IF THE Kilmarnock chapter in the Tommy Burns story has perhaps been glossed over in the last few days, the Ayrshire club's players and fans appeared rightly proud to remind everyone of it yesterday.

Having joined as a player in 1989, Burns cut his managerial teeth at Rugby Park, winning promotion to the Premier Division then keeping them there before Fergus McCann took him back to Celtic. Kilmarnock have been in the top division ever since.

If it was fitting then that Burns' karaoke favourite Mack the Knife should blast out over the Tannoy prior to a lusty minute's applause, equally so that the club's players should end a misfiring season with a display of passing football that was as good as anything Rugby Park has witnessed all season long. Outside, a portion of the car park had been reclaimed as an impromptu shrine to a man, who apart from everything else, was also a Kilmarnock legend.

It may have taken a late goal from substitute Paul Di Giacomo to take this game beyond Falkirk, but with David Fernandez back to his best and Medhi Taouil working his magic, it should have been settled earlier and with a more one-sided score line.

But the win afforded the home side a lap of honour, even if Jefferies confirmed last night there are likely to be no shortage of comings and goings in the next few weeks.

Top of the list was a meeting last night with Taouil's agent, whom the Kilmarnock boss was planning to ply with wine in an attempt to persuade his client to stay for next season. The Moroccan could hardly have picked better timing for his first goal for the club.

Jefferies also indicated that plenty will leave the club - in particular he faces big decisions on the likes of Paul Dalglish and Paul Di Giacomo. But it is Falkirk's players who are really in for a rude awakening this morning.

Afterwards a livid John Hughes - who has already brought in the experience of Lee Bullen, Neil McCann and Jackie McNamara - bemoaned the fact some of his players appeared to have downed tools already.

"It all started yesterday on the training pitch, one or two were pissing about," Hughes said, "and thinking they're something they're not and it carried on into the warm-up today. If I had Roy Keane in there would he have accepted that? No way. They think they're the best thing since sliced bread. Its a lot of bollocks."

Some tributes receive more wholehearted backing than others. Another pre-game ritual to be observed yesterday was the formation of a guard of honour for referee Alan Freeland, on the occasion of his last senior game before retiring in the summer. Freeland's stock amongSPL managers has never been particularly high, but it would be uncharitable to suggest that the applause yesterday was because the players were keen to get rid of him.

Whatever went on before, Freeland's final act was to largely keep his cards in his pocket, aided by two teams who showed a willingness to get the ball down and play, with the freedom of having only incremental league placings and prize money to play for.

Jim Jefferies and John Hughes are one of the more genuine old pals act in Scottish football, but Kilmarnock started the match in a mood to extend their visitors too much generosity.

The home side should have been a goal to the good as early as the eighth minute, when a flowing four-man move ended with a David Fernandez toe-poke which gave Paul Dalglish the freedom of the penalty area to test Robert Olejnik. But the former Livingston and Hibs striker blazed the ball over.

Falkirk had a more youthful look than usual as Hughes tried to blood the next generation of youngsters like Chris Mitchell and Brian Allison, but it was one of the older heads who gave them the lead against the run of play. Portuguese winger Pedro Moutinho drove at the Kilmarnock back line, and with Grant Murray backing off, struck a drive which beat Combe low to his right.

The goal was harsh on Kilmarnock, and it didn't take long for a response. More magic from Fernandez played in James Fowler, only for him to dither in front of goal, then Danny Invincibile's stinging drive smacked into the side netting, next Murray saw a header hacked clear by Mitchell before the equaliser finally arrived.

Invincibile played a clever centre into the path of Taouil whose deflected drive wrongfooted Olejnik enough to defy all of the Australian goalkeeper's attempts to keep it out.

The second half continued where the first left off, with more inventive Kilmarnock play, and more wasteful finishing, not least a continuation of the personal nightmare which was enveloping Dalglish.

First Fowler was a foot wide with his placed finish after a gutsy run, then Dalglish's lack of confidence betrayed him when attempting to latch on to the sweetest of balls inside the full-back by Taouil.

Lilley met a Garry Hay free-kick but headed wide, then Invincibile was clear on goal only to be defied by Olejnik.* But the luck which had deserted Kilmarnock all season finally arrived.

Jamie Hamill swung a cross over and Dalglish's replacement, Paul Di Giacomo, glanced in a header which bounced in off Olejnik's left- hand post.