The Bairns moved into pole position in the race to finish top of the bottom six after a 2-1 victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

As Hearts lost at home to Kilmarnock. Hughes' team can now secure back-to-back seventh-place finishes if they win at Killie next week.

Top scorer Michael Higdon broke the deadlock after 28 minutes at Westfield before Falkirk claimed a decisive second through Finnigan after 69 minutes.

Barry Wilson pulled one back from the penalty spot in injury time after he had been fouled by Thomas Scobbie, but the hosts held on.

Hughes was delighted with the manner of the triumph and singled out ex-Newcastle youth player Finnigan for special praise.

He said: "I was pleased with the victory and the way in which we did it. It was a good passing performance and we put the goals on the back of it.

"It was a very, very young team so I'm pleased. Hopefully we can get the victory next week that gives us that seventh spot.

"The second was the pick of the bunch. Carl is a little bit of an unsung hero. A lot of his hard work and endeavour goes unnoticed, but not by me.

"He's still a young guy at 21 with a great future in front of him so I'm pleased for him."

After a wretched run of form when they struggled to score and missed out on a top six berth, the Bairns have responded with back-to-back home wins over Hearts and Inverness.

Hughes feels Finnigan has more than played his part after two goals in successive games.

He added: "Carl needs to have the belief he can become a top striker.

"I watched him for a number of years in the Newcastle reserves and old guys sitting next to me used to say he scores goals all the time.

"Sometimes he thinks scoring goals is the be all and end all, but it's more what he does for the team that I'm happy with and his effort is real top drawer."

Inverness boss Craig Brewster pinpointed the opening 30 minutes as the reason for the defeat.

The Highlanders were second best in the early stages and Higdon finally broke their resistance with the key opener.

Brewster said: "After the initial half hour, it was okay.

"But Falkirk passed us to death for the first 30 minutes, dictating the game. They were really sharper and played some decent stuff.

"Falkirk were more up for it, we were second to most things in the first half hour, although we had one or two chances.

"I thought in the second half we were more positive and played better.

"Rory McAllister had a great chance, a free header from six yards. Then they killed us really with the second goal.

"I've sensed a real buzz at the club in the last few weeks but Falkirk, obviously playing their last game in front of their own fans, got an extra lift.

"They were far superior to us in that initial part of the game, where they created chances."

Brewster benched on-loan Hibs keeper Zibi Malkowski and revealed he was unlikely to have a future at the club beyond the summer.

He added: "Zibi is at an age where he is 30 and wants to play first-team football.

"Michael Fraser has done really well this season, so Zibi has had to be patient."