Falkirk's revival continued as a deserved victory over relegation-threatened St Mirren tightened their grip on seventh place in the Bank of Scotland Premier League table.

John Hughes' men had lost eight consecutive matches, but they followed up victory over Celtic last time out with a comfortable success against a Love Street outfit badly lacking in confidence and goal threat.

Pedro Moutinho - only starting in place of the suspended Carl Finnigan - claimed his first league goal of the season after 20 minutes to set the Bairns on their way, before Stephen O'Donnell swept home the second four minutes from the break.

Gus MacPherson's team have now recorded only one win in their last 21 league outings - it came against the Bairns way back on Boxing Day - but they still hold a six-point lead over rock-bottom Dunfermline after their defeat at Motherwell.

Rangers-bound Kirk Broadfoot was suspended for the Love Street men, with veteran Andy Millen coming in.

But forward John Sutton, stalling over a new contract, was not even in the squad.

Falkirk, meanwhile, made just one change from the side that triumphed 1-0 against Celtic a fortnight ago, with Moutinho replacing Finnigan.

A decent 5,863 crowd were in attendance, taking advantage of over 1,200 free tickets for the match.

St Mirren began with purpose, but it was the Bairns' Alan Gow who came close to opening the scoring after five minutes when his 22-yard free-kick curled just wide of Chris Smith's post.

However, the visitors responded when they created a glorious chance after quarter of an hour.

Overlapping full-back David van Zanten crossed from the right, but Billy Mehmet could only flick a header across goal from three yards out.

Five minutes later the Buddies were made to rue that miss when Falkirk went into the lead.

Russell Latapy fed the ball into Moutinho on the edge of the box and the Portuguese striker spun John Potter to drill a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner.

Inevitably St Mirren were looking edgy after going behind and the match became scrappy and concentrated in midfield.

Van Zanten tried to bring some urgency to his side five minutes before the break when he cut in from the right, but his goal-bound shot was blocked by the combined efforts of Darren Barr and Kenny Milne.

Seconds later Falkirk claimed a decisive second goal.

Gow made inroads on the left and cut the ball back across goal to allow the on-rushing O'Donnell to lash a left-footed drive high into the net.

St Mirren needed a quick reply after half-time, but it was Moutinho who soon broke clear to drive an angled shot into Smith's arms.

MacPherson had seen enough and made a double change after 55 minutes with Eddie Malone and Paul Lawson coming off for Craig Molloy and Mark Corcoran.

But St Mirren were struggling to even create half-chances and the home support taunted the travelling fans as Falkirk enjoyed possession play.

Buddies midfielder Richard Brittain had a chance to reduce arrears after 64 minutes but his tame shot from Molloy's pass was easily gathered by Kasper Schmeichel.

Mehmet then tried a long-range shot in the 76th minute but again Schmeichel was comfortably in control of the effort.

It was to prove Mehmet's last action of the match as Alex Burke replaced him.

The substitute almost made an immediate impact when his curling 20-yard free-kick drifted just past the right post.

Latapy responded at the other end with a lofted shot over the bar, before Liam Craig came on for O'Donnell.

Craig also immediately tried his luck and his swerving long-range drive was almost fumbled over the line by Buddies goalkeeper Smith.

Teams:

Falkirk Schmeichel, Ross, Barr, Milne, Holden (Scobbie 90),Thomson, Cregg, Latapy, O'Donnell (Craig 81), Gow,Moutinho (Roberston 88).

Subs Not Used: Lambers, Lima, Mcstay, Uras.

Booked: Gow.

Goals: Moutinho 20, O'Donnell 40.

St Mirren Smith, van Zanten, Millen, Potter, Maxwell, Murray,Malone (Corcoran 54), Lawson (Molloy 54), Brittain, Kean,Mehmet (Burke 77).

Subs Not Used: Hinchcliffe, Reid, Mackay, O'Donnell.

Booked: Murray, Brittain.

Att: 5,863

Ref: D Somers (Scotland).