Falkirk

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Falkirk are brimming with confidence and "relishing the challenge" of trying to shock Premiership leaders Hearts, says striker Brian Graham.

John McGlynn's newly-promoted side dropped out of the top six after last weekend's 3-0 loss at Hibs - their first defeat in six games - and are looking to bounce back against Derek McInnes' men at the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday night.

"Every game is big, but obviously the nature of Hearts, won against Celtic last week, sitting top of the table, they've lost one game all season," Graham told Sky Sports.

"We know what sort of challenge it's going to be for us boys, but at the same time you've got to relish it, we've had a relatively good start to the campaign ourselves.

"We had a little blip against Hibs last weekend and it's about going again.

"It's a fantastic game, I'm looking forward to it. It's on TV, it's at eight o'clock on a Saturday night, so we're relishing the challenge.

"I love that narrative that it's a slight dip [in Hearts' form]. They've lost one game in 16, that's some dip by the way.

"We know they're coming here full of confidence but so are we. We've had one defeat in the last six, we've got a really good spirit in that changing room. It's a game we're relishing.

"When you've got a manager the way John is, we knew he would have that belief to get us up the table, but as he keeps saying, it's only a start."

• Falkirk are winless in six top-flight meetings with Hearts (D2 L4) since a 2-1 victory in September 2008.

• This will be Hearts' first top-flight visit to Falkirk since a 1-0 win in December 2009. Hearts have won their past three away league games at newly-promoted opposition.

• Falkirk are unbeaten in six home league matches (W2 D4), their longest run in the top flight since going seven without defeat from October 2006 to January 2007.

• With 35 points in 16 games, Hearts have made the best start to a top-flight season by a non-Old Firm club since 2005-06, when Hearts themselves had 37 points in their opening 16 games.

• Hearts forward Claudio Braga has scored more away goals in the Premiership this season than any other player, with five of his seven strikes coming on the road, including last time out at Celtic.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

A 3-0 defeat is never easy to swallow, but Bairns fans shouldn't be too downhearted by the loss to Hibernian.

Our trip to the capital marked our third game in just six days - a tough run against teams sitting in the top five.

Considering we avoided defeat in two of those matches and kept a couple of clean sheets along the way, it is another sign of real progress as the season moves forward.

While a 3-0 reverse stings, the scoreline doesn't tell the full story. Yes, the Hibees were worthy winners, but we had a goal chalked off for a razor-thin offside call, and were denied a penalty in a situation almost identical to one David Gray's side were awarded a spot-kick for at the Falkirk Stadium earlier in the campaign.

It's also worth remembering the Bairns were enjoying a five-game unbeaten run before Saturday's trip to Easter Road.

The defeat was only our second across our last 10 Premiership matches, underlining the consistency the team has shown this season.

Adversity often reveals more about a team's character than victories, and that has been a hallmark of John McGlynn's tenure.

Whether the Bairns can respond to this setback at the first time of asking against table-topping Hearts on Saturday night will be a tall order, but the overall picture so far is encouraging.

Martin Boyle won Hibernian's sixth penalty of the Scottish Premiership season - more than any other team - in their 3-0 win at home to Falkirk on Saturday.

The Australia winger took it himself to open the scoring, but former Aberdeen and Rangers full-back Richard Foster thinks Falkirk's Filip Lissah was unfortunate to concede the spot kick after 36 minutes.

"I think Martin Boyle is quite cute here and quite clever and I think he initiates the contact and I don't think there's much the defender can do," Foster said on BBC Scotland's Sportscene.

"It is a brilliant pass from Josh Mulligan, a nice weight, and, if you watch Boyle, he runs across the defender and, if there is any contact, it is absolutely minimal.

"And, if there is any contact, he initiates it. I think they were lucky to get that."

Watch highlights of Hibernian's 3-0 win against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Falkirk's 3-0 defeat against Hibernian.

Here's what some of you said:

Nathan: Just not at the races sadly. Slack, slow and really off the pace throughout the first half. We improved slightly in the second half but all in all we were second best and Hibs were probably deserved winners.

Neil: As a Falkirk fan, we know we'll have hard days, but the team have done well so far and another fantastic Falkirk away support today. A club on the up.

David: Hard shift with the third game in six days. Hibs deserved the three points, however we will learn from this going forward. Massive opportunity to take another step forward next Saturday night when the Jambos come calling. Always a tasty fixture. John McGlynn can put up his feet for a couple of days and then start to plot the downfall of the boys in maroon.

Ellis: Sometimes you need to take your medicine and this was one of those times. Points gained against top-six teams are a bonus for us and away to Hibs won't define our season. Fancy three points against Hearts next week at home.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "Forget the scoreline. I expected Hibs to come at us. They've lost their last two, they're at home, we're the newly-promoted team.

"We were makers of our own downfall. We've got our own style of playing, that's no secret, we've been doing the same thing for a few years now.

"We lose the ball deep in our own half for both the first and second goal. We were a little threat in the first half, but coming in 2-0 down we looked sluggish from the game on Wednesday.

"The second half was much better. We've put the ball in the back of the net, and if that goes for us that's 2-1. We were the better team in the second half and it could have been a turning point.

"They gave it everything in the second half, so I'm much happier with that performance. We've done well to defend a number of set plays in the first half. It was disappointing to lose the goals when we were in possession of the ball.

"We're not going to crucify ourselves. We dust ourselves down and get ready for Hearts next week. Today, it was just a little bit too far for us."

Hibernian moved to fourth in the Scottish Premiership for now and shrugged top-six chasers Falkirk aside in a comfortable win at Easter Road.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Grant Hanley returns from suspension but Nicky Cadden drops out for Hibs with a calf injury while Junior Hoilett and Jordan Obita (hamstring) are doubts.

Thibault Klidje will be back in training next week. Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) remains out.

Falkirk have a doubt over Keelan Adams (groin) while Coll Donaldson and Aidan Nesbitt are building up their fitness after long-term absences.

Gary Oliver (hamstring), Ross MacIver (ankle), Lewis Neilson (ankle) and Tom Lang (foot) remain on the sidelines.

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Assistant manager Paul Smith has emphasised the importance of squad depth as Falkirk prepare for their third game inside a week.

The Bairns have recorded back-to-back goalless draws against Rangers and Motherwell, and travel to Easter Road on Saturday to face Hibernian.

"Three (consecutive) clean sheets is great for the full team," Smith told Falkirk TV.

"I think it shows how important the squad is. We made five changes on Wednesday. Finn Yeats, who has not even been making the bench, showed great fitness for 60 minutes.

"It's just a fantastic squad. We don't have a lot of time to get ready for Saturday's game, always a difficult place to go, Easter Road.

"But it was a fantastic game, 2-2 here, the last time and I'm sure it will be an exciting game again.

"Obviously we rested a few boys so they will be a wee bit fresher come Saturday."

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• Hibs are unbeaten in 18 top-flight home games against newly-promoted opponents (W8 D10) since a 1-0 defeat to Ross County in December 2012 under Pat Fenlon.

• Falkirk are winless in 11 top-flight meetings with Hibs (D5 L6) since a 2-1 victory in December 2006 under John Hughes.

• Hibs have lost their past two league games – as many as their previous 15 beforehand (W5 D8) – while they last lost three in a row in October 2024. Hibs could also lose back-to-back home league games for the first time since May 2024.

• Falkirk have kept a clean sheet in three successive league games, last doing so four times running in the Premiership in March 2008. Their last two, though, have been goalless. The last side to play out three consecutive 0-0 draws in the top flight were Hibs in March 2022.

• No side have had more penalties in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hibs (five), with the Easter Road team scoring four of their spot-kicks – just one fewer than they did in the whole of last season's competition (five).

Sportscene pundit Scott Allan analyses how Falkirk boss John McGlynn's tactical set-up disrupted the "fluidity" of in-form visitors Motherwell in the goalless draw.

We asked for your views following Falkirk's 0-0 draw with Motherwell last night.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: In McGlynn we trust! What a job him and Paul Smith are doing. With key players rested last night I fancy us to take all three points at Easter Road on Saturday.

Clovis: A decent point in the end although I can't help feeling we could've taken all three had we been a bit more ruthless up top. A much-changed team though and another point in the bag towards staying up, mustn't grumble!

Al: As thoroughly enjoyable 0-0 draw that you could see. Each side had long-ish spells on top so a draw a fair result. Filip Lissah is an exceptional talent and the 22-year-old has been the best defender on view in each of the handful of games he has played at the top level in Scotland.

David: I think McGlynn got his team selection and tactics right. Motherwell are the best football team we have faced this season and we restricted them to only the odd chance. Three clean sheets in a row and no ground lost in the league. We move on to Saturday and hopefully we can get a win to round off a tough six days.

Scott: Very strange starting 11 which almost worked for us Lissah is a lovely footballer.

Watch the best of the action as Falkirk and Motherwell play out a goalless stalemate. (Available to UK users only)

Dunfermline Athletic head coach Neil Lennon says the Scottish Championship club are determined to strengthen their striking options in January as he fears the possible recall by Falkirk of on-loan Barney Stewart because of an injury to Ross MacIver. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "I think it was a tactical battle.

"We tried to cancel Motherwell out because they're a very good team, pass the ball well and have some great rotations and movements. You have to be so switched on.

"But we were very brave. We more or less went man for man all over the place.

"I thought we were close to them and made it difficult for them. We knew we would have to do that."

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Motherwell and Falkirk battled out a goalless draw in the Scottish Premiership, but should it have been more?

Have your say here.

Read the match report here.

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Brad Spencer insists the team spirit is high as Falkirk's impressive start on their return to the Premiership continue.

After Sunday's 0-0 draw at Ibrox, the Bairns are unbeaten in their last four games as they prepare for Wednesday night's clash against Motherwell.

John McGlynn's side are sixth in the league table after 14 fixtures, and Spencer stressed the club are not just in the top flight to make up the numbers.

"It's down to the staff, the gaffer and assistants," the 29-year-old said of the club's league position.

"We enjoy coming to work every day. It's a place where you come in with a smile on your face.

"We've got a good group of lads that enjoy playing for each other, working hard for each other so I think that's why we get results and are doing well so far.

"We've got ambitions. You don't want to just come in the league and try and grind out a few results or one win in five or something like that, you want to try and implement your style and try and hurt teams.

"I think we have done that recently, better than the start of the season. I think we're now kind of finding our feet.

"I have felt the games are really different to what they were at the start the season, a lot more tactical.

"But I thought we found our feet quite well and we're doing well so far."

Scott Bain's return to form with Falkirk has put the 32-year-old goalkeeper on the radar of several clubs north and south of the border. (Daily Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Falkirk's Coll Donaldson and Aidan Nesbitt are back in training after lengthy spells out but not yet ready to start.

Keelan Adams (groin) is unlikely to be fit but Filip Lissah should make it. Gary Oliver (hamstring), Ross MacIver (ankle), Lewis Neilson (ankle) and Tom Lang (foot) remain on the sidelines.

Andy Halliday is closing in on fitness for Motherwell, who are still missing Filip Stuparevic (knee), Aston Oxborough (hand), Sam Nicholson (knee), Zach Robinson (Achilles), Jordan McGhee and Eseosa Sule (both thigh).

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• After their 2-1 win in October, Falkirk could secure back-to-back league victories over Motherwell within a single season for the first time since December 2007.

• Motherwell have won three of their past four away league games against newly-promoted opposition (L1), as many as their previous 21 beforehand (W3 D6 L12).

• Falkirk have only lost one of their seven home league games this season (W2 D4) and need just one home win to match their entire season tally from their previous top-flight campaign in 2009-10 (3 home wins).

• Motherwell have won two of their past three away league games (D1), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W2 D5 L9).

• Motherwell have won their past four midweek league games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), as many as their previous 18 beforehand (W4 D5 L9).

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

The 0-0 draw with Rangers at Ibrox was just the latest pinch me moment in our season.

Yes, it was against a far from vintage Rangers team whose problems are well documented, but the prospect of coming away from Ibrox slightly disappointed not to have picked up all three points would have seemed fanciful to the vast majority of the Falkirk faithful only as recently as 18 months ago.

Let's not forget it wasn't that long ago we were a club that were regularly getting put to the sword when pitching up at the likes of Cove Rangers (with all due respect to the Balmoral outfit).

In fact, it was only this time two years ago that another third-tier flop would have almost certainly had us staring down the barrel of a part-time or hybrid model being imposed by the club.

Thankfully, a historic invincible season put that horrifying prospect to rest, and the momentum since then has not faded.

In a flash, several years of decline and mainly underachieving have been extinguished in a manner and style that wouldn't have featured even in the wildest dreams of a Falkirk supporter, and Sunday's stalemate at Ibrox was just the latest reminder of that.

Long may it last.