Brian Graham blasts home his penaltyImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Brian Graham's early penalty looked set to give Falkirk victory

At a glance

  • Brian Graham's penalty cancelled out by late Danny Wilson header

  • John McGlynn's side up to third in the Premiership despite conceding late on

  • Livingston stay bottom of the league after one win in 12 games

Watch: Falkirk v Livingston Sportscene highlights

08/11/2025 2000

Livingston snatched a point at the death for the second consecutive week, this time frustrating fellow Scottish Premiership newcomers Falkirk.

It looked like Brian Graham's first-half penalty was going to be enough for the Bairns to secure a fourth win in five games.

They could have been further clear had it not been for Danny Wilson's late header, rising at the back post from a free-kick routine to nod past Scott Bain.

John McGlynn's side only rose up to the Premiership in June and were written off by some, as the manager chose to trust in many of the players who had won promotion.

They pipped Livingston to the Championship title last season, and they almost did so again at the Falkirk Stadium.

But they could not build on Graham's spot kick, gifted to them after the video assistant referee (VAR) spotted a hand ball from Stevie May when the Livingston forward was defending a corner.

And the visitors would have the last say again, just as they did against Hibs last week when Graham Carey's penalty snatched a draw against David Gray's side.

Analysis: Lack of cutting edge frustrates for both sides

Although plenty of those Championship veterans were still in the side today - Keelan Adams, Liam Henderson, Brad Spencer, Calvin Miller - it was the new, unheralded signings that looked more lively.

Ethan Williams and Kyrell Wilson, on loan from Manchester United and Swansea City respectively, tormented Livingston's full-backs in the first half.

They were able to link up from wing to wing, offering a real threat with the diagonal balls over the top. But they needed to be more clinical and create clearer chances.

In attack, Graham put in a solid shift, but Falkirk need more at that end and with Ross MacIver injured, it only leaves 37-year-old Graham and 18-year-old Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi.

They had 12 shots, but only two of them were on target, and Jerome Prior only had one save to make.

The attacking stats between Falkirk and LivingstonImage source, SNS
Image caption,

The attacking stats between Falkirk and Livingston

The same could be said for Livingston. They boasted five shots on target from 11 shots but again, their chances were fairly tame.

Mo Sylla and Lewis Smith both had chances from distance in the first half, but Bain wasn't all that busy.

Ultimately they got their goal, and an important point. David Martindale said pre-match if they focus on themselves, the league will take care of itself.

While they are only a win away from eighth-place at the moment, they can't afford to be cut loose.

What they said

Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "We were the better team first half and Livingston were better second half. We lost a bit of control in the game, and without creating too many goalscoring opportunities, they had the better of it.

"They had more of the ball, and we defended well for the vast majority. We come away with one point instead of three. Maybe we should have been further ahead in the first half, but I think a draw is a fair result.

Livingston manager David Martindale: "I look at the penalty, and I think it's really harsh. The referee says its distance. Stevie May can't move it, his arm is not extended, it just hits him. The ref has seen it in real time and doesn't think it's a penalty.

"I really don't think it's a penalty. Maybe my angle is wrong. There's a shout for us, Keelan Adams on Andrew Shinnie. You can see the motion of Keelan's arm. We were told Andrew was nowhere near the ball. What does that have to do with anything?"

What's next?

Falkirk travel to Tannadice on Saturday 22 November, while Livingston visit Rangers at Ibrox at the same time (both 15:00).

Player of the match

Number: 28 F. Lissah
Average rating 8.75
Number: 28 F. Lissah
Average Rating: 8.75
Number: 21 D. Tait
Average Rating: 8.60
Number: 37 S. Arfield
Average Rating: 8.25
Number: 24 E. Williams
Average Rating: 8.00
Number: 17 H. Cartwright
Average Rating: 8.00
Number: 23 E. Ross
Average Rating: 8.00
Number: 11 A. Agyeman
Average Rating: 7.75
Number: 5 L. Henderson
Average Rating: 7.67
Number: 20 C. Allan
Average Rating: 7.60
Number: 2 K. Adams
Average Rating: 7.60
Number: 29 C. Miller
Average Rating: 7.60
Number: 47 T. Samuel-Ogunsuyi
Average Rating: 7.60
Number: 19 S. Bain
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 8 B. Spencer
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 7 B. Graham
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 22 K. Wilson
Average Rating: 6.25

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