Brian Graham's second-half strike ended Falkirk's four-game goal drought and gave them a precious victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
How vital was that victory? How pleasing was Falkirk's display?
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGylnn: "The dogged determination to win the game and the spirit the players showed. We had to put our bodies on the line.
"Kilmarnock threw everything at us. Once we got in front they put us under pressure a lot.
"The determination from the whole team to defend. We weren't quite right in the first half, but second we were.
"Delighted for big Brian to get the goal after good play in the build up. It's a huge win. I can only complement the players and once again they've delivered.
"A clean sheet and the winning goal."
Image source, SNSKilmarnock midfielder David Watson returns from suspension while interim boss Kris Doolan has a couple of unnamed doubts.
Max Stryjek (heart), Kyle Magennis (knee), Jamie Brandon (ankle/groin), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) remain out.
Falkirk boss John McGlynn has an unnamed player doubtful with illness. Coll Donaldson and Aidan Nesbitt played 70 minutes as overage players in an Under-19s game in midweek and are close to returning.
Keelan Adams (groin), Gary Oliver (hamstring), Ross MacIver (ankle), Lewis Neilson (ankle) and Tom Lang (foot) remain out.
Image source, SNSAlfredo Agyeman is enjoying his "rollercoaster" career as he looks to "go even further" than Falkirk.
The 25-year-old joined Motherwell's academy in 2018 before spells at East Kilbride, Queen's Park, Broomhill and Kelty Hearts led to a move to Falkirk in 2023.
The forward helped the Bairns to successive promotions and has been a key member of John McGlynn's side, who sit seventh in the top-flight table before Saturday's visit to managerless Kilmarnock.
"I wanted to push myself from the very beginning as a young player," he said.
"And then to get here, it's a good achievement, but then you want to make sure you stay or you can go even further.
"It's been a rollercoaster for myself in terms of I have been a bit up and down with the leagues.
"I was in the lower league and then got a move to Kelty Hearts.
"And then, of course it's quite difficult, you don't know the players as much, but then I got an opportunity from the gaffer and then you always want to make sure you don't disappoint, don't let them down.
"It's been a good season. Of course, it's been difficult.
"There's going to be a lot of games that you can win, of course, win and lose. But it's been good and I am enjoying it.
"You always kind of push yourself to have a high expectation.
"But at the same time, it's always going to be difficult in terms of the budget and players you compete against, some of them playing European football and even going to World Cups and stuff like that.
"So it's not going to be easy, but definitely happy with it."
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSJohn McGlynn has sympathised with sacked Stuart Kettlewell as the Falkirk boss bids to extend Kilmarnock's winless streak.
McGlynn's side travel to face Kilmarnock on Saturday, who parted company with Kettlewell on Monday after 10 games without victory.
"They lost a lot of players in the summer - a hell of a lot of good players. It's very difficult because, by all accounts, there were budget cuts, so you're not able to bring in the same quality," said McGlynn.
"A lot of the time players will punch above their weight, and it's very difficult to keep them because they can get more money elsewhere. I know it's not all about money, but money talks.
"Derek McInnes left and players who were out of contract moved on. Stuart's then got to come in and pick up the pieces and that can be really, really difficult. He's a great football guy so you have a lot of sympathy."
Seventh-place Falkirk are without a win or a goal in their past four matches, but McGlynn says they must "hang in there" to avoid sliding further down the table.
"We've stepped up levels," he said. "In the last two weeks we've played Rangers, Motherwell, Hearts and Hibs - four teams in the top six.
"We are top of our mini-league, and aim to stay there - which is going to be some feat because Dundee United won last night and put themselves right behind us.
"You'd expect St Mirren to kick on because they've won the cup and will get a boost from that. We've just got to hang in there.
"There's not much in it, so we've got to make sure we're picking up points and staying away from there. You don't want to get dragged into that."
Image source, SNSKilmarnock have only won one of their past six top-flight meetings with Falkirk (D3 L2), a 1-0 triumph in February 2010 under Jimmy Calderwood.
This will be Falkirk's first top-flight away game at Kilmarnock since a goalless draw in May 2010; the Bairns are unbeaten in three such trips (W1 D2) since a 3-0 defeat in April 2009.
Kilmarnock won none of their final 10 league games under Stuart Kettlewell (D2 L8). This will be Kris Doolan's first league game in interim charge; none of the past seven managers to take charge of Killie in the Scottish Premiership (including caretakers) won their first game with them in the competition (D3 L4), with Paul McDonald the last to do so in October 2017 (2-0 v Partick Thistle).
Falkirk have failed to score in their past four league games, attempting 33 shots with an expected goals tally of 2.2 without success in this run. The Bairns have lost their latest two, last losing three in a row without scoring in the top flight in April 2009 – when the third defeat was away to Kilmarnock.
Only Rangers (15) have had more different scorers (excluding own goals) in the Premiership this season than both Falkirk (11) and Kilmarnock (10).
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
Despite all our success over the past two seasons, it's fair to say we've never really had a reliable number nine.
That hasn't held us back though - it's always been a team effort, with goals coming from all over the park. That approach has worked again this season and hadn't been an issue... until recently.
The 2-0 home loss to Hearts means we've now gone four matches without scoring - a run stretching back to our 3-0 win at Tannadice last month.
For context, we've faced an extremely tough schedule since then, playing four of the current top five, and have still picked up some positive results, including draws against Rangers and Motherwell.
Chances are being created and the workrate is there, but the absence of a genuine striker has been glaring in tight games - and it has cost us points.
Brian Graham fits the profile, but his minutes need to be managed given he is in the twilight of his career.
Throwing Barney Stewart straight into a starting role next month would carry some risk, though he could certainly return and strengthen the squad given his scoring form at Dunfermline.
Injuries haven't helped either. Key players have spent time on the sidelines, forcing John McGlynn to piece together makeshift solutions in both defence and attack.
A few players are being asked to fill roles that don't suit them, and while their effort is admirable, the instinct and sharpness needed inside the box just isn't there.
More firepower has to be a priority in January, ideally through the addition of a striker capable of finishing chances and with experience of leading the line at this level.
It may also be time to move on some out-of-favour players to give the squad the cutting edge it's been missing.
Watch Sportscene's Steven Thompson and Stephen Craigan discuss Falkirk's lack of goals after their 2-0 home defeat by Hearts.
Watch all the highlights as Hearts extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to six points with a win over Falkirk.
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We asked for your thoughts after Falkirk's 2-0 defeat at home to Hearts.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Nathan: Firstly I'll get rid of the elephant in the room, I couldn't tell from where I was sat in the stand but after looking back at it I have a failure to understand how we didn't get a penalty for what is a goal line block with a hand in the first half. Four games without a goal does strike an alarm bell, it's clear how much we miss Ross MacIver not just for his goals but for his hold up play as well, decision-making when we did get the ball into the final areas was just not there. The past two games we have simply not been at the standard I know we are capable of and it now sets up what I think are two must win games against Killie and Dundee.
Gordon: The handball by the defender on the goal line is a penalty and it changes the game. However that's four games in a row we have been unable to link up front and that's the big concern.
Goals from Claudio Braga and Stephen Kingsley gave Hearts a precious victory over Falkirk in atrocious conditions as the Scottish Premiership leaders stretched six points clear of Celtic.
What did you make of Falkirk's performance?
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn: "The key moments are the goals. The game's hardly started and we're a goal down.
"We did really well to stay in the game and worked hard. The moment for us is when Kyrell [Wilson] goes round the goalkeeper. If he scores that, it's level and we get a massive lift from that and it puts pressure on Hearts.
"We probably didn't do enough in the second half. We got into some good positions in the wide areas but our crossing wasn't great. So, quality in the final third is what I'm frustrated at."
On Harry Milne's block with his arm from Wilson's shot, McGlynn accepts it was not a penalty.
"I haven't seen it, but that seems to be the verdict I'm getting from everyone else," he said. "So fair play."
On going four games without a goal, McGlynn added: "The four games are the four teams above us in the league, who are vying for the league.
"The key games for us at the next two. We go to Kilmarnock and Dundee, these are the games we have to go and score goals and pick up points to keep ourselves in the same area of the league."
Image source, SNSFalkirk boss John McGlynn expects to have an unchanged squad. Keelan Adams (groin), Coll Donaldson (abdomen), Aidan Nesbitt (foot), Gary Oliver (hamstring), Ross MacIver (ankle), Lewis Neilson (ankle) and Tom Lang (foot) are all set to miss out again.
Hearts boss Derek McInnes reported no fresh injury concerns. Midfielders Beni Baningime, Calem Nieuwenhof, Finlay Pollock and Ageu all remain sidelined with hamstring issues.
Image source, SNSJohn McGlynn is relaxed about Falkirk's recent lack of goals as he says the club are still in their Premiership "honeymoon period".
The Bairns sat fifth in the table after a 3-0 win at Dundee United last month but have since draw a blank in three successive games, with back-to-back goalless draws against Rangers and Motherwell followed by last weekend's 3-0 loss at Hibernian.
"The games have been difficult games and so you can understand why maybe they would [dry up]," McGlynn said ahead of Saturday's visit from league leaders Hearts.
"But our goals are shared out, we're not relying on one particular person. They generally come from all over the place. It's not like we've got a number nine who scores 25 goals and he's injured now. Our goals come from all over.
"So as much as we may not have scored in the last three games, we've been picking up points, which is the be all and end all. I'm not concerned about our goals. They'll come from all over the place, really."
McGlynn's excitement for the challenge of the top flight remains undimmed despite slipping back into the bottom six.
"We're still like a team that's come up from League One to the Championship to the Premiership, we're still enjoying it," he said. "That honeymoon period is still there because we've still been getting results.
"The players are still enthusiastic. That's not worn off. We have targets that we want to get to.
"We got 15 points in the first round of 11 games, and we're five games into the second lot of the 11 games and we've picked up six points. So you have to be really working on how many points we need to get to be hitting that target, and we're kind of on course.
"As long as we can have a positive points ratio to games played, then we can keep that cushion [from the teams near the bottom]."
Lewis Neilson's Heart of Midlothian future will be discussed next year when the defender recovers from ankle surgery, with the 22-year-old, who sufffered the injury while on loan to Falkirk, out of contract at the end of the season. (Edinburgh Evening News), external
Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.
Image source, SNSFalkirk are brimming with confidence and "relishing the challenge" of trying to shock Premiership leaders Hearts, says striker Brian Graham.
John McGlynn's newly-promoted side dropped out of the top six after last weekend's 3-0 loss at Hibs - their first defeat in six games - and are looking to bounce back against Derek McInnes' men at the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday night.
"Every game is big, but obviously the nature of Hearts, won against Celtic last week, sitting top of the table, they've lost one game all season," Graham told Sky Sports.
"We know what sort of challenge it's going to be for us boys, but at the same time you've got to relish it, we've had a relatively good start to the campaign ourselves.
"We had a little blip against Hibs last weekend and it's about going again.
"It's a fantastic game, I'm looking forward to it. It's on TV, it's at eight o'clock on a Saturday night, so we're relishing the challenge.
"I love that narrative that it's a slight dip [in Hearts' form]. They've lost one game in 16, that's some dip by the way.
"We know they're coming here full of confidence but so are we. We've had one defeat in the last six, we've got a really good spirit in that changing room. It's a game we're relishing.
"When you've got a manager the way John is, we knew he would have that belief to get us up the table, but as he keeps saying, it's only a start."
Falkirk are winless in six top-flight meetings with Hearts (D2 L4) since a 2-1 victory in September 2008.
This will be Hearts' first top-flight visit to Falkirk since a 1-0 win in December 2009. Hearts have won their past three away league games at newly-promoted opposition.
Falkirk are unbeaten in six home league matches (W2 D4), their longest run in the top flight since going seven without defeat from October 2006 to January 2007.
With 35 points in 16 games, Hearts have made the best start to a top-flight season by a non-Old Firm club since 2005-06, when Hearts themselves had 37 points in their opening 16 games.
Hearts forward Claudio Braga has scored more away goals in the Premiership this season than any other player, with five of his seven strikes coming on the road, including last time out at Celtic.
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
A 3-0 defeat is never easy to swallow, but Bairns fans shouldn't be too downhearted by the loss to Hibernian.
Our trip to the capital marked our third game in just six days - a tough run against teams sitting in the top five.
Considering we avoided defeat in two of those matches and kept a couple of clean sheets along the way, it is another sign of real progress as the season moves forward.
While a 3-0 reverse stings, the scoreline doesn't tell the full story. Yes, the Hibees were worthy winners, but we had a goal chalked off for a razor-thin offside call, and were denied a penalty in a situation almost identical to one David Gray's side were awarded a spot-kick for at the Falkirk Stadium earlier in the campaign.
It's also worth remembering the Bairns were enjoying a five-game unbeaten run before Saturday's trip to Easter Road.
The defeat was only our second across our last 10 Premiership matches, underlining the consistency the team has shown this season.
Adversity often reveals more about a team's character than victories, and that has been a hallmark of John McGlynn's tenure.
Whether the Bairns can respond to this setback at the first time of asking against table-topping Hearts on Saturday night will be a tall order, but the overall picture so far is encouraging.
Martin Boyle won Hibernian's sixth penalty of the Scottish Premiership season - more than any other team - in their 3-0 win at home to Falkirk on Saturday.
The Australia winger took it himself to open the scoring, but former Aberdeen and Rangers full-back Richard Foster thinks Falkirk's Filip Lissah was unfortunate to concede the spot kick after 36 minutes.
"I think Martin Boyle is quite cute here and quite clever and I think he initiates the contact and I don't think there's much the defender can do," Foster said on BBC Scotland's Sportscene.
"It is a brilliant pass from Josh Mulligan, a nice weight, and, if you watch Boyle, he runs across the defender and, if there is any contact, it is absolutely minimal.
"And, if there is any contact, he initiates it. I think they were lucky to get that."
Watch highlights of Hibernian's 3-0 win against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.
We asked for your views on Falkirk's 3-0 defeat against Hibernian.
Here's what some of you said:
Nathan: Just not at the races sadly. Slack, slow and really off the pace throughout the first half. We improved slightly in the second half but all in all we were second best and Hibs were probably deserved winners.
Neil: As a Falkirk fan, we know we'll have hard days, but the team have done well so far and another fantastic Falkirk away support today. A club on the up.
David: Hard shift with the third game in six days. Hibs deserved the three points, however we will learn from this going forward. Massive opportunity to take another step forward next Saturday night when the Jambos come calling. Always a tasty fixture. John McGlynn can put up his feet for a couple of days and then start to plot the downfall of the boys in maroon.
Ellis: Sometimes you need to take your medicine and this was one of those times. Points gained against top-six teams are a bonus for us and away to Hibs won't define our season. Fancy three points against Hearts next week at home.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn: "Forget the scoreline. I expected Hibs to come at us. They've lost their last two, they're at home, we're the newly-promoted team.
"We were makers of our own downfall. We've got our own style of playing, that's no secret, we've been doing the same thing for a few years now.
"We lose the ball deep in our own half for both the first and second goal. We were a little threat in the first half, but coming in 2-0 down we looked sluggish from the game on Wednesday.
"The second half was much better. We've put the ball in the back of the net, and if that goes for us that's 2-1. We were the better team in the second half and it could have been a turning point.
"They gave it everything in the second half, so I'm much happier with that performance. We've done well to defend a number of set plays in the first half. It was disappointing to lose the goals when we were in possession of the ball.
"We're not going to crucify ourselves. We dust ourselves down and get ready for Hearts next week. Today, it was just a little bit too far for us."
