Liam Henderson scored the equaliser for Falkirk against HibsImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Liam Henderson scored the equaliser for Falkirk against Hibs

At a glance

  • Boyle & McGrath have Hibs in control

  • But MacIver pulls one back & Henderson levels

  • Hibs have now drawn four of five Premiership games

Falkirk roared back from two goals down to snatch a Scottish Premiership point against Hibernian and make it four successive draws for David Gray's side.

After their disappointing League Cup exit at the weekend, Gray was looking for a response from the Leith outfit against their promoted hosts.

The signs looked positive when Martin Boyle gave Hibs the advantage from the penalty spot after a video assistant referee check determined that Ethan Williams handled the ball inside the Falkirk box.

The Falkirk forward had his arms up as a volleyed cross was struck from close range and, although play was initially waved on, referee Callum Scott was called over to the monitor and changed his decision.

Jamie McGrath doubled the visitors' advantage just before half-time when he latched onto a loose ball in the Falkirk box, spun the defenders and fired low into the bottom corner.

But Hibs' advantage was halved minutes later when Ross MacIver turned in Ethan Williams' cross to get Falkirk back into the game just before the break.

Liam Henderson headed in the equaliser with 25 minutes to play in Falkirk after breaking free from Rocky Bushiri to glance the ball beyond Raphael Sallinger in the Hibs goal.

Both sides pushed for a winner, but had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The point moves Falkirk further away from the bottom of the Premiership table while Hibs fail to make up ground on the top two.

Analysis: Tenacious Falkirk put pressure on Hibs

Boss Gray talked before the game about losing goals at the wrong moments in games, and his Hibs side once again were undone by conceding at the wrong time.

The visitors had done the hard work to put themselves two up but when MacIver's goal went in, it made for a much more nervy second half.

That stoppage-time goal also means Hibs have now conceded four times in the last 15 minutes of first halves this season - more than any other team in the Premiership.

With Celtic and Hearts now six points clear, Hibs will have to start turning these draws into wins sooner rather than later.

The credit has to go to Falkirk, though, who were clearly galvanised by that goal and presumably whatever John McGlynn had to say at half time.

They kept the pressure on Hibs in the second half and eventually won a corner that led to Henderson's equaliser.

Even after the leveller, Falkirk did not look content to settle for a point, evidenced by the introduction of Brian Graham, Alfredo Agyeman and Scott Arfield with just under 20 minutes left.

They were not afraid to come out and ask questions of Hibs and created more opportunities in front of goal.

Plenty of positive signs for the Premiership newcomers who demonstrated they can go toe to toe with one of the stronger teams in the division.

'Falkirk have something about them'

23/09/25

What they said

Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "We never fail to entertain, we play good football and we go out to attack in every game.

"Great mentality from the players, to be 2-0 down against a team like Hibs and to come back speaks volume for everyone involved and the fighting spirit."

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "I thought Falkirk actually started better. It took us five or 10 minutes to adjust to the speed of the pitch. Once we got into our rhythm we probably got away with the fact they should have scored first.

"I think we had enough chances to put the game to bed and that's the frustration. We gave away an inexcusable goal from a set piece.

"It felt like if a team was going to win the game, it would have been Falkirk from the momentum and noise in the stadium."

What's next for these teams?

Tough ones for both. Hibs travel to Parkhead to face Premiership champions Celtic, while Falkirk head to Tynecastle to take on Derek McInnes' Hearts (both Saturday, 15:00 BST).

Where next?

Player of the match

Number: 5 L. Henderson
Average rating 8.21
Number: 5 L. Henderson
Average Rating: 8.21
Number: 24 E. Williams
Average Rating: 7.55
Number: 17 H. Cartwright
Average Rating: 7.52
Number: 9 R. MacIver
Average Rating: 7.38
Number: 3 L. McCann
Average Rating: 7.34
Number: 19 S. Bain
Average Rating: 7.23
Number: 2 K. Adams
Average Rating: 7.22
Number: 8 B. Spencer
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 29 C. Miller
Average Rating: 6.92
Number: 21 D. Tait
Average Rating: 6.90
Number: 15 L. Neilson
Average Rating: 6.88
Number: 11 A. Agyeman
Average Rating: 6.53
Number: 18 G. Oliver
Average Rating: 6.12
Number: 37 S. Arfield
Average Rating: 6.05
Number: 7 B. Graham
Average Rating: 6.05

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.