Falkirk lifted themselves eight points clear of Bank of Scotland Premier League bottom side Livingston with a deserved win at Almondvale.

After a scrappy opening, the Bairns took control midway through the first half and Stephen O'Donnell drove them ahead in the 35th minute.

The home side rallied briefly but Falkirk were in control even before Paul Dalglish was sent off with five minutes left in a game which also saw nine bookings.

The home side started well but Falkirk striker Daniel McBreen had the first shot at goal, hitting the side-netting from a tight angle.

Livingston were enjoying more of the ball, but it took 17 minutes for their first shot when Richard Brittain shot well over from 25 yards.

The impressive Wes Hoolahan then hit a 25-yard shot, but Falkirk goalkeeper Allan Ferguson parried it wide in the 25th minute.

Moments later, Harald Pinxten sent a looping header just wide for Livi.

Russell Latapy won a free-kick at the other end which he blasted goalwards from 20 yards, only to see it deflected just wide for a corner.

Moments later, the ball broke for McBreen on the edge of the box but he shot just over.

Falkirk's good spell continued and McBreen flicked Pedro Moutinho through on goal but he shot straight at Roddy McKenzie.

But the Bairns were ahead in the 35th minute when a high ball towards McBreen broke kindly for O'Donnell, who drove home from 10 yards.

Moutinho almost added a second when he brushed off David McNamee after a Livi corner was cleared but McKenzie blocked with his feet.

A midfield square up after Cregg's foul saw him booked along with Livi defender Greg Strong and Falkirk's Steven Thomson.

Cregg then ran at the home defence and saw his shot spin off a defender for a corner.

Livi player-boss Paul Lambert brought on Dalglish at the break in place of Snodgrass.

But Falkirk missed a glorious chance four minutes after the restart.

Craig Ireland's header from a corner was parried by McKenzie before McBreen hit the junction of bar and post from inside the six-yard box with the ball falling into the keeper's hands.

Livi striker Steven Hislop fired in a shot from the left channel but Ferguson pushed it passed his near post.

Falkirk had a penalty claim rejected when Strong barged in to Moutinho as he eyed a high ball.

Lambert almost equalised when he tried to place a 20-yard free-kick into the far corner but it drifted just wide.

Latapy then missed a good chance as the game raged from end to end.

O'Donnell dispossessed Dave Mackay and laid the ball inside, but Latapy shot over from 15 yards.

With less than 20 minutes left the hosts stepped up a gear but Hislop's last act before being replaced by Martin Scott was to head wide from 10 yards after Hoolahan's cross.

Midfielder Vitor Lima came on for Moutinho and Falkirk pushed Latapy forward.

Livi's hopes suffered a huge blow when Dalglish was sent off in the 81st minute after tripping Cregg and catching his head with his studs as he scrambled to reach the ball.

Latapy almost made it two after he was sent clear in the last minute but he shot wide after cutting in from the right.

Teams

Livingston McKenzie, McNamee, Strong, Pinxten, Mackay,Brittain, Lambert, Walker, Hislop (Scott 74),Snodgrass (Dalglish 45), Hoolahan.

Subs Not Used: Roy, Dorado, Dair, Vincze, Tierney.

Sent Off: Dalglish (79).

Booked: Strong, McNamee, Walker, Brittain, Pinxten, Hoolahan.

Falkirk Ferguson, Cregg, Ross (Lawrie 74), Ireland, Latapy,Milne, McBreen, Thomson (Craig 85), Rodrigues, O'Donnell,Moutinho (Lima 77).

Subs Not Used: Howard, McPherson, Theobold, Twaddle.

Booked: O'Donnell, Thomson.

Goals: O'Donnell 35.

Att: 4,577

Ref: C Murray (Scotland).