Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Falkirk fought back to snatch a point against Dundee United in their first Premiership match, and they have one play in my team of the week.
Composure and leadership again from the impressive skipper Brad Spencer as Falkirk made their return to the top flight. Also bagged an assist.
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
It would be fair to say that the last few years have been nothing short of a roller coaster for everyone connected with Falkirk.
If Sunday's 2-2 draw with Dundee United is going to be the template for life back in the top-flight, then the Bairns faithful should strap themselves in for another thrilling ride.
"People want to come and be entertained. That was entertainment. That was definitely entertainment," said Falkirk boss John McGlynn following the Bairns' barnstorming draw with United - and you best believe there will be plenty more fireworks to come at the Falkirk Stadium.
Falkirk approached their first top-flight fixture since 2010 without any fear - and they will continue to do so against the rest of the division in the weeks and months ahead.
There was so much to admire about the team's attacking style and willingness to go after the Terrors, but there was also a defensive naivety which McGlynn must work on given the challenges that lie in wait.
The Bairns' bold approach is likely to produce more bad days among the good at the top tier of Scottish football, but it is going to be fun as long as it lasts.
Image source, SNSFalkirk's Keelan Adams made his Scottish Premiership debut this weekend, completing a whirlwind journey from Cumbernauld Colts.
Adams played an important role in the opener and then assisted Ethan Ross for the Bairns' second on their top-flight return after 15 years.
"I think it was exciting, especially at the end, it was a bit end-to-end," the 23-year-old told BBC Scotland.
"I think maybe the draw was deserved, maybe we had the edge. But I thought it was good.
"That's part of my game, just trying to get up, create goals, then try and nip in with goals as well, but yeah, I'll go up and down that flank all day if I can."
Falkirk signed Adams in early 2024 from Cumbernauld Colts, before finishing the 2023/24 season on loan at the club.
He also put a law degree on hold to continue playing football, a decision he says was the right one.
"It was a bit surreal," Adams said on making his top-flight debut just over a year after he played for the Colts.
"It didn't really hit me until probably this week on our day off.
"But yeah, just trying to take it in my stride and take game by game and just keep focusing on myself.
"100% right [to put degree on hold], how times change, eh?"
Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Falkirk's Premiership potential following their 2-2 draw against Dundee United.
We asked for your views on Falkirk's 2-2 draw against Dundee United.
Here's what some of you said:
Fraser: We were the better team for the vast majority of the game. Sloppy passing and touches will have cost us on another day. It's good to be back where we belong. We will be no pushovers in this league that's for sure!
John: Lessons learned I hope, two goals lost through lack of concentration. We scored two good goals to equalise twice. Dundee United a physical team maybe we need to toughen up. Having said all that, a great performance in the heat.
Nathan: All in all a great advert for Scottish football I think but from our perspective I thought we were the better team. Now it's time to work on the point gained, a more clinical edge in front of goal and maybe we could've gone back home with three points.
Stuart: Point a piece a fair result. Disappointed in the two goals we conceded but we kept going and played some decent stuff in what was a good game of football.
Watch highlights from Falkirk's 2-2 draw with Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.
Falkirk marked their return to Scotland's top flight with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Dundee United.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "I'm very proud of the players for being able to compete and go toe-to-toe with a team that finished fourth last season," McGlynn said.
"We had a lot of players that looked Premiership level.
"You could see the appreciation of the fans at the end of the game.
"We will learn from certain aspects of the game."
Image source, SNSManager 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."
Image source, SNSFalkirk 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.
Image source, SNSJohn 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."
Image source, SNSFalkirk 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.
Image source, SNSJohn McGlynn's side being their Premiership campaign on Sunday 3 August
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."
Image source, SNSCeltic 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!
Image source, SNSAfter 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.
Image source, SNSJohn 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."
