The reported red card was the defining moment. St Johnstone had to manage the rest of the contest with reduced numbers, while Falkirk gained the territorial and tactical advantage that usually follows a dismissal.
For the Saints, the priority shifted from building attacks to protecting their shape. That makes the late equaliser more significant: Alic’s free-kick reportedly arrived after St Johnstone had spent much of the closing phase under pressure.
Falkirk’s failure to hold a lead against 10 men will be the main frustration. Once Ross had opened the scoring, the visitors appeared to have the game state they wanted. St Johnstone were short-handed, behind on the scoreboard and running out of time.
The report says Alic’s set-piece changed all three factors in one moment. A point is valuable for the Saints given the circumstances, but Falkirk may view the result as two points dropped rather than one gained.
Late set-pieces can define a season, particularly for teams competing in tight Scottish Premiership matches. Alic’s reported strike gives St Johnstone a clear positive from a difficult night and could reinforce the belief that they can stay competitive even when matches turn against them.
The bigger concern remains discipline. Playing with 10 men leaves little margin for error, and another early dismissal could prove more costly.
The next fixture will show whether St Johnstone can turn this resilience into more controlled performances, while Falkirk’s response will reveal whether the late collapse was an isolated setback or a warning about closing out matches.