Falkirk

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

After falling to a 1-0 defeat at Dundee in our final league fixture of 2025, many Falkirk fans were quick to point out an extremely difficult set of fixtures lay in wait - and they weren't wrong.

All four of our January Premiership assignments were against sides that finished in last season's top six, and we also had Hearts to face in the Scottish Cup.

To come through those five games with three league victories - and eliminate Hearts from the cup at Tynecastle - meant we navigated what was always going to be a challenging month with flying colours.

Yes, we didn't take anything from Celtic, but fortune didn't favour us in our home clash with the champions.

Looking ahead to the rest of February's packed schedule, it already feels like it could be a season-defining month.

The pragmatist in me has been cautious all season, mindful of the gap between ourselves and the bottom of the table, while many other Bairns fans are beginning to feel bullish about a top-six finish. If we're going to make a top-half finish a reality, a strong showing this month - especially in our home games - will be crucial.

On top of that, we have a huge Scottish Cup tie with Stenhousemuir this weekend, offering a strong chance to book a place in the quarter-finals.

Who knows what might happen beyond that? Much will depend on the luck of the draw - if we get there, of course.

Irrespective, it already feels like February could be a pivotal chapter in what the rest of the season has in store for us.

With the transfer window now shut, we want to know if you think your team have made the right moves.

The Bairns added Aston Villa teenager Ben Broggio on loan on deadline day, adding to the arrivals of Ben Parkinson - who may not play again this season because of injury - and Louie Marsh.

Scott Arfield, Ryan Edwards and Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi are among the players who have moved on.

Are you happy with Falkirk's January business? Tell us here.

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This season's Scottish Premiership top six could be "the best" yet in terms of quality, according to former Motherwell forward James McFadden.

Hearts lead the division, with defending champions Celtic and Rangers six points adrift and Motherwell, Hibernian and Falkirk making up the top half of the table.

"It makes the top six extremely interesting," McFadden told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Falkirk are in the driving seat at that point as well. They will be a tough opposition for anybody. The next three games, if Hearts can win, I would make them heavy favourites to win the league.

"If they can win all three games and, well, that's including beating Rangers, then it goes to nine points on Rangers.

"Rangers need to play Celtic, throw Motherwell into the equation. Hibs, you look, you know, at their performance [in the draw with Rangers].

"It'll be the best top six that we've had in this split era because so many teams have so much to play for and so many strong teams are in there."

Tomas Cvancara marked his home debut with the breakthrough goal as Celtic held off a stubborn Falkirk challenge to move second in the Scottish Premiership.

Read the match report.

Have your say on the game.

Watch highlights from Celtic's Scottish Premiership victory over Falkirk.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "I thought our performance was good. On another day we walk away from here with a point, maybe more if we take the lead.

"We had to defend and defended well for the vast majority. Unfortunately the striker gets a glancing header that goes in off the post.

"Second half we came out of the traps and put them under pressure. Celtic then score a good second goal.

"We kept going and finished the game trying to get back into it, which I'm really pleased about.

"We look like we're getting better. So there's positives to take.

"We've got a five-point gap [to seventh]. We have to do our best to pick up more points. The squad we've got is a good squad and we're happy to go forward with it."

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Celtic defender Auston Trusty is suspended. New signings Tomas Cvancara and Julian Araujo are available after being ineligible against Utrecht on Thursday.

Marcelo Saracchi is back in training after recovering from a hamstring problem. Johnny Kenny has missed the last two games with a calf injury.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Jota (knee), Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand (both hamstring) remain out.

Falkirk forward Ben Parkinson is facing three months out with an ankle injury, while Ethan Williams (thigh) is also out but Filip Lissah returns and Ross MacIver and Gary Oliver are available after lengthy absences.

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Midfielder Finn Yeats admits he didn't expect to be given a chance in the Scottish Premiership as he continues to impress for high-flying Falkirk.

The 21-year-old was a teenager on the scrapheap in 2022 before earning a chance with the Bairns after he impressed manager John McGlynn at the PFA Scotland Exit Trials.

The former Aberdeen youngster struggled to make an impact at the start of the season but, over the past two months, has worked his way into the team and has started each of their last six matches.

And to top it all off he was handed a contract extension until 2028 earlier this week.

"It's been a busy two months for me," Yeats said.

"I wasn't getting much game time and then all of a sudden I'm playing.

"I applied myself well and just stuck at it and kind of just worked extremely hard for that one chance, and it came against Motherwell, and I took that chance.

"So things change quickly in football. Would I expect to be here right now? Probably not, but I stuck at it and here I am.

"I'm just buzzing just now. I'm happy to be here, happy to be contributing."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Sunday's trip to face Celtic.

Here are the main points:

• Recent loan signing Ben Parkinson has an ankle injury that will likely require surgery and sideline him for 10-12 weeks. McGlynn admits the Newcastle forward "might well have played his last game" for Falkirk this season.

• He adds it's a "massive blow for Ben and for us" with the 20-year-old having got off to a great start since joining.

• On potential departures, McGlynn says: "Not one person has come to me and said they've got a interest in my players." The Bairns boss adds: "I'd be quite delighted to wake up on Tuesday morning with everyone I've got here."

• McGlynn says Finn Yeats, who has agreed a new two-year deal, has "come up trumps" for the team and the midfielder "looks on par with other players in the Premiership who are getting a lot of plaudits and a lot of interest from other teams".

• The Bairns boss insists "you can do nothing but respect Celtic" and while he is relieved to not face "Martin O'Neill's team of many years ago" with the likes of Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton, "we are playing a team who, for 20 minutes of Thursday, just destroyed a team [Utrecht]".

• There will be no Green Brigade at Celtic Park on Sunday, which McGlynn says "helps a lot", adding: "We've only got the paper rustlers to start mumbling a wee bit among themselves and hopefully make the atmosphere a little bit toxic."

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• Benjamin Nygren leads the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership for goal involvements with 14 (11 goals, 3 assists), scoring in his last three league games. The last player to score in four successive league appearances during his debut campaign as a Celtic player was Moussa Dembélé in March 2017.

• Falkirk have won three of their last four league games (L1), as many as their previous 10 beforehand (W3 D3 L4). However, the exception in this time was a 0-1 defeat to Celtic in January.

• Celtic have won all four of their home league games under Martin O'Neill this season without conceding. Indeed, having also won his final home league match in his first spell in charge of Celtic 2-0 against Aberdeen in May 2005, the Northern Irishman could win six home league games in a row without conceding for the first time as Hoops boss.

• Falkirk have lost 15 of their last 17 away games at Celtic across all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 league victory in October 1994 under Jim Jefferies.

• Celtic have won each of their last seven meetings with Falkirk in all competitions, last winning eight in a row in December 1973.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Just when you think this Falkirk team can't raise the bar any further, they only go and do so.

Saturday's 4-1 hammering of Hibernian was easily one of the greatest team performances in our two-decade-plus history at the Falkirk Stadium.

Every pass, every movement felt purposeful, a demonstration of a side brimming with confidence in their style and belief. Then there was the quality of the goals, each a testament to just how well-coached this group of players are.

In all honesty, it felt as though this kind of performance had been coming - we could have quite easily scored several goals against Celtic a few weeks back, but everything finally clicked into place against Hibs on Saturday.

It was a statement victory and showed just how clinical we can be when firing on all cylinders.

Of course, the man of the moment was Barney Stewart, whose hat-trick was the cherry on top of a near-perfect team performance.

Considering big Barney was playing university football just over a year ago, what he delivered on Saturday was nothing short of extraordinary.

In many ways, his journey mirrors the club's rise over the past two years, culminating in the brilliance we witnessed at the weekend.

And yet, the only bittersweet note is how this latest masterclass further highlights John McGlynn's incredible work - something that makes us Bairns fans a little nervous.

With every passing week, it becomes more obvious why he is being touted for other jobs - but for now, we can revel in what he's built at the Bairnabeu.

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Falkirk striker Barney Stewart has signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until June 2028.

There is also an option in the deal for a further year.

Stewart, 22, scored a magnificent hat-trick in Falkirk's 4-1 win over Hibs on Saturday, having been recalled from a loan spell at Dunfermline earlier this month.

He signed from Heriot-Watt University last season and helped the Bairns to the Championship title

"I'm absolutely buzzing to sign a extension, it was a no brainer for me," Stewart said.

"It's been an incredible experience since I joined the club just over a year ago and I love it here.

"It's an amazing squad and dressing room, it's been great working under the gaffer and Paul [Smith], and I've got a really great connection with the fans.

"This is where I belong and I'm so happy to be here for the next two and a half years."

Manager John McGlynn added: "Barney has impressed us from the minute he walked in the door. As a team that gets a lot of crosses into the box, we should have been scoring more goals over the past couple of months, maybe even years, so to get someone who instinctively gets on the end of those crosses is brilliant.

"He's got a lot of natural attributes; his size, his height, he's a powerful boy and he's got good pace.

"We're really looking forward to continuing Barney's progress and seeing him score more goals for the team."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Calvin Miller was simply sensational on the left for Falkirk in their 4-1 win against Hibernian.

He had to do the hard career yards ever since Celtic decided he had no future at the club back in 2020.

There have been stop offs at Dundee, Ayr, Harrogate and Chesterfield amongst others along the way, but all those roads have led to him being a shining light in John McGlynn's seriously impressive Falkirk side.

Electric on the wing with two assists for Barney Stewart, Miller is the jewel in the Falkirk crown right now.

It was a first-class graduation to Premiership football for Stewart who swapped university football for life at Falkirk. His hat-trick against Hibs was a major statement from the big 21-year-old.

Arguably the only thing missing from the Falkirk fairytale has been a number nine who can regularly find the net, and Stewart looked the real deal confidently putting the visitors from Leith to the sword in a devastating display in the penalty box.

McGlynn knows a player when he sees one. He plucked Kieron Bowie from local football obscurity when he was Raith Rovers manager.

Bowie - now playing up front for Hibs - could only look on as McGlynn's latest rough diamond sparkled in front of the adoring Falkirk faithful.

Watch Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith discuss Barney Stewart's hat-trick for Falkirk in Saturday's 4-1 win over Hibernian.

Watch Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith heap praise on Falkirk's impressive team performance in their 4-1 win over Hibernian on Saturday.

A hat-trick from striker Barney Stewart helped claim a statement victory for John McGlynn's side, who continue to defy the odds on their top-flight return.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, pundit Scott Allan was also keen to hail McGlynn and his players.

"I love everything about this Falkirk side, the fact they've come up from League 1 and McGlynn's now starting to add to that.

"There was like 10 Scottish players in the starting line-up as well, and that actually shows you in this country we do have Scottish footballers who can play some really good football and take on information and go and carry it out for their manager.

"John McGlynn deserves all the praise that is coming his way at this moment, and they're filling out the stadium every home game as well.

"Some of the stuff the fans are getting to watch is dreamland stuff, but all that comes down to McGlynn, the trust he has in the players and the trust he's kept showing them."

Watch highlights as Barney Stewart's hat-trick helps Falkirk beat Hibs 4-1 in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Falkirk's 4-1 win against Hibernian.

Here's what some of you said:

Tommy: We fear no one in this league. Again I have to take my hat off to John McGlynn for sticking by Barney Stewart up front. Barney rewards him and the club back with a hattrick against a good side.

Pabs: Barney rightfully gets the headlines but Dylan Tait and Leon McCann were superb. Grit, work rate and determination to win. They bossed Hibs. McGlynn and his staff have built an incredible team.

Scott: Barney will get all the plaudits and rightly s, particularly given Kieron Bowie's performance which wasn't his best, but the comparison between Liam Henderson and Grant Hanley was no contest. Wild to think one was playing in League One a couple of years ago and the other has over 60 caps, when today suggested it should be entirely the other way round. Also shoutouts to Tait and Calvin Miller who were outstanding once again. Hope Steve Clarke was watching, at the very least for the March friendlies – I won't hold my breath.

David: Another step in the McGlynn journey. We didn't manage to overcome the two Edinburgh giants in each of the first two games of the season, but have now dispatched both in the space of a fortnight. The men from Leith came calling with a team of international defenders but were dispatched back by a scintillating performance by McGlynn's footballers in a performance that merited accolades in a higher league. Stewart's story will make all the headlines this week and rightly so, but there will be others in this dressing room that will make the headlines in future weeks. This is the McGlynn story.

Neil: Absolutely superb, every single player in navy blue put in a shift. Some of the play was the best I've ever seen from a Falkirk side. Well done big Barney, great hattrick from a young lad who was playing in the Lowland League just 12 months ago, his story is Roy of the Rovers stuff. John, Paul Smith and Stephen McGinn are giving us a Falkirk side that will be talked about for years. It just keeps getting better and better, what a time to be a Bairn.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn reckons Barney Stewart is the poorest paid player in the Scottish Premiership but has told the 21-year-old striker, who scored a hat-trick in Saturday's win over Hibs, he is still not getting a rise unless he agrees a new contract. (Daily Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Barney Stewart's hat-trick inspired impressive Falkirk to an emphatic victory over Hibernian as their incredible return to the Scottish Premiership continued.

Read the full match report here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "It was a very impressive display, great goals, could have possibly been more. The performance was outstanding, our football was sublime at times. So pleasing for me and my staff.

"I'm delighted for Barney [Stewart]. He scored a hat-trick. It doesn't happen often, but he made it look very easy. I'm delighted for the team for putting on another excellent performance.

"Our DNA for the last three and a half years has been to go for it, we're not a team that will sit back. The game became very open, we could go up the park and be a threat almost every time."