Falkirk

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Goalkeeper Scott Bain is flourishing for Falkirk this season - but admits his "dream" of making Scotland's World Cup squad is never far from his thoughts.

Bain, who won the last of his three caps in 2019, earned a squad recall from Steve Clarke for the final two qualifiers against Greece and Denmark last November as Scotland secured a place at this summer's North America extravaganza.

Clarke will soon name his squad for friendly matches with Japan (28 March) and Ivory Coast (31 March).

"I'm really hopeful," Bain said before Falkirk's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee United on Friday, which is live on BBC Scotland.

"I've really been working from the last squad to this squad to try and make sure that I can get in there and we'll see if I've managed to do enough.

"My hope was going in the last squad to really give a good account of myself to the manager and to the staff and show my qualities when I was away.

"I hope with that and the games between then and now that my performances have been good enough to make myself back into the squad."

As well as the Bairns' Scottish Cup ambitions, Bain is also part of Falkirk's push for a top-six finish in their first season back in the Premiership.

"I mean, it's always there in the back of your mind but like I say, I just need to focus here," he added.

"If I do manage to go away with Scotland in the next camp, give myself the best platform to give myself the best chance to be on that plane, it would be a dream, yeah, of course."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Before a ball was kicked last summer, I doubt even the most optimistic of Falkirk fans would have predicted we would be mathematically safe from automatic relegation by the beginning of March.

Yet that is exactly what we have achieved following our stunning 5‑1 victory over Kilmarnock.

Understandably, we were among the bookies' and many pundits' favourites for a quick return to the Championship, but the truth is a relegation battle has never been on the radar this season.

To reach this stage playing the way we have, and to be in a strong spot for a top-six finish, makes it even more remarkable - especially since seven of Saturday's starting XI were with us in League One just a couple of seasons back.

What made Saturday's victory arguably our most impressive of the season so far was we could easily have racked up even more goals – something even Killie boss Neil McCann alluded to.

It also reaffirmed this squad's resilience. After losing our two previous matches, bouncing back in such emphatic fashion means we have reached this stage of the season without suffering three defeats in a row - something else that would have been hard to envisage prior to our return to the top flight after a 15-year absence, particularly with an inexperienced squad shaped by a slow summer transfer window.

It all bodes well for a thrilling end to the season across the division and sets us up nicely for Friday night's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee United, with a trip to Hampden firmly in sight.

A trio of Motherwell stars, duos from Hearts and Falkirk, and one each from Rangers, Celtic, Hibs and Dundee.

Jonathan Sutherland has picked his team of the week, so let's take a look and see who impressed...

Calum Ward - Motherwell

A key part of the Motherwell success story at the back. Yet another clean sheet.

Harry Milne - Hearts

Mr Versatile and Mr Reliable all rolled into one. Another team of the week appearance for Milne. Taking the liberty of forcing this auxiliary dynamo into right-back here.

Luke Graham - Dundee

A goal and an assist from the highly promising Dundee defender. His finish for the Dark Blues was like that of a striker.

Kieran Tierney - Celtic

Huge goal at a huge time in the Old Firm Derby. The Scotland international has quietly been a big player for Celtic over the past few weeks and will no doubt be a big leader for this side in the finale of this incredible season.

Nicky Cadden - Hibernian

There is almost laser precision to his deliveries from the left-hand side. His assist for Owen Elding's header was a perfect example, knowing exactly where to put the ball to elude the defence and allow the striker the best chance to finish.

Elliott Watt - Motherwell

The Motherwell orchestrator has been a key part of the Fir Park ensemble, which continues to hit all the right notes.

The ominous thing for Hearts, Rangers and Celtic is there appears to be no reason why Motherwell cannot keep on winning.

Watt is a central cog in that winning machine. An assist for Tawanda Maswanhise's second.

Dylan Tait - Falkirk

Two goals and so much to enjoy from the Falkirk midfielder. Part of a group completely in sync with each other, and loving life under John McGlynn in the top flight.

Claudio Braga - Hearts

Has led from the front in the absence of Lawrence Shankland and always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

The personification of Hearts this season, plucked by analytics from the relative obscurity of the Norwegian second division to spearheading a title charge threatening to destroy 40 years of Old Firm dominance.

Barney Stewart - Falkirk

Another barnstorming weekend for young Barney Stewart. The Grangemouth Harry Kane was on fire against Kilmarnock and was unlucky not to claim another hat-trick.

The story of the university lad now playing Premiership football has been well told, but it's now moved on to just how quickly he has developed into one of the most exciting strikers in the league.

The only thing missing from the McGlynn Falkirk success story was a goal-getting number nine. They have certainly found him.

Youssef Chermiti - Rangers

Talk about a big game player.

Looks decidedly pedestrian at times in more run-of-the-mill fixtures, but when it slams to the big matches against the big teams the 21-year-old has been the man to deliver. And in spectacular style.

His first goal was Scott McTominay-esque, an iconic Old Firm moment. His second was pure gallus opportunism full of ingenuity and initiative.

Tawanda Maswanhise - Motherwell

Another two goals for the jewel in the crown of the Motherwell story. The top scorer in the Premiership, if Maswanhise can stay fit and keep this form going the Steelmen really do have a shot at glory.

Their combination of goals and clean sheets is quite incredible. What an extra dimension Motherwell and Maswanhise have brought to this quite sensational season.

Watch Sportscene pundit Richard Foster discuss Barney Stewart's influence in the Falkirk side.

The striker made it five goals in 10 games with a double against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Watch all the action as Falkirk enjoy a comfortable Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock.

We asked for your views on Falkirk's 5-1 win against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

John: What to say? The team just gets better and more resilient. As a Bairns supporter of many years - 66 to be exact - keep this up guys, love it when us smaller teams take on the bigger fish. Well done to all.

Kevin: Absolutely first-class performance from every player. I still can't believe where Falkirk are sitting in the league right now. I, for one, as a Bairns fan myself have followed them for years and this is one of the best Falkirk teams I've seen since Simon Stainrod and super Sammy McGivern!

Looking forward to next week's Scottish Cup tie against Dundee United. I honestly think we've got a very good chance of lifting the Cup this year and we really do deserve to.

Parker: It was a masterclass from Falkirk. Dylan Tait's second goal was brilliant.

Tommy: I just like the attitude and awareness of Barney Stewart, he reminds me of Joe Jordan. The Falkirk players have the togetherness to keep going, there's more chance of Hearts losing the league than Falkirk not making the top-six. I'll say they'll finish fifth.

Barry: Falkirk played through Kilmarnock time and time again. It felt everything in the first was going to come to fruition. Were Falkirk that good or Kilmarnock just terrible? I'm going to say the former.

Paul: Our rise up the leagues the last three years has been truly remarkable. The team play football the right way and our loan signings from some of English academies have made a real difference. Although I am often told never fall in love with a loan player, I am smitten by Filip Lissah, Ben Broggio, Louie Marsh and Kyrell Wilson.

Scintillating Falkirk all but secured a top-six berth in the Scottish Premiership by thrashing woeful Kilmarnock, who remain firmly in relegation danger.

Just how good were John McGlynn's men? Can you secure European football this season?

Have your say.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "It was a great start, we came out of the blocks flying. It's an own goal, but Calvin Miller's produced a bit of magic, and we build on it.

"We scored a goal we didn't get, then Barney wins a header at the front post, Dylan puts it in, then we get the third goal and we're cruising.

"Fair play to Killie they get a goal back and it's game on but then we score early in the second half and add to it.

"It's definitely up there with one of our best of the season. Great to bounce back from defeat by Hearts last week.

"The guys answered me today - they've run and run and run. There was a great tempo about the game and great entertainment for the fans.

"You can hear they're enjoying their football."

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Falkirk defenders Liam Henderson and Lewis Neilson return but Louie Marsh faces up to eight weeks out with a thigh injury and Kyrell Wilson misses out with an ankle problem.

Ben Parkinson (ankle) remains sidelined, while Ross MacIver and Gary Oliver are still working their way back.

Kilmarnock striker Tyreece John-Jules is out for the rest of the season with a quad injury, while Jack Thomson is suspended.

Kyle Magennis is back training after recovering from a knee problem but is not ready to play. Djenairo Daniels (knee), Matty Kennedy (hip) and Lewis Mayo (hamstring) remain out.

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Keelan Adams is hopeful back-to-back Premiership defeats against Dundee United and Hearts can give Falkirk the "mini reset" they need to push on for a top-six finish as they prepare for their visit to Kilmarnock on Saturday.

John McGlynn's side sit sixth in the table, nine points ahead of United and 10 clear of Aberdeen, having played one more game, with just five fixtures remaining before the split.

"Yeah, we said it's a mini reset for us," said defender Adams.

"Since the new year we've been really good, gone on a really good run both in the league and in the Scottish Cup.

"These last two games have brought us back down to reality and we know that.

"Just reset, take a breath and we kick on again for the last bit of the season.

"We're on 39 points and John McGlynn, our gaffer, said he wanted to reach 45 after first the three round of fixtures.

"I think we enjoyed the challenge of that. The whole group's really ambitious so we enjoyed that and relished it.

"Six more points is the aim and we'll see where that takes us.

"Obviously we've got a bit of a gap between the clubs below but we still need to beat them and that starts on Saturday with Killie because they're in a wee bit of a good run of form I guess.

"They've picked up results and points and performances so it'll be tough and we need to do the job."

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• Falkirk have won both of their Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock this season; the last opponent against which they won three games within a single top-flight campaign were Inverness CT in 2007-08.

• Kilmarnock have won just two of their past 23 away games against newly-promoted opponents in the top flight (D13 L8), both coming against St Mirren in 2018-19.

• Falkirk have lost their past two league games, last losing three in a row in the top flight in March 2010.

• Kilmarnock are winless in 11 away league games (D4 L7), last going longer on their travels without winning in the Scottish Premiership from August 2022 to April 2023 (16).

• Nineteen-year-old Ben Broggio has scored in both of his home Scottish Premiership games for Falkirk. The last player to net in his first three home appearances in the Scottish top flight was Mika Biereth for Motherwell in November 2023, while the last teenager to achieve this feat was James Forrest for Celtic in September 2010.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn admits victory this weekend over Kilmarnock "would go a long way" to clinching an unlikely top-six finish.

The Bairns have been one of the feelgood stories of the season, confounding expectations for a newly-promoted side.

With just five matches remaining before the split, they sit sixth - nine points head of Dundee United and 10 points clear of Aberdeen, albeit having played a game more than the pair of chasers.

"It would go a long way," said McGlynn of a potential victory. "It's up to us to do our bit of that, obviously.

"The bookies would certainly have Hearts favourites to beat Aberdeen and probably Motherwell to beat Dundee United. But we can do our bit, which is the most important thing for us.

"We've got control over our game. It's up to us to do the best we can and beat a Kilmarnock team who've got a lift and fighting for their lives.

"We recognise that for sure. But if we were to [win], and the other results were going for us, it would be 12 points clear.

"Aberdeen have got Celtic to play and Dundee United are playing Tuesday night against St Mirren, who again are fighting for their lives."

"We're all involved with either these teams at the bottom who are wanting to get away from the bottom or you're looking at playing the teams at the top end who are trying to win a league. Anything can happen."

On the injury front, McGlynn was forced to deal with some bad news after on-loan Sheffield United forward Louie Marsh was ruled out for six to eight weeks with a thigh problem.

"He's going to go back to Sheffield United now and do his rehabilitation there," said McGlynn.

"He might get back for the latter stages of the league, but it is a blow because he started here very, very well.

"With Ben Parkinson being out, it means two of the newest players that we brought in are now not available.

"Everyone seems to have their troubles with regards to injuries and we have them as well. Kyrell [Wilson] went off with an ankle injury and he's going to miss this weekend's game.

"On top of that, Ross MacIver, who knows? He's away to get another scan. Scan upon scan upon scan.

"Gary [Oliver], we are a little bit more positive in that he's heading in the right direction but he's unavailable still."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

It says a lot about how far we've come that we left Tynecastle on Saturday feeling disappointed not to take anything from the game.

For long spells we more than held our own, and had our decision-making in the final third been sharper, we might well have come away with a point - one it could be argued we deserved.

Now, though, the focus shifts to what feels like another pivotal spell in the season.

Our next three league fixtures all come against sides currently sitting below us in the table.

None of them will be straightforward, but if we're serious about cementing a top-six place, these are the games where points are essential.

That becomes even more significant when you consider that our final two pre-split matches are against Motherwell and Rangers.

There's also the not so small matter of a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Dundee United looming, offering a huge opportunity to book a place at Hampden and to reach the semi-finals.

We may have taken nothing from our last two league outings, but the performances themselves offer little cause for concern.

This squad has shown time and again - not just this season, but throughout John McGlynn's tenure - that it can respond to setbacks. The challenge now is to do exactly that, at a time when it matters most.

Watch the best of the action from Tynecastle as Islam Chesnokov's first Hearts goal earns victory over Falkirk. (Available to UK users only)

Hearts got back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership title race, overcoming Falkirk with a narrow victory at Tynecastle thanks to Islam Chesnokov's first goal for the club.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "I'm frustrated by our performance, I don't think we were at our best.

"I do take into consideration we're away to the league leaders who are looking to bounce back from a defeat last week and giving it everything, but we felt we could come and we put up a fight.

"A bit naivety, a bit of frustration that we didn't take more responsibility in the final third of the pitch, particularly in the first half, but not exclusively.

"The timing [of the Hearts goal] was bad game management from our point of view, we lose a goal virtually right on half time. Getting to half-time at 0-0, all the pressure's on Hearts then.

"In the second half, we've not done enough, we've not created enough, that's the frustration. Barney [Stewart] has had a couple of opportunities that he should've done better with, he should've taken responsibility.

"We passed the buck, didn't take the responsibility to shoot, and Barney had another chance with a header that put us over the bar, which could have changed things.

"I'm not hanging these guys out to dry, absolutely not. They've been doing amazingly well, but they have come a long way in a very short period of time

"We've six games to go to the split, and we're in the mix, and we're competing with a club like Hearts, who are going for the league title.

"We've done amazingly well, and going away a little bit disappointed, and it speaks volumes for how far we've come in a very short period of time."

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Willie Collum has backed match officials in the latest Scottish Football VAR Review Show in the wake of criticism of dismissals for denying obvious goalscoring opportunities.

The Scottish Football Association head of referees thinks it was correct to upgrade yellow cards for Celtic defender Auston Trusty and Falkirk centre-back Liam Henderson.

Dundee United's Iurie Iovu and Motherwell pair Oscar Priestman Liam Gordon were sent off this week for similar offences after the show was filmed.

Trusty was sent off in a 2-2 draw at Hearts for a foul on Pierre-Landry Kabore, having been in a "fairly central" position, according to referee Steven McLean, while Lewis Neilson was deemed too far away to catch Dundee United forward Max Watters, who was brought down near halfway by Henderson.

Collum felt the consistency in the Trusty and Henderson decisions was correct but also backed the decision not to issue the same punishment to Rangers captain James Tavernier, who was on a booking when he tangled with Kilmarnock striker Tyreece John-Jules.

Referee David Dickinson said there was "minimal contact" in the immediate aftermath and the VAR team did not intervene.

"What I would say is different from the previous clip (Trusty against Hearts) is the ball is in the air," said Collum. "There really is quite a bit of debate about whether the Kilmarnock player would have reached the ball before it went through to the goalkeeper.

"What I will say is the KMI panel felt unanimously that this was a foul and this would have been a second yellow card for James Tavernier. What we don't have here is an opportunity for VAR to be involved there because it's not a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity."

Collum supported officials in every other incident shown, including red cards for St Mirren attacker Jake Young and Dundee United winger Amar Fatah.

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Hearts will be without Oisin McEntee (shoulder), Stephen Kingsley (calf), Cammy Devlin (ankle), Lawrence Shankland, Calem Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock (all hamstring).

Falkirk lose the suspended Liam Henderson and on-loan Hearts player Lewis Neilson from their central defence, but Connor Allan should shrug off a head wound and Ethan Williams is back. Ben Parkinson (ankle) remains out, while Ross MacIver and Gary Oliver are still working their way back.

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Falkirk have announced that club captain Coll Donaldson has signed a new one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027 at least, with the option of another year.

Donaldson has been at the club since 2022 and was manager John McGlynn's second signing. He's since made 116 appearances for the Bairns but has suffered injury problems in recent seasons.

A groin injury ruled him out of the first half of the season but he's been back in action this month and looking forward to enjoying Premiership football.

"I'm over the moon, "Donaldson told the club website. "Everyone wanted this deal so it was a straightforward process. I feel grateful to the manager who's shown me so much support, as has everyone around the club. It's a tight knit group here and that helps a lot.

"I'll stay here as log as possible, I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Nobody thought in their wildest dreams a few years ago that we'd be top six in the Premiership now. This season I've mostly been a spectator but I'm looking to end the season on a high. I'm delighted today. It's a really good moment for me."

McGlynn welcomed the news and said Donaldson was now fully fit and could show his value again.

"It's very good to get this done," the manager said. "We never really fall asleep at the wheel and we're always looking to extend and obviously bring in new players when the time is right.

"We have a number of contracts on the table for a few players right now, and we're delighted to get Coll extended.

"He's our club captain, even when he's not been playing, he's done a great job off the pitch and that's important as well.

"It's about security for him, and he can now go out enjoy the rest of the season.

"We're in a very good place, he's got a big part to play in it, and it's very much over to Coll"