FALKIRK striker Michael Higdon has warned that the club's season cannot simply peter out, with manager John Hughes demanding a seventh-placed finish to retain the majority of his squad for next term.
Higdon, 24, put his knee troubles behind him to return to the starting line-up for the first time since early January against relegated Gretna.
But the Liverpudlian was unable to conjure an elusive winning goal in the poor 0-0 draw, as the Bairns
suffered a hangover after just missing out on a first-ever top-six spot to Aberdeen.
In light of Hearts' win over St Mirren, the result saw Hughes' men slip to eighth as a largely successful campaign threatens to end disappointingly.
A lack of goals has been Falkirk's recent problem – just two in their last eight games – and the absence of top scorer Higdon has been cited as a key reason.
Now he wants a strong finish to secure seventh and aid Hughes' bid to keep up to seven out-of-contract players this summer.
The eight-goal forward said: "It's good to be back. I was delighted to start, but as the game petered out I was a bit disappointed with my performance.
"The match had an end of season feel about it, it was terrible to play in. We didn't want it to be like that, it's just the way it happened. It was an average performance.
"But the gaffer makes us aware he wants seventh place for his budget, no doubt about that.
"The lads want to do that as well. We've had a good season, but we don't want to just fade away now and finish ninth, tenth or whatever. There are a few boys who want to score a few more goals and achieve things."
Falkirk have been impressive defensively in recent weeks, but a lack of cutting edge has resulted in a run of five 0-0 draws in eight games.
The clean sheet was welcome respite for a Gretna side enduring a torrid end to their season, with the future of the club as a whole still very much in the balance off the field.
On the field, Gretna goalkeeper Greg Fleming enhanced his growing reputation with a string of saves to earn the Borderers their point. And caretaker manager Mick Wadsworth said: "Greg is terrific. I don't think he'll have a problem finding a club. I haven't seen too many better young goalkeepers.
"He's been absolutely outstanding. It was a top-class performance, he's gained us a point and got the lads a little bit of a rare bonus.
"
The games are the easy part of our situation, it's just lovely to play games."
The full article contains 463 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
