FALKIRK manager Peter Houston savaged his side – and in particular Craig Sibbald and Lee Miller who were both sent off – as they crashed to their first derby defeat in six years.

Houston called his men “soft as putty” and insisted he will discipline Sibbald and Miller who were shown red cards early in the second half.

Joe Cardle, with two goals, and Declan McManus were the Dunfermline goal heroes as Allan Johnston’s side continued their fine start to the season.

However, the Falkirk players can expect some extra exertion in training next week.

Houston said: "At 2-0 down, when one goal brings us right back into it, we had a total lack of discipline from two senior players who have let the club down. I’m very angry with the two players and they will be disciplined. When you kick an opponent you’re going to get red card and Lee disappointed me too.

“It was a terrible day. We trotted about the first half and they went about it with pace. They sliced through us far too easily. Our players were soft as putty.

“We had fantastic backing and we gave them nothing in return. We actually played better when we went down to nine men. I can’t stand for that and I won’t accept it. It was derby match but only one team wanted to win it and the other just turned up expecting thing to happen.”

Dunfermline had blown the visitors away with two goals inside the first 11 minutes. Kallum Higginbotham cleverly played in Declan McManus in five minutes when he calmly slotted past Robbie Thomson from 12 yards.

Then six minutes later Ryan Williamson played in Cardle with a low cross and the winger finished from close range.

Sibbald then stupidly kicked out at Cardle in 53 minutes and Miller hit Nat Wedderburn with his elbow eight minutes later.

Tom Taiwo made things nervous with a goal seven minutes from time but Cardle ensured a sweet day when he ran through to score the third in injury time.

A delighted Allan Johnston said: “To score three goals against a top-quality team just shows you how far we have come. The goals were really good. Declan showed great composure to finish off Kallum’s great pass and Joe Cardle is on fire right now scoring goals and creating goals.”