Falkirk

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Manager John McGlynn has challenged newly-promoted Falkirk to capitalise on Dundee United's European exertions when they play their first Scottish Premiership match in 15 years on Sunday.

The Bairns boss could hardly contain his excitement as he prepared to lead his side into top-flight action just three years after taking over when they had finished sixth in League One.

McGlynn feels they have a chance to get off to a flyer when they host a United side who laboured to a 1-0 win over UNA Strassen in Luxembourg on Thursday night.

"It's a good opportunity for us," said the 63-year-old, whose only previous stint as a top-flight boss came at Hearts in 2012-13.

"Everyone's seen that Dundee United have been in Europe. The stats show it's always a difficult task to do, to play on a Thursday night and go on a Sunday as well.

"We have to take full advantage of that. We have the home advantage here. We're going to have a sell-out crowd here, getting right behind the boys.

"Everything's gearing up very nicely."

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Falkirk will be without Sean Mackie (calf), Finn Yeats, Barney Stewart (both foot), Coll Donaldson (pelvis) and Jamie Sneddon (hernia) but Gary Oliver has recovered from a groin issue and should be fit.

United are without captain Ross Graham (hamstring) while Kristijan Trapanovski went off with a problem in the same area against UNA Strassen in midweek.

Ryan Strain and Dario Naamo missed the win in Luxembourg.

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John McGlynn is proud of leading Falkirk from League One to the Premiership - but has no idea how they'll cope with life as underdogs in the top flight.

The 63-year-old last managed in the top tier with Hearts 12-and-a-half years ago and says "there's great reward" that his return was by promotion with the side he guided to back-to-back title wins.

McGlynn, whose team open their campaign at home to Dundee United on Sunday, said: "It was always an ambition to try and take a team up to the Premiership.

"I nearly did it with Raith Rovers [in 2021, during a second spell] but now I've done it with Falkirk.

"There's great reward and great satisfaction in having done that rather than me just going and getting another Premiership job.

"I've actually managed to take a team that was finishing fifth and sixth in League One and build a team.

"We were in League One for five years [before promotion in 2024] so to go from there to here, I'm quite proud of that."

Having won back-to-back titles, the Bairns now go from being a dominant force to battling to prove themselves among the big boys in their first top-flight season since 2010.

"It will be very interesting. It's very difficult to know how well we're going to do. It's all very much up in the air," added McGlynn.

"We've got a team that are used to winning and have got momentum and they have a great team spirit.

"All these things are what you would take from a team who's won a league and go up. But we're nowhere near winning as many games [this season] and we're going to lose more games than we've done probably in the last three years, so we'll have to be aware of that.

"We're not going to be too critical. We'll need to learn on the job, because not a lot of the players have played at that level.

"We've brought in some who have and that's going to help us, but we'll need to stick together. We want to get off a good start and that will certainly give us a foundation to build on."

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• Falkirk and Dundee United last met in the top fight in February 2010, when the Tannadice side won 3-0. Indeed, United have the past five meetings with Falkirk in the top tier.

• United are winless in six away games against newly-promoted opposition in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L4) since a 3-2 victory at Hamilton in January 2015.

• This is Falkirk's first game back in the top fight since their relegation in 2010. The Bairns last faced Dundee United on matchday one of a top-fight campaign in 2006-07, winning 2-1 under John Hughes.

• United are winless in their opening match in each of their past five Premiership seasons (D3 L2) since beating Aberdeen 3-0 in 2014-15.

• Falkirk boss John McGlynn last took charge of a side in the top tier in 2012-13 with Hearts; he won just seven of his 28 league games as manager that season (D9 L12) – although two of those victories were against Dundee United (3-0 in September, 2-1 in December).

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

A fight for survival seems likely given our squad's inexperience and unfamiliarity with the Scottish Premiership. While I'm optimistic about our chances of finishing 10th, preserving our top-flight status via a nerve-shredding play-off victory would be more Falkirk-esque - we rarely do things the easy way.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Further reinforcements are needed and can be expected according to John McGlynn. As for our new arrivals, Lewis Neilson has impressed in cup matches and looks like he will fit perfectly into our possession-based style of play.

What do you want from your manager this season?

To relish every moment and embrace the challenge. McGlynn has had a transformational effect since his arrival, guiding us from League One to the Premiership playing a brand of aesthetically pleasing football the supporters connect with. Regardless of how this season pans out, McGlynn will still have plenty of credit in the bank with the vast majority of Bairns fans.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

Keelan Adams was our breakout star last season and he is more than capable of continuing his meteoric rise by making a splash on Scottish football's biggest stage. Signed from Cumbernauld Colts, Adams is the epitome of a modern full-back with genuine attacking intent.

What is your one major concern?

Our weakness when it comes to dealing with set-piece scenarios. It's an issue that has plagued us for a while and reared its head again during last week's League Cup win over Queen's Park.

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Former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan worries Falkirk are lacking "a bit of magic" in their squad.

The Bairns get their top flight season under way next weekend when they host Dundee United but Sheridan has concerns over John McGlynn's squad.

"I don't think they've really added enough to the squad," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I know McGlynn hasn't changed much of his squad from even from the League One days.

"They're brilliant, really well coached and every player knows exactly where the other player is going to be. I would just worry about the overall strength in the squad in terms of having individual game changers rather than the collective being really good.

"I know that they have quality like Scott Arfield in the midfield and very good attacking players but I just feel like in that moment where they just need one player to produce something, a bit of magic, out with the setup of the team, that might be where they could struggle."

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Celtic will host Falkirk in the second round of the League Cup.

Brendan Rodgers' side welcomed the Bairns in last season's quarter finals, ultimately winning 5-2 in a game John McGlynn's side went ahead in twice.

Ties are due to be played on the weekend of 16th/17th August.

We asked for your views on Falkirk's League Cup win.

Here is what some of you said:

Nathan: Job done, we are through despite narrowly missing a seeded spot. Hopefully, a good draw in the next round, then bring on United next weekend.

Gary: Good performance, still need a couple of signings before the season kicks off.

Craig: Really good second-half performance from the Bairns today. Played some lovely football and were unlucky not to score more. Roll on next week!

Kev: Decent win against poor opposition. In my opinion, though, we will struggle against Premiership defences. Always seem to need too much time on the ball.

John: A good win ready for next SUNDAY!

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After topping their league cup group, Falkirk's attention now turns to a game that has been a generation in the making, according to manager John McGlynn.

A 4-0 win over Spartans on Saturday was the perfect piece of final preparation for a side who have waited 15 years to return to the Scottish Premiership.

McGlynn led the Bainrs back to the top flight with back-to-back promotions, but knows they'll have to fight for every point.

"After 15 years, it's the only thing to look forward to," said McGlynn.

"We've got 5,700 season-ticket holders, we're on Sky, it's one of the moments that you'll look back on forever.

"For a generation of the Falkirk fans, it'll be the first time they've seen their team in the Premiership, in the top league, so I think it's a wee bit more than just Dundee United at home.

"Everyone here deserves it.

"We've done so much work over the last two or three years, so, it's up to us now. Most games we'll be underdogs, most games we'll have to punch above our weight, but we're looking forward to that."

McGlynn also revealed that Sean Mackie and Gary Oliver are currently in a fitness race for the top-flight opener at the weekend.

"Sean's calves were giving him a little bit of bother, so he was ruled out by the physios," added the manager.

"Similarly, Gary just tweaked his groin a little bit in training, so he had to miss out as well.

"The injuries they've got are not long-term injuries. I would like to think they will be available for Sunday, but at this point, I couldn't guarantee it."

We asked for your views after Falkirk came from behind to defeat Queen's Park in the Premier Sports Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

David: Workman like again, against a packed defence. Worked hard and scored some good goals which were well created.

John: Gave away a soft goal to go behind. Worked hard to equalise before half-time. Improvement in the second half against a dogged defence. Credit to Queens Park, they made it difficult.

George: Dominated play without ever threatening the goalkeeper, need to be more purposeful and ruthless going forward if they want to survive in the Premiership.

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John McGlynn is urging his Falkirk side to "play at a tempo Spartans can't handle" as the Bairns bid to progress into the second round of the Premier Sports Cup.

The Premiership newcomers came from behind to beat Championship side Queen's Park 3-1 on Tuesday thanks to a double from Ethan Ross and a late strike from Brian Graham.

The win moved them top of Group A, but Cove Rangers are one point behind and League 2 The Spartans can leapfrog them if they pull off a shock at the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday.

"We know what we need," McGlynn told Falkirk TV. "We need to win the game to guarantee qualification and if we get to 11 points, who knows? We might creep into a seeded position going into the draw.

"However, first and foremost we have to take care of Spartans. They are well-coached, Dougie Samuel, everyone there, a very experienced team. They will prepare to make it very difficult for us.

"We have got to play at a tempo that hopefully they can't handle."

Falkirk boss John McGlynn insists Ross MacIver is not for sale, with interest in the striker from Scottish rivals and English clubs. (Daily Record), external

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"Outstanding" midfielder Brad Spencer has committed his future to Falkirk by signing a new two-year deal upon their Premiership return.

Spencer, 29, played every minute of the Bairns' title-winning campaign last term and was named Championship player of the year.

He is now tied down until summer 2028, with the option of a further year, and has been an integral part of John McGlynn's team since joining from Raith Rovers two years ago.

Spencer scored the crucial penalty against Alloa Athletic in the final game of the 2023-24 season to ensure Falkirk were 'Invincible' in their League 1 title win.

Manager McGlynn said it is "great news for every Falkirk fan" that Spencer, who captained the Bairns for most of last season due to Coll Donaldson's injury, is staying.

"It shows his commitment to the football club," McGlynn added.

"Brad's been outstanding from the moment he walked in the door, he's been a key player on the pitch, and he's been amazing off the pitch as well.

"It's great news for every Falkirk fan that Brad has extended his contract."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee defender Luke Graham says his experiences playing first-team matches have helped him progress far more than academy football would have done.

The 21-year-old has had successful loan spells at Lochee United, Albion Rovers, Montrose and Falkirk – where he was part of the Bairns' Championship winning squad last season.

He says he has come back from each one of those stints as a "new player".

"Just playing games week-in, week-out, it is going to make you a better player and I feel like it did that for me and it was just a really great experience," said Graham.

"For me personally, I feel like going out and playing men's football is the best thing for you.

"I have done that three or four times now and I feel every time I have come back a new player."

Graham hopes those experiences can help him to establish himself at Dens Park under Steven Pressley.

"As a centre-back you are not going to go in to a Premiership game after playing under-19s football. It is just not the same thing - you are going to get bashed about.

"So I feel like you learn a lot from just going out and playing men's football."

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Falkirk's "attractive style" made Lewis Neilson "excited to come back" to the newly promoted Scottish Premiership club.

The versatile defender has signed on loan from Hearts after spending a brief spell with the Bairns in 2021 during their difficult time in the lower leagues.

The 22-year-old is "delighted to be back under different circumstances" and is backing the team to have a positive campaign back in the top tier.

"It looks like we could potentially have a good season after the first couple of games," said Neilson. "We're playing a really attractive style which made me excited to come back.

"I saw the size of the club the day I was in here [four] years ago. They've always had the support and the facilities to go and achieve in the Premiership. Hopefully we can do that this season."

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Hat-trick hero Dylan Tait "certainly delivered" for Falkirk after being given "extra responsibility" in their 7-0 win over Brechin, says manager John McGlynn.

Tait was handed the captain's armband for the Bairns' League Cup group opener against the Highland League side and went on to score a treble.

The 23-year-old midfielder netted Falkirk's second before bagging two more goals in the second half at Glebe Park.

McGlynn said he "could not have asked for any more" from his players, but the manager "won't get too carried away" by the win.

And Tait was singled out for "absolutely" standing up to the challenge after being handed the captaincy

"He took on the captain's armband. We gave him extra responsibility," McGlynn said.

"He certainly delivered. There were a lot of good performances, though."

Several clubs on both sides of the border have made enquiries about the availability of 26-year-old Falkirk striker Ross MacIver, who was on the scoresheet in Saturday's 7-0 hammering of Brechin City in the Premier Sports Cup. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.