St Johnstone vs Falkirk; Scottish Premiership
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St Johnstone vs Falkirk. Scottish Premiership.
McDiarmid Park.
St Johnstone 1-1 Falkirk: Enes Alic stunner for 10-man Saints earns late Scottish Premiership draw
Report as Enes Alic scores a stunning 96th-minute free-kick to earn 10-man St Johnstone a dramatic 1-1 draw against Falkirk after Cheick Diabate's red card and Ethan Ross' opener
Saturday 19 September 2026 21:10, UK
A stunning set-piece strike from Enes Alic in the sixth minute of stoppage time secured a dramatic 1-1 draw for 10-man St Johnstone against Falkirk.
Falkirk took advantage of Cheick Diabate's 54th-minute red card to seize the lead through Ethan Ross on the hour.
And they looked sure to secure back-to-back William Hill Premiership wins until Taylor Steven won a late free-kick.
It was going to take something spectacular to beat Scott Bain, who had produced three fine saves for Falkirk.
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But that is precisely what the Bosnian produced from 25 yards as he found the top corner to move Simo Valakari's side up to sixth place.
McDiarmid Park's East Stand was shut because of an electrical fault, forcing many home fans into the Geoff Brown and North Stands.
After a pre-match pledge to add goals to his improving game, St Johnstone winger Steven was twice foiled by Bain.
Reece McAlear's terrific ball over the top in the 19th minute found Josh Fowler and his deep cross picked out Steven, whose left-footed drive was met by a strong hand by the Scotland 'keeper as he tipped it over.
Saints struggled against the wind in the first half but McAlear judged his through-ball for Steven to perfection 15 minutes later, only for Bain to top his earlier stop by forcing Steven's shot on to the crossbar and away from danger.
Falkirk finished the first period the stronger side without greatly troubling Saints goalkeeper Toby Steward.
The on-loan Portsmouth 'keeper gathered efforts from Ryan Strain and Ross.
The best visiting chance came from a classy spin then pass from Ben Krauhaus splitting the Saints defence to send Jacob Murrell clear on Stewart, but he could not keep his shot down.
Diabate, booked in first-half stoppage time for a trip on Ross, dragged down the same player nine minutes into the second period and referee Calum Scott showed the former Exeter centre-back a second yellow card.
Valakari took off Josh Campbell to bring another defender, Daniel Finlayson, on.
But Falkirk had space to play with and that task was right up their street.
Owen Eames was sent speeding down the inside left channel and his clever cutback reached Ross on the edge of the box and he steered a superb first-time shot low into the far corner beyond Steward's reach.
That was the forward's first goal since the opening day of last season's Premiership campaign.
More inspired goalkeeping by Bain prevented substitute Ruari Paton from responding on the volley with 20 minutes to play.
The comeback bid appeared to have been hampered by a further defensive injury as Zach Mitchell was forced off.
Saints finished with a back three marshalled by Finlayson and refused to fold before conjuring a late leveller through Alic's moment of brilliance.
