Falkirk

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• Both league matches between Falkirk and Dundee this season have been home wins, with the Bairns notching their first victory of the campaign by beating Steven Pressley's side 2-1 in October.

• Dundee have won three of their past five Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted opponents (D1 L1), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W3 D5 L8).

• Falkirk have won five of their past eight league games (L3), as many as their first 17 of the season beforehand (W5 D6 L6).

• Only Livingston (zero) have fewer away wins in the Premiership this season than Dundee (one), who have scored just five goals on the road this term, the fewest of any side.

• Dundee's Ethan Hamilton has had more shots without scoring than any player in the Scottish Premiership this season (38). Thirty of those shots have been from outside the box, with his expected goals tally at just 1.42 (0.037 xG per shot).

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Falkirk midfielder Brad Spencer (ankle) is a doubt and Kyrell Wilson (calf) drops out but Liam Henderson will be available after recovering from a calf injury.

Ben Parkinson (ankle) and Ethan Williams (thigh) remain out.

Dundee could hand a debut to Lewis Montsma. They remain without centre-backs Billy Koumetio (knee) and Clark Robertson (thigh) plus forwards Joe Westley (ankle) and Ashley Hay (broken toe).

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn believes his high-flying side are close to guaranteeing Premiership survival but admits he has ambitions for something far better than just avoiding the drop.

Last season's Championship winners have impressed on their return to the top flight and have already racked up 36 points and sit in sixth place.

Though in a strong position for a top-six finish, McGlynn immediate concern is with securing a place in the league and he believes victory at home against Dundee on Wednesday night would all but guarantee that.

"Yeah, with 39 points, we would be very close," he said. "Two home games coming up against both Dundee teams.

"We would like to get that marker that we set, get to that 40-point mark as quick as we can."

As well as targeting a place in the top half of the Premiership after the split, the Bairns still have Scottish Cup dreams, having been drawn to face Dundee United or Spartans in the quarter-finals.

The manager says there's a real possibility to do something remarkable and build on two memorable seasons and constant improvement.

"We've got to be motivated and we've got to put this across to the players that this could be an absolute special season," McGlynn said.

"That's what we are saying as well, without getting carried away.

"We've been on a upward trajectory as far I'm concerned, from the minute we've come in, we've been continually getting better and better and growing and growing.

"You've got to have ambition and that's what drives me in particular, the ambition.

"Not getting paid a fortune but the ambition to achieve and try to create records all the time, which we've done, with the Invincible season [unbeaten when winning League One in 2024], so many games unbeaten, and probably the highest position in the Premiership for a long, long time.

"So, yeah, we want to continue. A cup run is fantastic. We've got ourselves into the quarter-finals.

"You're never going to get an easy game at the quarter-final stage, but we're at home. It's a 50/50. It could be an amazing season."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

The Bairns have rightly received plenty of plaudits for their brand of attacking football this season, but in recent weeks we have seen another side to this team that is every bit as encouraging - even if it hasn't always been easy on the eye.

Last Wednesday night's 2-1 win away to Livingston was a perfect example. It's a venue that has caused us no end of problems over the years, and one where past Falkirk sides may well have faltered.

In truth, the game should have been far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, but the key takeaway was we dug in, weathered the storm, and came away with all three points.

In previous seasons - particularly during last year's title race - that simply didn't happen against Livingston.

Sunday's Scottish Cup tie away to Stenhousemuir followed a similar script. While it looked like a favourable draw on paper, history told us it would be anything but straightforward.

As the clock ticked towards a penalty shootout at Ochilview, many supporters (myself included) were beginning to fear the worst.

This Bairns side, however, is built differently. There was a calm determination and persistence on show - qualities that allowed us to grind out a hard-fought win on a night where very little clicked.

Winning ugly isn't glamorous, but it's a trait shared by successful teams. The fact we can now combine our attacking identity with the ability to scrap and dig out results bodes extremely well for the remainder of the season.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn has dismissed a claim that Celtic were interested in Calvin Miller on transfer deadline day, insisting they received no contact from the 28-year-old wide man's former club last month. (Glasgow Times), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

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For fans of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Falkirk, Motherwell, and St Mirren, the Scottish Cup draw went about as well as it could have done.

They all avoided the Old Firm at the quarter-final stage and, while games against Falkirk and Motherwell have been no easy feat this season, there is a real sense it could be anyone's year.

For fans of Rangers or Celtic, who face each other at Ibrox in the next round, a route to glory is also clear. Beat your biggest rivals in a one-off game, and you become favourites for the Cup.

"What I'm so excited about is the fact any Premiership team can win it," said Craig Telfer, podcast host and Stenhousemuir fan.

While his beloved Stenny side were beaten by their local rivals on Sunday night, he admitted: "Falkirk could actually see themselves winning. Aberdeen or Motherwell, whoever comes out that, can see themselves winning it.

"You've got a Celtic team that aren't particularly good, and while Rangers are getting better, they can be got at. This is wide open for any Premiership team to go and win it."

Dundee United have beaten Celtic this season, as have Motherwell, while St Mirren famously triumphed against them at Hampden in the League Cup final.

St Mirren and Motherwell have also taken points off Rangers, as have Falkirk and Dundee United.

It is only Aberdeen who have been beaten by the Old Firm at every opportunity, but memories of last year's Cup triumph over Celtic will spur them on.

"[As a non-Old Firm fan] you always want to see Rangers and Celtic drawing with each other as early as possible in the competition to knock them out," Telfer added.

"Once they're out, or it's just one of the Old Firm teams in there, every other team should be looking to win it."

Of course, Aberdeen and Motherwell are yet to meet after their fifth round tie was postponed, while Dundee United still have to avoid an upset against The Spartans.

And don't rule out Neil Lennon, who has won this competition eight times throughout his playing and managerial career, and his Dunfermline side.

• Craig Telfer was speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, available here.

Falkirk continued their impressive campaign by making it to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals after an extra-time win over local rivals Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "Bit of quality in the final third would have helped make it a bit quicker. We didn't really want to go through an extra 30 minutes, when we've got a big game on Wednesday night, but that's what it took.

"It was all about getting the first goal, but it took us too long to get it to be honest.

"Loads of effort and commitment, but not enough quality in front of goal. Credit to the Stenhousemuir defenders, who defended well and stopped crosses. I'm just delighted to be through.

"Delighted we've got a home draw, we've been away the last two rounds. When you get to the quarter-finals, there's not going to be any easy games.

"We made it hard for ourselves. If we'd got the first goal earlier, maybe we'd have relaxed a bit, had a bit more composure in front of goal. It just took us too long. We had a great start and could have gone ahead early, but they made it difficult.

"They're up there in League One, used to winning games, and they have a good home record. You have to take these things into consideration.

"When you go and watch Barney [Stewart] playing for Heriot Watt University just over a year ago, you couldn't imagine him doing this, and in the Premiership. It's not easy to go and score a hat-trick against Hibs.

"There's no holding this boy back. He's got so much improvement to come. He's a player.

"We got tipped off, he was scoring a lot of goals. We went along and had a look. The raw materials were there, he's big and physical and awkward to play against, a real handful. We took a chance, it was a shot to nothing but it's going to pay off."

• St Mirren v Partick Thistle

• Falkirk v Dundee United or Spartans

• Rangers v Celtic

• Dunfermline Athletic v Aberdeen or Motherwell

All four last-eight ties are scheduled to be played on weekend of 7 March.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn has been speaking to the media before the Scottish Cup fifth-round tie with Stenhousemuir on Sunday (live on BBC Scotland).

Here are the key lines:

• McGlynn believes counterpart Gary Naysmith has done a "very good job" at rivals Stenhousemuir, who are top of League One in competition with full-time teams, and says promotion to the Championship would be "amazing".

• The manager admits "the fact it's a derby game certainly does make it bigger, and the fact it's a Scottish Cup tie makes it a potential banana skin" and adds "anything could happen".

• He says Stenhousemuir's last cup result - a 4-0 win against Championship Morton - shows they "can rise to the occasion and they're no mugs".

• McGlynn isn't worried about Falkirk being big favourites as they have experience of it in League One and in the Championship last season.

• On team news: "One or two wee knocks and bruises, not quite sure we'll have everyone who played the other night." Ben Parkinson, Ross MacIver, Ethan Williams and Gary Oliver all remain out.

• McGlynn admits this busy period "will test the squad" but highlights how well individuals have stepped up, singling out striker Barney Stewart.

• McGlynn revealed his message to the players is "you're two games away from Hampden" and if they get to the latter stages of the cup, it could be "an absolutely amazing season".

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Few will give Stenhousemuir much of a chance of upsetting Falkirk on Sunday evening and manager Gary Naismith, who won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998, says his sole concern is on the League One side's performance.

"The only thing you can focus on as a manager or a player is giving the best version of yourself," he said.

"If we do that, that's all I can ask. It's disappointing when you go into a big tie and don't perform to the level you know you're capable of. We could play at our absolute best and it still might not be enough.

"I've never been involved in a Sunday evening kick-off at 7.30pm, so it's a first for me. I think it adds to the occasion, it's a local derby, the cameras are here.

"We're going to have a capacity crowd, which is brilliant for the club and the fans. But it'll only be great for me and the players if we give a good account of ourselves."

Naysmith crossed paths with Falkirk boss John McGlynn early in his career, having been a youth player at Hearts when McGlynn began coaching under Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown.

"It was a long time ago," Naysmith said. "I remember John popping in when we were sorting the training kit.

"He's worked his way up the ladder and he's not scared of hard work. He's very thorough and he's got his team playing a lovely style of football.

"They're nice to watch. Against Livingston in the first half they were excellent, they could have been four or five up by half-time."

Sportscene pundit Scott Allan backs Falkirk for a top-half Premiership finish this season and praises the job of John McGlynn after the sixth-place Bairns beat Livingston 2-1.

We asked for your thoughts after Falkirk beat Livingston 2-1 at Almondvale to strengthen their bid for a top-six finish.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Nathan: Finally getting a result over Livi is the positive we need to take from this game and I thought we were excellent in the first half and gave ourselves plenty of chances to maybe get more than just the two goals. In the second half we made it as hard as we possibly could after Livi scored from a referee somehow failing to stop the game for a head knock, but in the end we've got the points. Now we need to take this result and push onwards.

Iain: If anyone told me we'd be in this position at the start of the season I'd have laughed. The way we've been playing I'll be devastated if we don't secure top six. Should have been done and dusted in the first half, but three points and up the road. Livi might be a decent team if they stopped diving and throwing hammers around. Delighted.

Dan: Great first-half performance and should have scored more. Nervy start to second half then chances to kill the game not taken. Good to see the game out and get three well-deserved points.

Watch Falkirk inflict more pressure on struggling Livingston with a 2-1 win at Almondvale in Marvin Bartley's first game as boss. (Available to UK users only)

Falkirk's impressive first half performance saw them establish a two-goal lead and despite pulling a goal back after the break, Livingston's long winless run continues.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn told BBC Scotland: "I think in the second half we made it hard for ourselves. I think in the first half we played extremely well.

"We scored a really good goal, had another one ruled out for offside, and then got that two-goal cushion.

"We were delighted at half-time and asked for more of the same. Fair play to Livingston, they got that goal back early in the second half, which was a huge boost for them to get back into it so early. And then we just have to make sure we hang on and win the game, which we eventually did.

"It was a bit nerve-wracking and we made it a bit more difficult for ourselves than it needed to be. We had chances to kill it off, hit the post, and there were other shots.

"So numerous chances but Livingston were always a threat with long throws and set plays, which we knew they were going to be and we would have to defend. That's how we lose our goal and of course had to defend various set pieces, which we did.

"We've not got the greatest record here so it is all about winning. It was a bit more stressful than it needed to be. But credit to Livingston for having a better second half performance.

"The fans were magnificent. We're taking big numbers everywhere we go so credit to them. We needed them to help us get over the line and they helped us no end."

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• Livingston have only won one of their six previous top-flight meetings with Falkirk (D2 L3), though that was their first league win of this season, a 3-1 home victory back in August.

• Only one of the last six Scottish Premiership matches between two newly promoted clubs has been won by the home side (two draws, three away wins), although that was Livingston's 3-1 win over Falkirk in August this season.

• Livingston are winless in their last 15 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Scottish Premiership (D6 L9) since a 2-1 victory over Aberdeen in November 2022.

• Falkirk have failed to win all four of their midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games this season (D2 L2), and are winless in seven midweek matches in the top-flight overall (D4 L3) since a 1-0 victory at Aberdeen in February 2010.

• Livingston have won five of their last seven Scottish Premiership games at home to newly promoted opponents (L2), including a 3-1 win over Falkirk earlier this season.

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Falkirk's new signing Ben Broggio has revealed he was sold on a move to the Premiership after talking to Scotland star John McGinn.

The Aston Villa teenager is an FA Youth Cup winner and has been on the bench for the Villans three times but hasn't yet made his debut for the Premier League club.

He now has the opportunity to develop at Falkirk as he aims to help John McGlynn's side finish as high up the table as possible.

The 19-year-old, who can play in central midfield or out wide, hopes to bring some "magic" to the Bairns and is confident he can make the most of the experience.

"I spoke to Ginny at Villa, the captain, and he said it would be a really good opportunity for me," Broggio told Falkirk TV.

"He told me a bit about the club and his brother as well, which can be a good link from one club to another.

"I've heard a lot of good things about the club and how they play football. Hopefully, that will suit me.

"It will be a bit different. At Villa I've always been a bit in my comfort zone. Obviously, to move away from home and the club that I've been at since I was nine or 10 years old, it will be a good experience. To play Scottish football, it will be a bit different. I'm aware of that.

"I think I can be up to the challenge. Hopefully I can show them what I can do on the pitch.

"I'm a confident player. I feel like when I've got the ball at my feet, I can do a lot of things and create a lot of magic.

"Obviously, I look to drive the team up the pitch and get the ball, dribble past players, get the fans off their feet and try and create chances and get a couple of goals and assists. Hopefully I can bring that to the table."

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New Livingston boss Marvin Bartley hopes to have Scott Arfield and Cristian Montano back from injury but Jeremy Bokila is suspended and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) is still not ready to be involved.

Falkirk add loan signing Ben Broggio while Ben Parkinson (ankle) and Ethan Williams (thigh) are out.