It seems hardly a year ago, since i was frantically pacing around the room in anticipation for Falkirk's biggest game of the season yet tomorrow at 12:30pm, the same churning in my stomach and excitement will surface once again as the Bairns go to Rugby Park in what surely will be an enthralling encounter.
Last year Falkirk went to Inverness knowing only a win would secure their SPL status - and watching the first half i feared the worst, Inverness CT were by far the better team creating most of the clear cut chances but for the heroic Dani Mallo in goals for Falkirk, this blog would have sounded a little different!
But after 71mins, Higdon broke the deadlock with perhaps not one of the most elegant goals he will ever score but try telling any Falkirk fan at that time whether that mattered or not. A wave of euphoria passed over me as i realised how important that goal could be and the real possibility of Falkirk staying in the SPL.
Twenty nail biting minutes later, the ref finally blew the whistle and the Bairns celebrations could began. Falkirk finished on 38 points - a point ahead of Inverness who were relegated. However one short year later and the Bairns find themselves in the same position - two points behind Kilmarnock with only a win good enough to keep them in the Premier Division.
The two teams have struggled throughout this campaign and it is fitting that they battle it out on the last day with both arguably deserving of relegation. Kilmarnock will be boosted though with a win in midweek against Aberdeen 2-1 and the return of on loan striker Chris Macguire who's proven to be a very shrewd signing for Jimmy Calderwood's men despite the poor league position.
Falkirk go into this match on the back of a poor run of form- no wins in 4 matches and like most of the season for the relegation candidates the goals are few and far between. However perhaps they can take some confidence from the fact that one of there few away victories came at the hands Kilmarnock earlier this season where they beat them 2-1.
Call it blind optimism, or naivety but something inside me suggests that Falkirk can achieve the great escape again, they have been in this position before and they know what they have to do- a win is what they need but all the players will have to be at their very best.
Their opponents Killie face the dilemma of sitting back and clinging onto the point or ensuring a victory by attacking Falkirk from the start - which i think if it is still a draw at half time, can work to the Bairns advantage as they have the experience to go on and secure the victory whereas Kilmarnock have not been in this scenario recently and might start to panic as the final whistle draws near.
Pressley said that he was 'absolutely certain' that Falkirk would stay in the SPL in less than 24hours time we will see if he is right.
