006066
3Inverness CT21103214
4Arbroath201114-31
5Cowdenbeath3003211-90

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Raith Rovers32105328
2Alloa22006066
3Ross County21102114
4Montrose300315-40
5Cove Rangers200216-50

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Queen of Sth32015236
2Partick Thistle22003126
3Queen's Park21012203
4Airdrieonians310224-23
5Stenhousemuir200214-30

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Rangers33007079
2Stranraer22005236
3Motherwell21013303
4Annan Athletic300327-50
5East Stirlingshire200216-50

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ayr32013216
2St Mirren320145-16
3Livingston21015323
4Hamilton21014223
5Edinburgh City200204-40

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Morton32103038
2Albion20200003
3Kilmarnock210123-13
4Berwick20201102
5Clyde301224-22
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