Falkirk

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Falkirk welcome back on-loan Hearts defender Lewis Neilson after he had to sit out the defeat at Tynecastle while Kyrell Wilson is set to return. Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon and Coll Donaldson remain sidelined.

Mohamed Diomande returns to the Rangers squad after being suspended against Sturm Graz while Kieran Dowall and Nedim Bajrami are not in the Europa League squad and are available again.

Long-term absentees Rabbi Matondo (knee) and Dujon Sterling (Achilles) are in back training but will not be involved any time soon.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn remains "wary" of struggling Rangers as he expressed sympathy for under-pressure counterpart Russell Martin.

The second-bottom Bairns trail Rangers - who have one league win in six games - by just two points before Sunday's meeting at the Falkirk Stadium.

"You can't hide from the fact that Rangers are not in a place that they want to be, but put them down at your peril," McGlynn said.

"There's no way we'll be taking it lightly at all. I'm looking for a response to the game last week.

"It wouldn't have mattered if it was Rangers or whoever we're going to be playing tomorrow. On Sunday, we'd be looking for a response from the players. That's my main theme here."

Falkirk have impressed at times in their return to the top flight, but they were well beaten 3-0 by Hearts last weekend at Tynecastle.

"It's probably the first time we've let ourselves down," the Bairns manager said. "However, I do understand that we wouldn't have been the only one that day [to get well beaten], Hearts were in a particularly good place, they were ready for whoever on that day.

"They'd just been to Ibrox and won for the first time in 14 years, sitting proudly on top of the league. They'd had a lot of time to prepare for the game, and we had a short time to prepare, and we were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were good, we were a little off it."

Rangers were beaten 2-1 by Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday, a sixth defeat in 16 games for boss Martin, who continues to face abuse from his own supporters.

"Of course you [feel sympathy for him], because you're a human being," McGlynn said.

"You do feel for him. There's abuse and there's going too far. I've seen with another manager [Stuart Kettlewell at Motherwell] last season, he came away from it because of that.

"Sometimes you get guys saying to you, 'I don't know how you do it'. But we love the game. It's a huge part of it. I have a lot of sympathy because sometimes it's going too far. You can't be doing that type of thing. You shouldn't be [having to get] escorted to training and such."

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• This will be Falkirk's first competitive meeting with Rangers since a 4-0 League Cup defeat in November 2020, first in the league since a 3-2 Championship win in March 2016, and first in the top flight since a 3-0 defeat in January 2010.

• Rangers have lost both of their past two league visits to Falkirk, each in the Championship in 2015-16, while they have never lost three successive trips.

• In the top flight, though, Rangers have lost just one of their past 45 games against the Bairns home and away (W38 D6), winning their latest 10 in a row since a 1-0 defeat in December 2006 under Paul Le Guen.

• Falkirk are conceding an average of 2.0 goals per game in the Premiership this season (12 in six games), the most of any side.

• Rangers are unbeaten in 29 league games against newly-promoted opponents, winning 26 (D3) since a 1-0 defeat at Livingston in September 2018.

• Rangers haven't lost any of their past 20 Scottish Premiership matches that have come the same weekend after a midweek European game (W15 D5) since going down 1-0 to Celtic in September 2023 under Michael Beale. Indeed, the Glasgow side are unbeaten in their past 49 Sunday league games immediately after a Europa League match (excluding qualifiers) on Thursday (W42 D7) since a 3-0 defeat to Celtic in February 2011 under Walter Smith.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Following last season's Scottish Championship triumph, I - like many other Bairns fans - probably thought that a new first-choice goalkeeper would not sit high on our summer shopping list.

However, John McGlynn had other ideas, and rightfully so.

Scott Bain was one of the few early signings we made ahead of our return to the top-flight and so far it has proved to be an inspired one.

Following a seven-year stint at Celtic - where he mainly served as third-choice goalkeeper in recent seasons - Bain has made a seamless transition back into first-team action in the top tier.

In fact, it could be argued the 33-year-old has been our standout performer this season - a view echoed by John McGlynn in the aftermath of our 3-0 defeat at Tynecastle on Saturday.

While Bain couldn't do anything about the three goals that Hearts did score, he did produce various saves to help keep the scoreline respectable, with the pick of the bunch denying Lawrence Shankland in the second half.

That was just the latest in a string of impressive stops that Bain has pulled off across our opening six league games of the season.

On top of all that, Bain has also shown he is comfortable using his feet and hands for distribution, almost acting as an outfield player for us in certain situations.

Having been capped three times for Scotland earlier in his career, Bain's revival has strengthened the case for him to earn further international recognition over the coming months, especially given the national team's lack of goalkeeping options.

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Falkirk left-back Sean Mackie has returned to the second tier to spend the season on loan with Ross County.

The 26-year-old helped the Bairns to League 1 and Championship title success in the past two seasons, making 82 appearances since joining the club in summer 2022.

County manager Tony Docherty said: "He adds experience and knowledge of the Scottish Championship, having featured heavily and successfully in Falkirk's title win last season, as well as being part of the Hibs team which won this division."

Watch Sportscene analysis of Falkirk's performance in a 3-0 loss away to Hearts.

Watch all the highlights as Hearts moved top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-0 win over Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

Rampant Hearts moved to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a dominant win over a listless Falkirk at a raucous Tynecastle, as Lawrence Shankland became the SPFL's record goalscorer.

Read the full match report here.

Give us your thoughts on the game here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Sport Scotland: "Yeah, we had to try and stay in the game after that [opening goal] and we almost did.

"We had to get to half-time at 1-0 and re-address it, we looked a bit heavy-legged, and I think that comes from the game on Tuesday, but we're going to have to be able to do that.

"So maybe team selection has to be looking at that maybe guys that have done too much on Tuesday night come into that huge, big game today.

"Hearts had a break last week and obviously had a bit of time to rest and recover while we were playing a big game against the Hibs, and I think that was something to do with being heavy-legged.

"Thought Scott Bain had a great game today.

"So, 2-0 at half time, obviously, we need to get the next goal, unfortunately, we've lost that [second goal] very, very early in the second half, and it's a long way back from there.

"The boys kept on going, they kept working, we tried things to try and change things around a little bit.

"I've got to concede that Hearts were very dominant today, they look like a team that were at the top of the table, look like team that were playing with lot of confidence, they look like a team that had the bit between their teeth and they played at a very high tempo, which today we didn't do enough to stop the flow.

"We all understand that we have to learn, obviously, we will go over things as we do, but we can't continue to keep making the same mistakes, we know that."

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Hearts right-back Christian Borchgrevink is back in contention but Ageu (hamstring), Frankie Kent (knee), Craig Gordon (hamstring), Ryan Fulton (groin) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still out.

Falkirk are unable to field on-loan Hearts defender Lewis Neilson against his parent club, while Kyrell Wilson, Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon and Coll Donaldson remain sidelined.

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John McGlynn says Falkirk are still adjusting to life in the top flight and will only "get better".

The newly-promoted side have taken five points from their first five fixtures and fought back from two down for a draw with Hibs in midweek.

Manager McGlynn is aiming to continue that momentum in Saturday's visit to high-flying Hearts.

"We're only going to get better by experience and learning from each game," he said.

"I think we've been in all the games. We're not going to have the amount of ball we had in League One or the Championship.

"We're going to have to be able to play without the ball, and I thought we did that better on Tuesday than in other games.

"We're definitely finding our feet."

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Falkirk striker Barney Stewart has joined Dunfermline on loan until January.

The 21-year-old played 17 games and scored twice for the Championship-winning Bairns last term after joining from Heriot Watt University, but has yet to make an appearance this season.

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John McGlynn says he is "quite content" with the way his career has panned out, as the Falkirk manager prepares for his first Premiership match in charge at Tynecastle since losing his job at Hearts in February 2013.

The 63-year-old served on the backroom staff from 1995 to 2006 and returned to the Jambos as manager in 2012, but only spent eight months in charge of the Edinburgh club under erratic owner Vladimir Romanov.

McGlynn has been back to Hearts with Championship clubs Livingston and Raith Rovers, but Saturday will be his first time in the dugout as a Premiership manager.

"For me, after five-and-a-half years at Raith Rovers, it was probably the right time, but it was probably the wrong time to be at Hearts," said McGlynn.

"There was so much change going on, but I probably lasted longer than some. I felt there was pros and cons to it. I can look back at the two [Europa League play-off] games against Liverpool fondly.

"I also look back fondly at getting the team to the League Cup final, which Hearts have got a horrendous record in.

"Our league form wasn't great, we were trying to play good football but getting hit with sucker punches and losing games.

"On the back of winning the Scottish Cup with a 5-1 win against Hibs, there were high expectation but with only half of the Scottish Cup team left, it was always going to be difficult with the brief to bring in younger players because there was obviously no money.

"We did a reasonable job under the circumstances. It's not done me any harm because I'm quite content with what I've done in football and where I am right now.

"I had a lot to thank Hearts for, for the opportunity I was given in the first place. Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown opened the door for me [in 1995] and I got in and had some great times there.

"I don't have any ill feeling or resentment. You just deal with the cards you're dealt."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

It may seem like an eternity since Hearts returned home with a welcome victory at Ibrox but those three points could prove to be extremely valuable come the end of the season.

In addition the win maintains the positive vibes emanating from Tynecastle, which also increases the expectations from the stands.

This week when Falkirk come calling and a chance-laden affair should ensue.

Few managers will know more about Tynecastle than John McGlynn. Having joined Hearts in the late 1990s and brought through stalwarts like Scott Severin and Craig Gordon, McGlynn has shown tactical nous when it comes to setting up a team at whichever club he has worked at.

And don't forget the 63-year-old was a vital cog in Celtic's coaching staff under Brendan Rodgers in his first spell at Parkhead before taking the leap back into management with Raith Rovers in 2018.

McGlynn also had a couple of spells in charge of Hearts in the Romanov era so is well versed in the club.

But Derek McInnes and his players look as if they have the belief they can win any game and it will be a major upset if Hearts don't secure victory in front of another sell-out crowd at Tynecastle.

Falkirk chief executive Jamie Swinney targets consistency in the Scottish Premiership and hopes the Bairns can establish themselves as the seventh best in the league. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Watch highlights as Falkirk hit back from two down to draw with Hibs in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

Falkirk roared back from two goals down to snatch a Scottish Premiership point against Hibernian and make it four successive draws for David Gray's side.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn: "We never fail to entertain, we play good football and we go out to attack in every game.

"The atmosphere was amazing. Great mentality from the players, to be 2-0 down against a team like Hibs and to come back speaks volume for everyone involved and the fighting spirit.

"The goal before half time was significant and the only thing separating the teams was a penalty. I've not seen it back but there's not much we can do about it.

"Getting crosses in the box, we caused them problems throughout the whole game and on another night, we could have gone ahead early on. It was a great point.

"We knew Hibs have a bad record of losing goals just before half time, we mentioned that to the players.

"The goal was the difference between us getting a point and not and getting confidence in the players to say we are very much in this game."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

With Falkirk facing a quickfire double-header against Hibs and Hearts this week, it will be interesting to see how John McGlynn makes use of our squad.

The Bairns boss has largely stuck with the tried and tested over the first month of the season, but most supporters are expecting to see some tweaks in the wake of our 2-1 defeat to St Mirren a fortnight ago.

Lewis Neilson will be ineligible to face his parent club this weekend, so that will force a change at the heart of our defence, while Brian Graham is pushing for a recall against Hibs on Tuesday night after coming off the bench to bag a goal against St Mirren.

The striking dilemma McGlynn is faced with is perhaps the most intriguing one. An injury around about this time last year disrupted Ross MacIver's involvement in our title-winning campaign, however he has looked back to his best during the early weeks of this season.

MacIver is a tireless nuisance to opposition defences, willing to do the dirty work as well as chipping in with the odd goal.

Graham, on the other hand, is the more natural goalscorer of the two, demonstrating throughout his career that he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

And let's not forget highly-rated Sunderland loanee Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi could also add to the striking conundrum facing the Falkirk manager moving forward.

It's a good problem to have and one that McGlynn will likely weigh up on a game-by-game basis.

• Falkirk are winless in their past 10 top-flight meetings with Hibs (D4 L6), with this their first since a 3-1 defeat in March 2010. Their last win over Hibs at this level was in December 2006 (2-1).

• Hibs have won their past two league meetings with newly-promoted opposition, last winning three in a row in the top flight in October 2012.

• Falkirk's Scottish Premiership games this season have included 96 shots (51 for, 45 faced), the joint-fewest of any side in the division (level with Aberdeen).

• Hibs have drawn five of their past six league games (W1), as many as their previous 22 beforehand (W14 D5 L3). Hibs could draw four successive top-flight matches for the first time since October 2019, when Paul Heckingbottom drew his last five league games in charge.

• Since the start of May, 11 of Hibs' 16 league goals have been scored in the first 45 minutes, the most first-half goals of any Scottish Premiership side in this time. Falkirk, meanwhile, have scored all five of their league goals this season in second halves.

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Falkirk welcome back Tom Lang, Barney Stewart and Finn Yeats to their squad for Tuesday's Scottish Premiership match against Hibernian.

However, Coll Donaldson, Aidan Nesbitt, Ethan Ross, Jamie Sneddon and Kyrell Wilson remain out.

Hibs have no fresh injuries.

Alasana Manneh and Joe Newell are still unavailable.