FALKIRK manager John Hughes believes his team will rediscover their shooting boots after watching the club's campaign falter in recent weeks due to lack of goals.
The Bairns just missed out on a top-six place to Aberdeen and the hangover of that disappointment was evident last Saturday as Hughes' men struggled to break down relegated Gretna and racked up a fifth 0-0 draw in their last eight games.
While the
club's defensive record is strong, Falkirk have now netted just twice in those eight matches and have slipped to eighth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
Hughes has up to six players out of contract at the end of the season and is keen to hold on to them, but his budget will be determined on where his team finish in the table.
With that in mind, he admits goals are a concern but is confident of a turnaround when his side visit St Mirren on Saturday.
He said: "A lack of goals has definitely crept up on us. But it's also worked the other way as we've kept clean sheets.
"I think we're among the best in the league right now, outside the Old Firm, for keeping clean sheets.
"It's about finding the balance. We were scoring plenty of goals up until a couple of months ago.
"It's a concern but hopefully we can put it right and these are the guys to put it right.
"The players' attitude and football ability has been excellent, they have been fantastic for me.
"The training has been great this week, they're professionals no matter what. They will go out and do the business."
The likes of Kenny Milne, Patrick Cregg and Jack Ross are among those out of contract this summer, with Ross on the radar of weekend opponents St Mirren.
Hughes admits his players have every right to secure their futures by talking to interested parties but would love to hold onto them.
He added: "If we had got into the top six I could have had my work done. Right now I'm shuffling my pack and waiting to see.
"I don't want to lose any of them, but it's football. If it happens that way, it happens.
"I've got a duty to find out early so I can let these guys know if they have to go and get their futures sorted out."
The full article contains 403 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
