Falkirk

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Scott Bain's wait for an opportunity with Scotland goes on, but there was still a familiar face for Falkirk fans to cheer on Saturday.

Luke Graham's first cap against North Macedonia took me back to his time on loan with us in the Championship two years ago.

When John McGlynn brought him in, it was apparent almost immediately we had a player with a big future on our hands.

For someone so young, Graham was a commanding presence at the back. He was calm in possession, comfortable striding forward and rarely looked fazed by what was happening around him.

Those qualities made him a standout in our promotion-winning side and renewing his loan at the end of January proved an important piece of business as we pushed for a return to the top flight.

Having helped us get there, Graham returned to Dundee and slotted seamlessly into their first team last season, developing further under Steven Pressley.

On the strength of those performances, he was mightily unlucky to miss out on the World Cup.

It was pleasing to see Graham make his Scotland debut on Saturday, even if many of us felt it had been a long time coming.

He left a lasting impression during his loan spell at Falkirk and I suspect it will be the first of many appearances for his country.

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We asked you to rate Falkirk's season and tell us what John McGlynn should be focusing on during the international break.

Here's what some of you said:

Campbell: Fixtures have been very tough, we've played five of the top six. I think we're only a point or two behind what we'd hope to get from those games. Real picture comes after 11 games.

Rossco: After a significant rebuild, the loss of key players and personalities in the team has been obvious. We don't have the same quality in those key areas any more and basic mistakes are costing us points that might be key to our survival. There's been a few questionable selections and subs from the gaffer but overall, it's probably what we deserve within a competitive league.

PB: Falkirk have almost been cursed with the start of the season, between the line-up changes and then the run of teams played. It's been frustrating to watch but also pretty understandable and forgiveable. The win against Hearts shows things are picking up, and although we drew at St Johnstone I would say the goal coming when it did just comes down to bad luck. The team seems to be starting to gel a wee bit more now with more of a clear structure. Onwards and upwards.

David: Yet again McGlynn proves he is the master at building a team that can operate at the highest level on the lowest budget. Seventeen new signings replaced 15 outgoing players. The stop-start nature of this season has allowed him to get the gelling process into the greatest efficiency on the training ground. All of the trends are positive. Three games undefeated. His preferred front four have all scored one goal in the last three matches. In four away matches, only once has he tasted defeat. Fasten your seatbelt for more thrills on McGlynn's Navy Blue rollercoaster!

As the extended international break continues, we want to hear your thoughts on Falkirk's opening seven games in the Scottish Premiership.

Having taken the top flight by storm on their return last season, John McGlynn's side are finding things tougher this time.

Just one point was picked up from the first four games, although a three-match unbeaten run - including a first win, over Hearts - has followed.

How do you rate Falkirk's start to the season and why? And what should McGlynn be focusing on during the extended break?

Share your views here

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Football has a funny way of making things fall into place - and Ryan Strain's signing feels like a case in point.

The Australia international's arrival raised a few eyebrows among the Bairns faithful earlier this summer. That was no slight on Strain's ability.

We had already brought in Jack McMillan at right-back while Keelan Adams, a key performer in recent years, was also on the books.

It soon became clear Adams was injured and needed surgery, which explained the decision to bring in Strain. He had spent the first part of the summer at PFA Scotland's inaugural free agent training camp, but has since wasted little time making an impression at Falkirk.

Of the 17 players we brought in over the summer, Strain has arguably been the standout so far.

Others have impressed too, but the 29-year-old has slotted seamlessly into the right-back role and made it his own.

His influence seems to grow by the week. He's set up a goal in two of his past three outings, offers a threat with his set-piece delivery and has been reliable at the back, while his 14 tackles won is the joint highest in the Premiership.

Ironically, now that everyone is available again, it feels like his jersey to lose.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Falkirk welcomed 17 new faces during a summer of major change, yet it is one of our existing players who has emerged as a standout performer heading into the first international break.

That man is Ethan Ross, who scored against St Johnstone last Saturday during another impressive and encouraging performance.

Ross was a key player as we worked our way through League One and the Championship. He played a particularly important role in our Championship-winning campaign, notably scoring twice on the final night of the season as victory over Hamilton clinched the title.

His first season in the Premiership never really got going after he suffered a bad injury against Livingston early in the campaign. However, the 25-year-old has clearly benefited from a full pre-season and a consistent run in the starting XI.

Filling the sizeable void left by Calvin Miller was always going to be a tough task, but Ross looks determined to give it his best shot.

As well as finding the net against St Johnstone, he drew the foul that resulted in Cheick Diabate being sent off.

Indeed, Ross is the second most fouled player during the opening stretch of the Premiership season, having been brought down 19 times.

It is not just his flair and attacking quality that add so much to the team. He is also a tireless worker who is always willing to track back and put in a shift.

It is great to see Ross flourishing and, on current form, I would like to think a contract extension is something the club are working on.

Sportscene's Steven Thompson and James McFadden review St Johnstone and Falkirk's 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw.

Newly-promoted St Johnstone are sixth in the Scottish Premiership on eight points, while Falkirk are 11th on six points.

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John McGlynn believes matching last season's Premiership start augurs well for Falkirk.

Saturday's 1-1 draw at St Johnstone leaves the Bairns second bottom on six points after seven games.

That's an identical record to the 2025-26 campaign when McGlynn's squad improved to finish in the top six.

Much has been made of the scale of McGlynn's rebuilding job this summer as Calvin Miller, Dylan Tait and Barney Stewart all left the club along with their loan stars.

McGlynn believes coming through that upheaval - and a tough opening fixture slate - with the same results as 12 months ago is a positive.

He said: "I wasn't happy with the St Mirren game, the very first game. After that, we've had some really hard games. We've had to go to Fir Park, we got a draw against Motherwell.

"We then had Celtic, lost 2-1. We play Rangers and do well but lose 2-1. We won the Hearts game. Against St Johnstone, we didn't reach the level we wanted to reach.

"But St Johnstone have been going well – they beat Killie, Hibs and got a point at Dens Park. I feel we have been fairly consistent. We are in the exact same position as we were at this time last year.

"That ended up well. So, there's a long way to go and a lot to look forward to."

Ethan Ross scored his first goal for 13 months to fire Falkirk ahead on the hour, shortly after Saints defender Cheick Diabate was sent off.

McGlynn was unhappy at Falkirk's failure to make their advantage count for more – and their tendency to concede free-kicks.

A Saints set-piece finally paid off in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Enes Alic levelled from 25 yards.

"We dropped two points at Dundee United in the last minute two weeks ago – and have dropped another two here with the last kick of the ball," said McGlynn.

"We should be sitting in a better position in the league but we're licking our wounds."

St Johnstone leave it late to equaliser against Falkirk in a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw (UK only).

Falkirk fans, we asked for your opinions on the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

John: Naive in defence - silly, silly fouls. We had pressure on their defence early on but let them back in it. A close game with two good halves from Scott Bain kept us in it. Disappointing to drop two points, again.

Gary: Should have seen the game out! Really disappointing we couldn't. I see good signs, so not pressing the panic button yet.

Kev: Amateur, amateur, amateur! When will we learn how to close out a game, especially against 10 men?

Iain: As poor a game as I've seen in a while. Both sides were slow and ponderous, but both goals were top class. Saints deserved the draw, the sending off inspired them whereas we went 1-0 up and decided to just try and see the game out. Nobody to blame apart from ourselves.

David: In this stop start season, normally three points at home (against Hearts) and one point away (against St Johnstone) would be considered a good return for two games in a week, however a last-kick equaliser is truly a sore one.

The new squad is still going through a gelling phase and with John McGlynn at the helm, I know that we will get it right before too long. Following the Bairns is one long rollercoaster ride and there will be a few more thrills before too long!

Colin: Still early days, feels like a glass-half-full type of season so far. We're on the same points total as we were at this time last season, but it really should be more. Two last-minute equalisers have been sickening. That said, I'm not convinced some of our new players are up to the standard required - time will tell.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "When you're 1-0 up in the 94th minute, it's a sore one to take. Looking at the whole game, we never got to the levels I'd have liked, at any time.

"The first half, St Johnstone had the better two chances. They've hit the bar with one and Scott Bain made a good save at the other.

"It was nip-and-tuck, a game of chess tactically. It was slow, methodical, no real cutting edge to our play which is how we normally play.

"We started the second half much better, much brighter and we score a good goal. When St Johnstone go down to 10 men, we should go on and win the game.

"Their free-kick is executed really well but we brought it on ourselves, not retaining the ball. We've given away too many silly free-kicks.

"We just need to kick the ball up the park. It's the second time we've lost with virtually the last kick of the ball, Dundee United as well.

"We've thrown away four points, and we could have been sitting in a much nicer position in the league."

Ten-man St Johnstone produced a stunning late comeback to rescue a Scottish Premiership point and deflate Falkirk at McDiarmid Park.

Read the match report here

Have your say on the match here

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Jamie Gullan and Zach Mitchell are back for St Johnstone, while Bozo Mikulic remains a doubt.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn has no new injuries for the trip to Perth.

Conor McLeod has resumed training after recovering from a knee injury but the games comes too soon.

Joe Gardner (thigh) and Aidan Nesbitt, Finn Yeats (both ankle) remain out.

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Ryan Strain recalled an unusual summer that helped get his career back on track at Falkirk.

The 29-year-old Australia right-back was looking for a club after his contract at Dundee United had expired when he joined up with PFA Scotland's inaugural free agent training camp in Kirkintilloch.

The former Maccabi Haifa and St Mirren player, who began his senior career in Australia with Adelaide United, then got the call from Bairns boss John McGlynn before signing on a one-year deal.

Before the trip to St Johnstone on Saturday, Strain said: "They put on a training camp and it was brilliant, like coming back to a club. So I've got to thank them.

"They had coaches in lunches, everything, and it was brilliant.

"It's mentally hard (without a club). It's good that you're with people in the same position though.

"I think the best thing about the PFA (initiative) is that you're with people who are in the same position. You can talk to people about what's going on and everything like that.

"Trying to train on your own as a footballer is so hard, you're just doing box to boxes every day and you're sick of it.

"So it was good to get in, train with a group of lads and that mentally helped.

"I was there for two weeks. I then got a phone call from the manager here, just seeing what I was doing, and as soon as I heard Falkirk was interested, I really wanted to make that happen.

"Last season wasn't my best, probably my worst season in Scotland.

"I got an injury early, and then just couldn't get back in the team, and coming off-contracts is hard, but thankfully I got a chance here and just trying to repay that.

"I have loved it, loved every minute, playing a lot of games, played every minute in the league so far."

Falkirk beat Hearts 2-1 at home on Tuesday night for their first win in six games and Strain is looking to build on that impressive result in Perth.

He said: "It was massive. I think we've been playing well, but just haven't had the results to back it up and to get three points puts us right in the pack and hopefully we can go this Saturday and try to get back-to-back (wins)."

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• Josh Fowler has scored 50% of St Johnstone's Scottish Premiership goals this season (4/8), the highest proportion and total of any player for a particular club.

• Falkirk are winless in five away league outings (D2 L3) since a 3-2 victory at Motherwell in April.

• St Johnstone have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 12 Scottish Premiership games, including all six this season. It's their longest run without a shutout in the top flight since December 2012 (15).

• This will be the first top-flight meeting between St Johnstone and Falkirk since the 2009-10 season, when the Perth side avoided defeat in all four contests (W2 D2).

• After beating Livingston 2-1 in February, Falkirk could enjoy back-to-back top-flight wins over promoted sides for the first time since November 2007, when they beat Gretna twice in a row.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn believes goalkeeper Scott Bain is the best suited to become first choice for the national team.

Four-times capped Bain, 34, has returned to the Scotland squad and is one of four keepers named by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli for his opening games in the Nations League.

"If the manager's going to go and play a style of play that's going to be building from the back, then there's no better goalkeeper in Scotland, or who qualifies for Scotland, than Scott Bain," said Bairns manager McGlynn.

"And he makes saves as well. So he's the real deal for me. I'm delighted for him. He's a great character."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Falkirk Stadium

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Scott Bain has had worse Tuesdays.

Before a commanding performance between the sticks in the victory against Hearts - Falkirk's first win of the Scottish Premiership season - the goalkeeper was recalled to the Scotland squad by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

"I'm absolutely delighted," the 34-year-old told BBC Scotland. "It's absolutely great. A really, really good day."

Though John McGlynn's side had to wait a little longer than they would have liked for a win in the league, Bain's performances have been solid, hence the shouts for his return to the national team following his omission from the World Cup squad under Steve Clarke.

On Tuesday night, though, he experienced "an easier game" than he's had before, crediting the "outstanding" defence in front of him.

"It was definitely an easier game than some of the games I've had, but I think that was all down to the workrate and effort the players put in," he explained.

"They were absolutely outstanding defensively. We switched off once with Josh McPake and he creates the chance - showing how good a player is - but apart from that, the full-backs and the wingers were excellent in stopping the supply."

Now Bain hopes the Bairns can kickstart their season.

"I just said that in there, I think now it's a chance for us to really kick on," he added.

"It's been a little bit of a stop-start season for us, obviously a lot of change in players, but I think you can see the squad's gelling.

"To get that win, we're absolutely delighted. It was a little bit nervy at the end just because we were desperate to get the monkey off our back."

Next up is a trip to Premiership newcomers St Johnstone on Saturday, and it's only after that Bain will turn his attention to joining up with the Scotland squad.

While McPake - one of seven uncapped players - picked up an assist for Hearts after dominating much of the discourse before the announcement, Bain highlighted the balance required and the need for some regulars to remain.

"I've seen a lot of chatter about people being excited about a new era, but I think it's really important to have the core group who have been mainstays with Scotland," four-cap Bain said.

"They create an excellent atmosphere, they're real quality players and they'll bring these new lads in.

"It'll be great to get away, get together and try and gel as quickly as possible because the games come thick and fast."

We asked for your views after Falkirk beat Hearts 2-1 at home for a first victory of the Premiership campaign.

Here's what some of you said:

Dougie: Falkirk certainly deserved their win, with Owen Eames man of the match. All the team played well.

Pabs: What a performance from a Falkirk side that looks like it's starting to gel. Eames looks like yet another fantastic John McGlynn loan star, his workrate and determination paid off by scoring the winner.

Iain: Six games in and we've already played last season's top four. We might be down the bottom end right now but we've gathered a point more than I expected with a reasonable GD considering we've played both halves of the Old Firm. St Mirren caught us cold but signings are starting to gel and we're on the right track.

Mark: Outstanding team performance with no failures in the navy blue. Nullified Hearts for much of the game by continually pressing them into making basic mistakes across their backline and midfield. Scott Bain showing why he has earned the right to be in the Scotland squad with his point-blank save to keep the scores tied.

Watch the best of the action as Falkirk secure their first Scottish Premiership win of the season with a 2-1 home victory over Hearts. (Available to UK users only)

Falkirk secured their first Scottish Premiership win of the season as they defeated Hearts.

It could have been a more handsome win over a side who had the opportunity to move up to second in the table and were unbeaten in nine games.

Manager John McGlynn thinks the first win will allow his side to "kick on now", but we want to hear your reaction the performance and result.

Read the match report.

Have your say on the game.

Image source, SNS

Falkirk manager John McGlynn is delighted to "get the monkey off" their back after beating Hearts 2-1 to record their first Scottish Premiership win of the season.

"I'm delighted for the players," he tells BBC Scotland.

"They put so much work in there and played some excellent football and scored some good goals. I thought we were good in and out of possession.

"We have to be good as they [Hearts] have two lightning wingers who are absolutely flying and I am delighted to say we kept them fairly quiet tonight, which speaks volumes for the team and the way we set the team up.

"Absolutely delighted to get the monkey off the back and I think that'll kick us on now. It's just getting that first win.

"We have been gradually getting better, the transfer window has closed and we can just concentrate on our football and we saw the fruits of that tonight.

"The teams above us not winning, it's tightening up very quickly."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

There is absolutely no need to hit the panic button this early in the season, but the next six weeks or so could tell us plenty about what lies ahead.

Tuesday night's visit of Hearts will take care of itself. The Jam Tarts arrive in excellent form, so anything we take from the game would be a welcome bonus.

However, Saturday's trip to St Johnstone already feels like a significant fixture. October then brings home games against Dundee and Kilmarnock, as well as trips to face Hibs and Aberdeen.

Across that run, we have to be aiming to put more points on the board and secure a victory or two along the way.

None of those fixtures are make or break in isolation, but collectively they could shape our season. By the time October has come and gone, we should have a much clearer idea of where we stand and what the remainder of the campaign might hold.

The sooner that first league win arrives, the better. It would lift a weight from our shoulders and hopefully allow us to play with the freedom and confidence that served us so well last season.

The longer the wait drags on, the harder it can become to escape that rut and pull ourselves away from the wrong end of the table.

Here's hoping the next few weeks provide the spark that gets our season properly up and running.

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Falkirk striker Joe Gardner will be out for two months after suffering a tear in his thigh.

But full-back Keelan Adams and midfielder Craig Sibbald return from respective foot and hamstring injuries for Hearts' visit in the Scottish Premiership on Tuesday.

Conor McLeod, Aidan Nesbitt and Finn Yeats remain out.

Hearts midfielder Tomas Magnusson has had a bout of sickness and will be assessed on Tuesday morning along with utility man Oisin McEntee, who has been missing through injury.

Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Craig Halkett remain out, while Ageu is set to return after the international break.

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Falkirk forward Joe Gardner faces up to two months out after a significant thigh tear, says manager John McGlynn.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has featured twice for the Bairns this season, his most recent appearance coming in this month's 1-1 draw at Dundee United.

McGlynn explained: "It's more than a strain, it's a grade-three tear of his thigh, so you're looking at a couple of months there, which is a bit of a blow."

McGlynn does, however, have defender Keelan Adams and midfielder Craig Sibbald available for selection once again.

Sibbald, 24, last featured on 9 August, while Adams, 24, has not played yet this season.

Falkirk host Wouter Vrancken's Hearts in one of Tuesday's three Scottish Premiership fixtures (19:45 BST).

"The manager has come in, he's done exceptionally well," McGlynn said of the Belgian head coach.

"New ideas, a new way of playing, new players coming in and a turnaround in players.

"They are certainly on course."