Falkirk 1-2 Aberdeen

Dempsey celebrates after putting Aberdeen on the road to victory

Aberdeen somehow left the Falkirk Stadium with all three points despite being outplayed for long spells by a determined Bairns side.

A goal against the run of play either side of half time had the Dons two up.

Gary Dempsey put them in front from the edge of the penalty area after the Bairns failed to deal with a corner.

Ricky Foster pounced to turn in a Darren Mackie cut back to make it two before Dean Holden pulled one back for what turned out to be consolation.

Interview: Falkirk manager John Hughes

Interview: Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood

Falkirk were minus the suspended Tam Scobbie - sent off at Rangers last time out - and Darren Barr. In came club captain Steven Thomson and Liam Craig.

Aberdeen made just the one change to the side beaten by Celtic with Gary Dempsey - subject of a move to Yeovil Town - replacing Lee Miller who dropped to the bench.

In the side's previous encounter at Pittodrie, Falkirk finished strongly and felt aggreived to leave empty handed.

The hosts were on top in the opening exchanges as Carl Finnegan lobbed over and Russell Latapy saw a shot easily gathered by Jamie Langfield.

The Bairns received a blow shortly after as Aberdeen took the lead.

A Barry Nicholson corner was only half cleared and Dempsey clipped in from the left edge of the penalty area with Kasper Schmeichel unsighted.

The second half was almost a mirror image of the first - without Dempsey who was sacrificed for the returning Jamie Smith.

Falkirk dominated proceedings but fell further behind when Ricky Foster grabbed his first goal of the season.

Darren Mackie hit the by-line and drilled it across for Foster who slotted it home to give the Dons a two goal cushion they scarcely deserved.

Ricky Foster slots Aberdeen into a two goal lead

The Bairns did eventually claw their way onto the scoresheet and it came from the unlikely source of defender Dean Holden's first for the club.

Cedric Uras found Holden whose 20 yard shot found the top left corner leaving Jamie Langfield helpless.

A seige on the Aberdeen goal ensued but Falkirk could not breach a stubborn Dons rearguard.

Andrew Considine was forced off following a Steven O'Donnell challenge with Zander Diamond coming on after a long spell out with a groin injury.

As the match began to get away from the the hosts, Diamond was fortunate not to give away a late penalty when he barged his way through Finnegan.

That was the last action of a match which Falkirk will not believe they have come away with nothing from.

The result helped Aberdeen close the gap on second placed Rangers to four points.

Falkirk remain on the 33 point mark - their total points tally for last season.

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Falkirk: Schmeichel, Ross, Holden, Uras, Milne, Thomson, Latapy (Roberston 84), Gow, O'Donnell, Moutinho, Finnigan. Subs not used: Lambers, Lima, Arfield, Allison, Craig, Twaddle.

Booked: Schmeichel.

Goal: Holden 66.

Aberdeen: Langfield, Hart, Anderson, Considine (Diamond 77), Foster, Dempsey (Jamie Smith 45), Nicholson, Severin, Clark, Mackie, Lovell (Brewster 67). Subs not used: Soutar, Touzani, Miller, Daniel Smith.

Goals: Dempsey 16, Foster 61.

Att: 5,925

Ref: I Brines