Hearts 0-0 Falkirk

Barrett missed a chance for Falkirk

Hearts came up short after drawing a game with Falkirk that caretaker manager Stevie Frail described as a must-win for the Edinburgh outfit.

Darren Barr was superb in the Bairns defence as they subdued the home side to remain three points clear in sixth place in the Scottish Premier League.

Scott Arfield and Tam Scobbie went close for Falkirk on the break.

And Kenny Milne missed a good opportunity to to clinch victory over a disappointing Hearts side.

Interview: Hearts caretaker manager Stevie Frail

Interview: Falkirk manager John Hughes

Laryea Kingston had returned to the Hearts side after four months out through injury.

He was one of four changes to the starting line-up, Marius Zaliukas, Deividas Cesnauskis and Michael Stewart also coming as Eggert Jonsson, Jamie Mole and injured pair Christos Karipidis and Andrew Driver dropped out.

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Fit-again Jack Ross replaced Pedro Moutinho in Falkirk's first 11.

Falkirk had easily contained Hearts until Milne's slack pass forced Barr into an excellent sliding block to prevent Calum Elliot's drive reaching the target.

Lee Wallace hauled Graham Barrett to the ground, but the Hearts defender was fortunate that the offside flag had already been raised following Arfield's threaded pass.

Falkirk's Robert Olejnik rushed out to block Saulius Mikoliunas, with Hearts fans claiming that the goalkeeper had handled outside the area and ought to have been sent off.

Laryea Kingston returned from injury for Hearts

Hearts suffered a blow when Cesnauskis had to go off injured in the 15th minute, being replaced with fellow Lithuanian Audrius Ksanivicius.

And Falkirk grew in confidence, Arfield firing just over from 20 yards, while Barrett shot straight at goalkeeper Steve Banks.

Scobbie headed over after a floating cross by Ross, while Gerard Aefjes headed over from a decent position.

But Hearts ended the half on top, Barr producing another crucial block from a Ksanavicius volley.

Milne fired just over from just outside the box as Falkirk passed up their best opportunity of the match so far.

Scobbie mis-kicked another half-chance inside the box, but the Falkirk camp were still smiling when the final whistle blew.

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Hearts: Banks, Neilson, Berra, Zaliukas, Wallace, Mikoliunas, Stewart, Palazuelos, Cesnauskis (Ksanavicius 15), Kingston (Screpis 90), Elliot (Mole 68).
Subs Not Used: Basso, Tall, Thomson, Jonsson.

Booked: Zaliukas.

Falkirk: Olejnik, Ross, Barr, Milne, Scobbie, McBride (Riera 81), Aafjes, Cregg, Arfield, Finnigan (Moutinho 72), Barrett.
Subs Not Used: Supple, Clarke, Latapy, Mitchell, Moffat.

Booked: Aafjes, Scobbie.

Att: 16,682

Ref: Charlie Richmond

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BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Falkirk's Darren Barr 8.33 (on 90 minutes).

• Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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