Falkirk

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk striker Barney Stewart says he finally believes he belongs at the top level of Scottish football.

The 21-year-old netted an 89th minute equaliser in the Bairns' 1-1 Premiership draw at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Stewart, who spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Championship Dunfermline, has now scored a total of 16 goals this season.

It has been a remarkable rise for a player who arrived at Falkirk last term from East of Scotland League First Division side Heriot-Watt University.

"I think last season I wasn't really sure of myself if I deserved or belonged to be in the SPFL," he said.

"With the right people around you, the right leadership in the changing room, right managerial staff and obviously the right people around you outside of football I think it really spurred me on and let me really believe that I do deserve to be here.

"I think there are still a lot of areas in my game that I need to touch up on a little bit.

"But that will come especially with the right people around me, like I have got Brian [Graham] to learn off. He is always talking to me on the pitch when he came on, that was our first time on the pitch together.

"I am always trying to look to pick up little things that I can add to my game and hopefully it is starting to all come together."

Stephen Robinson's debut as Aberdeen head coach was ruined by an 88th-minute Falkirk equaliser, but John McGlynn's side will have to wait to have their Scottish Premiership top-six place confirmed.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn told BBC Scotland: "It's a fair result overall, don't think there was much in it and no one did enough to win it.

"They pressed very well, we expected that. We knew they'd run harder. That's where the mistake came from. It cost us a goal. Scott has saved us on many occasions.

"We showed great character and mentality to score the equaliser. A great ball in from Ethan Ross and a great header from Barney so I'm delighted to go down the road with a point.

"They worked harder and ran harder than they have done in a number of weeks. That is credit to them. Maybe we're just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"We're satisfied with a point considering we were a goal behind with not very long to go. The players kept going, the subs made a difference. Barney was a constant threat all day. Delighted for him to get another goal.

"We played some nice stuff at times and we were pleased at that. Any point up here, normally, is a good point. We've taken seven point from nine against Aberdeen and that's good going.

"[Barney] has been a revelation. Scored eight goals for Dunfermline and now, a good few for us. He's been amazing and long may it continue."

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Aberdeen defender Nicky Devlin (knee) could miss out again, while Mats Knoester (concussion), Kristers Tobers (knee) and Nick Suman (ankle) remain out.

Falkirk welcome Gary Oliver back from injury, but Kyrell Wilson (ankle) joins Ben Parkinson (ankle), Ross MacIver and Louis Marsh (thigh) on the sidelines.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk midfielder Dylan Tait says he is enjoying playing some of the best football of his career this season.

Tait has formed a strong partnership with Brad Spencer and netted seven goals this term, including three in the Premiership.

John McGlynn's side have impressed on their return to the top flight and can confirm a top-six spot with victory at Aberdeen on Saturday.

Tait, 24, said: "Learning every day, working with the manager and playing against the best players in the league has helped.

"I think I've probably adapted my game and I'd say I'm a more all-round player now.

"Learning defensively was probably one thing I always wanted to get better at, and score more goals.

"This is the most goals I've scored in a season so hopefully I can score a few more between now and the end of the season and keep kicking on.

"I played with Brad when I was a bit younger at Raith Rovers before I left to go into Hibs and I had a partnership with him then.

"Since I've come back and played with him we work really well for each other and we know how each other play. I love playing with Brad and I love working with the manager so that's really good."

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• Kevin Nisbet has scored five goals in his past three home league games; the last player to score in four successive home league appearances for Aberdeen was Bojan Miovski in October 2022.

• Falkirk have alternated between defeat (four) and victory (three) in their past seven away league games, losing 1-0 at Hearts last time out. Indeed, the Bairns haven't had the same result in two successive Scottish Premiership away matches yet in 2025-26.

• Aberdeen have won just one of their past 13 Scottish Premiership matches (D2 L10), a 6-2 win over bottom side Livingston in January. Since the first game in this run (3-1 defeat to Celtic on December 21st), they would be bottom of the table in the division, below Livingston on goals scored.

• Falkirk have won four of their past five league games against Aberdeen (L1), including two so far this season, both 1-0 wins in August and January.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their past 13 home league games against newly-promoted opponents (W7 D5), although that was to Falkirk in August of this season (1-0).

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn says the fan disorder at last week's Old Firm match has set Scottish football back "30 or 40 years".

Celtic fans initially spilled on to the pitch in celebration after a 4-2 win on penalties in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox before some Rangers supporters charged towards them.

Flares were thrown as police and stewards formed a barricade to separate the two groups of supporters. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the violent scenes that resulted in injuries to police officers, stewards and members of the public.

McGlynn says he feels it's a sad moment for the Scottish game when there has been so much to enjoy about this season.

"It doesn't paint a very nice picture," he said.

"It's a beautiful game, it's so cold, but there's nothing much beautiful about it.

"The game itself wasn't a great game of football and what happened afterwards, and by all accounts maybe what happened before, and all the rest of it, it's really taken us back maybe 30 or 40 years to Hampden and police horses on pitches and all that type of thing.

"It's sad. I'm football, I bleed football as you know, and it's not nice."

McGlynn hopes when Falkirk meet Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden in a few weeks there are no incidents between fans who have clashed in the past.

"I'm obviously concerned because there's bad blood between Falkirk and Dunfermline," he said.

"I'm just hoping that our game goes along and the football does the talking and there's no nonsense."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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John McGlynn has been speaking to the media before Falkirk visit Aberdeen in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key lines:

• McGlynn says the crowd trouble that marred last weekend's Old Firm match has set Scottish football back "30 or 40 years".

• He hopes when Falkirk take on Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup semi-final the fans of both teams behave.

• The Bairns boss adds: "I'm obviously concerned because there's bad blood between Falkirk and Dunfermline. I'm just hoping the football does the talking and there's no nonsense."

• On weekend opponents Aberdeen appointing Stephen Robinson, McGlynn says the Northern Irishman has a "phenomenal" record and will be a success at Pittodrie, adding the only surprise is it took almost three months to appoint him.

• The Bairns have no fresh injury concerns for the game.

Falkirk striker Brian Graham admits taking his 10-year-old son to his first Old Firm game was one of the worst decisions of his life, describing the scenes at the end as "absolutely horrific". (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Every time I think the journey we Falkirk fans have been on over the past three seasons can't possibly get any better, it somehow does.

Last Friday night was the latest chapter in our remarkable resurgence as we saw off Dundee United to book a Scottish Cup semi-final spot at Hampden.

An invincible season, back-to-back promotions and now a top-six finish in sight, capped with a visit to the National Stadium - these past three years have been nothing short of surreal for us Bairns, exceeding even our wildest dreams.

Of course, this isn't our first trip to Hampden under John McGlynn. It often gets forgotten the gaffer got us there in his first season, but back then Falkirk were still emerging from the shadows of our darkest days in League One.

Now, with the club thriving on and off the pitch, we'll be ready to meet our latest challenge at Mount Florida head-on.

Facing our old rivals Dunfermline only adds to the occasion. It raises the stakes, cranks up the tension and makes this semi-final a truly mouthwatering prospect for everyone involved.

Let's hope we can rewrite the script of 2009 and secure another memorable success against the Pars at Hampden.

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Falkirk have handed Nicky Hogarth a two-year contract extension despite the goalkeeper only playing four times this season.

The 24-year-old, who is now contracted until June 2028, made 44 appearances last season as John McGlynn's side won the Scottish Championship title but has been mainly on the bench since Scott Bain's summer arrival from Celtic.

But McGlynn praised "top goalkeeper and top professional" Hogarth's work ethic as one of the first to arrive at training and one of the last to leave.

"He's learned a lot this year, albeit while not playing so much, but when he has played, he's done very, very well," the manager told Falkirk's website.

"He's shown everyone that he is more than capable of playing in the Premiership. He's learned a lot working with Scott Bain this season and he's completely committed to the football club.

"It's a big statement for us, because he's a young goalkeeper who still wants to go and play. He's going to fight for a place and he'll be ready to step in whenever he's called upon."

Falkirk-born Hogarth, who joined the Bairns from Nottingham Forest's youth team in 2023 and whose contract was due to expire this summer, added: "Being from the area and knowing what this club means to the supporters makes it really special to represent Falkirk.

"I've loved my time here so far and I feel like we've achieved some great things already. I want to keep improving."

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Manager John McGlynn insists Falkirk are in a "far better position" for this season's Hampden trip compared with last time his side visited the national stadium.

They were in League 1 during McGlynn's first season in charge when they lost 3-0 to Inverness in 2023.

Since then, they've won back-to-back promotions and are well on their way to finishing in the top half of the Scottish Premiership.

And on Friday night they saw off Dundee United to book their spot in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

"We're going back in a better position now," McGlynn said.

"Our team, everything about the football club is better.

"A lot of the fans were there the last time but I think we'll have a few more going this time.

"We were a League 1 club, now we're a Premiership club, and we will go there with a realistic chance to get into a final."

"We were excellent in the first half, a good bit ahead. Our football was really good, we were bright, taking the game to United.

"If anything, maybe we should have been further ahead but fair play to United, to get the goal back right on half-time, which is poor game management from our point of view with opportunities to clear the ball.

"They took the initiative in the second half and they put us under a lot of pressure.

"Our players had to dig in, they had to fight, they had to head balls, clear balls, and basically just show a great spirit."

We asked for your views on Falkirk's 2-1 win over Dundee United that books their spot in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

Here's what some of you had to say:

John S: Falkirk dominated the first 30 minutes then seemed to sit back trying to protect the lead, instead of continuing with the great attacking performances we have become known for. Who am I to criticise the gaffer though? He has delivered a Hampden appearance, with a great chance to make a final. Thank you. The second half was extremely frustrating though. Many times, as we drive forward, Ben Broggio and Kyrell Wilson were in the clear on the right, but never received a pass. I was worried about a late sucker punch from United, that thankfully never came. Well done Bairns. We are so proud of you.

Ian: Brilliant first half, flew out of the traps again and dug in second half, rode our luck, but we are a very resilient team. What a season to be a Bairns fan, Hampden here we come.

John: A hard fought cup tie. The Bairns dominated the first half and scored two good headed goals. Lost concentration just before half-time. United, boosted by their goal, came out fighting in the second half and were a real threat. Falkirk dug in and deserved their win.

Nathan: Wow just wow, this team man it's simply phenomenal what we are doing. Three years ago we were playing the likes of Annan, Edinburgh City and Montrose now here we are on the cusp of Premiership top six and have made it to a Scottish Cup semi-final. Two fantastic goals tonight and yes we made heavy weather of the game in the second half but we've made it. Bring on Hampden I'll take anybody, we can win this.

First-half headers from Barney Stewart and Finn Yeats sent Falkirk into the Scottish Cup semi-finals and ended Dundee United's hopes of reaching Hampden.

Read the full report here

Have your say here

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "It feels great. I've just come out of the dressing room and the boys are buzzing.

"A lot of hard work had to go into that, a hell of a lot of hard work.

"We played really well in the first half and I thought we were on fire but United got themselves a lifeline right before half-time. From our point of view it's poor game management and they took the initiative and put us under pressure. Thankfully enough, we managed to survive.

"We're just delighted to be going to Hampden.

"The fans have been magnificent and there was a good away support that made for a good atmosphere. It kind of swung one way and another for a bit that added to it.

"I'm just glad we came off to the applause from our fans. There's a great bond and togetherness between the fans and the club.

"[Being the second-highest-ranked team in the draw] suggest that we've maybe got a chance. We'll enjoy the weekend waiting for the draw."

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Liam Henderson would love to cap his "rollercoaster" rise by helping Falkirk to Scottish Cup glory 10 years after watching from the Hampden stand as Hibernian lifted the trophy.

The 29-year-old Bairns defender grew up a Hibs supporter and was swept up in the romance of the tournament when Alan Stubbs' side ended the club's 114-year wait to win it when they defeated Rangers 3-2 in the 2016 final.

"I'd been to a few finals and semi-finals with my dad," recalled Henderson before Falkirk's quarter-final at home to Dundee United on Friday.

"When Hibs won the cup, I was there and I asked my dad if he wanted a ticket, but he said 'No, I couldn't go through the pain again'.

"He obviously missed out on one of the best days of our lives as a Hibs fan. But it's such a special cup and special memories get created when teams are playing at the best stadium in Scotland.

"As a boy, you dream of playing in these stadiums and competitions, so fingers crossed we can get to that next stage."

Henderson has thrived in his first season as a Premiership player after spending most of his career in the lower divisions.

Chasing cup glory with a top-six side seemed some way off when the defender was playing part-time football with Edinburgh City between 2018 and 2021.

"When I went part-time, you do question yourself, you doubt yourself, it's only natural to do that," he said.

"It was just about going every week, going training after your work, committing to training on a Tuesday, Thursday night and then a game on a Saturday.

"Once you commit to it, you do start to see results. It's been a rollercoaster. Up and down, back and forth. I wouldn't change anything, it's been an experience. It's made me the player I am today."

Falkirk have Kyrell Wilson back from injury but Louie Marsh, Ben Parkinson, Ross MacIver and Gary Oliver miss out.