Falkirk

Watch Sportscene analysis of Falkirk's performance in a 3-0 loss away to Hearts.

Watch all the highlights as Hearts moved top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 win over Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

Rampant Hearts moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a dominant win over a listless Falkirk at a raucous Tynecastle, as Lawrence Shankland became the SPFL's record goalscorer.

Read the full match report here.

Give us your thoughts on the game here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Sport Scotland: "Yeah, we had to try and stay in the game after that [opening goal] and we almost did.

"We had to get to half-time at 1-0 and re-address it, we looked a bit heavy-legged, and I think that comes from the game on Tuesday, but we're going to have to be able to do that.

"So maybe team selection has to be looking at that maybe guys that have done too much on Tuesday night come into that huge, big game today.

"Hearts had a break last week and obviously had a bit of time to rest and recover while we were playing a big game against the Hibs, and I think that was something to do with being heavy-legged.

"Thought Scott Bain had a great game today.

"So, 2-0 at half time, obviously, we need to get the next goal, unfortunately, we've lost that [second goal] very, very early in the second half, and it's a long way back from there.

"The boys kept on going, they kept working, we tried things to try and change things around a little bit.

"I've got to concede that Hearts were very dominant today, they look like a team that were at the top of the table, look like team that were playing with lot of confidence, they look like a team that had the bit between their teeth and they played at a very high tempo, which today we didn't do enough to stop the flow.

"We all understand that we have to learn, obviously, we will go over things as we do, but we can't continue to keep making the same mistakes, we know that."

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Hearts right-back Christian Borchgrevink is back in contention but Ageu (hamstring), Frankie Kent (knee), Craig Gordon (hamstring), Ryan Fulton (groin) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still out.

Falkirk are unable to field on-loan Hearts defender Lewis Neilson against his parent club, while Kyrell Wilson, Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon and Coll Donaldson remain sidelined.

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John McGlynn says Falkirk are still adjusting to life in the top flight and will only "get better".

The newly-promoted side have taken five points from their first five fixtures and fought back from two down for a draw with Hibs in midweek.

Manager McGlynn is aiming to continue that momentum in Saturday's visit to high-flying Hearts.

"We're only going to get better by experience and learning from each game," he said.

"I think we've been in all the games. We're not going to have the amount of ball we had in League One or the Championship.

"We're going to have to be able to play without the ball, and I thought we did that better on Tuesday than in other games.

"We're definitely finding our feet."

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Falkirk striker Barney Stewart has joined Dunfermline on loan until January.

The 21-year-old played 17 games and scored twice for the Championship-winning Bairns last term after joining from Heriot Watt University, but has yet to make an appearance this season.

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John McGlynn says he is "quite content" with the way his career has panned out, as the Falkirk manager prepares for his first Premiership match in charge at Tynecastle since losing his job at Hearts in February 2013.

The 63-year-old served on the backroom staff from 1995 to 2006 and returned to the Jambos as manager in 2012, but only spent eight months in charge of the Edinburgh club under erratic owner Vladimir Romanov.

McGlynn has been back to Hearts with Championship clubs Livingston and Raith Rovers, but Saturday will be his first time in the dugout as a Premiership manager.

"For me, after five-and-a-half years at Raith Rovers, it was probably the right time, but it was probably the wrong time to be at Hearts," said McGlynn.

"There was so much change going on, but I probably lasted longer than some. I felt there was pros and cons to it. I can look back at the two [Europa League play-off] games against Liverpool fondly.

"I also look back fondly at getting the team to the League Cup final, which Hearts have got a horrendous record in.

"Our league form wasn't great, we were trying to play good football but getting hit with sucker punches and losing games.

"On the back of winning the Scottish Cup with a 5-1 win against Hibs, there were high expectation but with only half of the Scottish Cup team left, it was always going to be difficult with the brief to bring in younger players because there was obviously no money.

"We did a reasonable job under the circumstances. It's not done me any harm because I'm quite content with what I've done in football and where I am right now.

"I had a lot to thank Hearts for, for the opportunity I was given in the first place. Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown opened the door for me [in 1995] and I got in and had some great times there.

"I don't have any ill feeling or resentment. You just deal with the cards you're dealt."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

It may seem like an eternity since Hearts returned home with a welcome victory at Ibrox but those three points could prove to be extremely valuable come the end of the season.

In addition the win maintains the positive vibes emanating from Tynecastle, which also increases the expectations from the stands.

This week when Falkirk come calling and a chance-laden affair should ensue.

Few managers will know more about Tynecastle than John McGlynn. Having joined Hearts in the late 1990s and brought through stalwarts like Scott Severin and Craig Gordon, McGlynn has shown tactical nous when it comes to setting up a team at whichever club he has worked at.

And don't forget the 63-year-old was a vital cog in Celtic's coaching staff under Brendan Rodgers in his first spell at Parkhead before taking the leap back into management with Raith Rovers in 2018.

McGlynn also had a couple of spells in charge of Hearts in the Romanov era so is well versed in the club.

But Derek McInnes and his players look as if they have the belief they can win any game and it will be a major upset if Hearts don't secure victory in front of another sell-out crowd at Tynecastle.

Falkirk chief executive Jamie Swinney targets consistency in the Scottish Premiership and hopes the Bairns can establish themselves as the seventh best in the league. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Watch highlights as Falkirk hit back from two down to draw with Hibs in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

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.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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

"The atmosphere was amazing. 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.

"The goal before half time was significant and the only thing separating the teams was a penalty. I've not seen it back but there's not much we can do about it.

"Getting crosses in the box, we caused them problems throughout the whole game and on another night, we could have gone ahead early on. It was a great point.

"We knew Hibs have a bad record of losing goals just before half time, we mentioned that to the players.

"The goal was the difference between us getting a point and not and getting confidence in the players to say we are very much in this game."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

With Falkirk facing a quickfire double-header against Hibs and Hearts this week, it will be interesting to see how John McGlynn makes use of our squad.

The Bairns boss has largely stuck with the tried and tested over the first month of the season, but most supporters are expecting to see some tweaks in the wake of our 2-1 defeat to St Mirren a fortnight ago.

Lewis Neilson will be ineligible to face his parent club this weekend, so that will force a change at the heart of our defence, while Brian Graham is pushing for a recall against Hibs on Tuesday night after coming off the bench to bag a goal against St Mirren.

The striking dilemma McGlynn is faced with is perhaps the most intriguing one. An injury around about this time last year disrupted Ross MacIver's involvement in our title-winning campaign, however he has looked back to his best during the early weeks of this season.

MacIver is a tireless nuisance to opposition defences, willing to do the dirty work as well as chipping in with the odd goal.

Graham, on the other hand, is the more natural goalscorer of the two, demonstrating throughout his career that he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

And let's not forget highly-rated Sunderland loanee Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi could also add to the striking conundrum facing the Falkirk manager moving forward.

It's a good problem to have and one that McGlynn will likely weigh up on a game-by-game basis.

• Falkirk are winless in their past 10 top-flight meetings with Hibs (D4 L6), with this their first since a 3-1 defeat in March 2010. Their last win over Hibs at this level was in December 2006 (2-1).

• Hibs have won their past two league meetings with newly-promoted opposition, last winning three in a row in the top flight in October 2012.

• Falkirk's Scottish Premiership games this season have included 96 shots (51 for, 45 faced), the joint-fewest of any side in the division (level with Aberdeen).

• Hibs have drawn five of their past six league games (W1), as many as their previous 22 beforehand (W14 D5 L3). Hibs could draw four successive top-flight matches for the first time since October 2019, when Paul Heckingbottom drew his last five league games in charge.

• Since the start of May, 11 of Hibs' 16 league goals have been scored in the first 45 minutes, the most first-half goals of any Scottish Premiership side in this time. Falkirk, meanwhile, have scored all five of their league goals this season in second halves.

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Falkirk welcome back Tom Lang, Barney Stewart and Finn Yeats to their squad for Tuesday's Scottish Premiership match against Hibernian.

However, Coll Donaldson, Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon and Kyrell Wilson remain out.

Hibs have no fresh injuries.

Alasana Manneh and Joe Newell are still unavailable.

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Falkirk midfielder Dylan Tait has a "point to prove" in Tuesday's Premiership match against former club Hibs.

He played just 13 minutes of first-team football during three years at Easter Road after signing in August 2021.

Tait, 23, was loaned back to Raith Rovers and also had temporary spells at Kilmarnock, Arbroath, Hamilton and Falkirk, before joining the Bairns permanently in summer 2024.

Successive titles followed under manager John McGlynn as Tait made his way back to the top flight.

"Obviously it was a bit disappointing because when I signed there I had expectations to go and do well," Tait said, reflecting on his time with Hibs.

"When I was at Hibs there was a lot of change. I had five managers in two years so I didn't really get that consistency.

"It's just one of these things in football,, sometimes you need to take a step back down to get going again. That's what I'm doing at the moment.

"Obviously, playing against your old club, there's a wee point to prove that I can play at this level and I didn't quite get that opportunity when I was there."

Tait, who has five goals in all competitions this season, said: "Obviously when I moved here it was my intention to try and play in the Premiership but I had to go a longer route. Now I'm here, I appreciate it a lot.

"It's down to the manager that's given me the opportunity to come play at this level and I just want to repay him.

"Obviously I worked with the manager when I was younger and I just really enjoy working with him and Smudger (Paul Smith). They get the best out of me. They let me play my football and give me a freedom in the game. Right now it's paying off."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

Last season Brad Spencer scored eight goals and set up a further three as he played a crucial role in helping Falkirk end their 15-year absence from the top flight.

And the midfielder could be crucial this season in keeping them in the Premiership.

With four points from four games, it's been a decent start to life among the big boys for John McGlynn's side.

And Spencer is taking the step up to his first taste of top-flight football in his stride.

His 258 passes are the most of any Falkirk player and in the top 11 in the Premiership in total. No one in the Falkirk side has bettered Spencer's 207 successful passes while his passing accuracy of just over 80% is among the highest in the team.

He's had 340 touches, the most of any player in the team. Seven of those have come in the opposition box with an average of just under two per 90.

Although Spencer has only directly set up one goal, across his four appearances he has played 48 passes into the final third - only five players in the Premiership have more.

Spencer has also created eight chances, the highest of any player at Falkirk and fourth best in the Premiership.

The 29-year-old has created five chances from open play, the highest in the side, three chances from set-plays and two big chances overall for Falkirk.

While yet to open his account, Spencer has not been afraid to have a pop at goal, taking six shots and putting three on target.

Defensively he's looked solid too having won 25 duels, seven aerial duels and has made 14 recoveries.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Defeat at home to St Mirren felt like our first harsh lesson since returning to the top flight.

While we held our own for the most part before being undone by fine margins in the second half, St Mirren were the smarter team on the day.

Stephen Robinson's side managed to keep our most creative players at bay, and ultimately demonstrated what it takes to grind out wins in the top tier.

To be fair, that is something the Saints have long been accustomed to doing at this level, whereas John McGlynn and his players are still acclimatising to their new surroundings.

Now, this is not to say I think Falkirk should sacrifice the aesthetically-pleasing brand of football that has brought them this far. Far from it. However, we do need to show a shrewder side in games to be on a par with our opposition.

McGlynn said as much post-match when asked about the decisive goal: "We maybe lacked a little bit of experience in that sense - St Mirren would never concede that second goal up their end."

While there are no hard and fast rules for how to survive in the Scottish Premiership, Saturday's defeat showed we may have to become more streetwise to give ourselves the best possible chance of survival.

Watch all the highlights as St Mirren avoided a late scare to beat Falkirk 2-1 in the Scottish Premiership.