Falkirk

• 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

Image source, SNS

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

Image source, SNS

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.

Image source, Getty

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.

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.

Available to UK users only.

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."