Falkirk

Celtic are keeping tabs on Falkirk striker Barney Stewart and have the 22-year-old on their radar as an option to bolster their attack this summer. (Football Insider), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Max Stryjek - Kilmarnock

A clean sheet for the keeper who underwent heart surgery earlier in the season - a remarkable story.

Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann put him at right-back and it proved a masterstroke as Curtis scored when Killie blew Dundee United away.

Craig Halkett - Hearts

A giant performance from the Hearts centre-back in a seismic victory against title rivals Rangers.

Ryan Astley - Dundee

Solid showing as Dundee earned a clean sheet and a vital three points.

Stephen Kingsley - Hearts

Great reactions to grab that vital Hearts equaliser.

Yang Hyun-Jun - Celtic

Celtic were not scintillating again, but Yang was a bright spark against 10-man Hibs.

Brad Spencer - Falkirk

The captain set the tone as his side once again got the better of Motherwell.

Aaron Tshibola - Kilmarnock

Great overall performance at the heart of the Killie midfield.

Joe Westley - Dundee

A big goal that takes the heat off any Dundee survival anxiety.

Kelechi Iheanacho - Celtic

He brought that scalpel-like sharpness in the Celtic penalty box that the defending champions sorely needed.

Lawrence Shankland - Hearts

The Hearts captain underlined his credentials as an inspirational leader once again with a goal of seismic proportions. His ability as a striker is clearly never in question, but even by his standards the left-foot finish to sink Rangers was outstanding.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

It was only around 12 months ago, when Falkirk secured promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, there was light-hearted chatter among Falkirk fans about "Europe before you know it", with the usual jokes about "getting the passports dusted off".

Those comments were very much made in jest and in high spirits, given that we were riding the wave of an invincible League 1 season and then a Scottish Championship title triumph to take us back to the big time.

Fast forward a year, though, and with a top-six place secured comfortably - and in some style - the prospect of a European adventure is very much alive following our 1-0 win over Motherwell at the weekend.

It was another really encouraging display and once again reinforced the point that we haven't taken our foot off the gas following the disappointment at Hampden a couple of weeks ago.

It all sets up nicely for a huge game against Hibs on Saturday, as a win would lift us up to fifth place in the table with just two games to go. Could European football turn out to be more than just promotion pub talk after all?

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Falkirk's goal in Saturday's victory over Motherwell and their impressive form against the Fir Park side.

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Watch the best of the action as Falkirk boost their European hopes with a third win over Motherwell this season. Available to UK users only.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Falkirk match-winner Henry Cartwright insists pushing on for a fifth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership would be "massive" for the club.

The 1-0 Scottish Premiership home victory over Motherwell closed the gap to Hibernian above them to two points, leaving Falkirk with a potential shot at European football next season.

That relies on overhauling David Gray's side in the table and Celtic defeating Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final, with Hibernian travelling to Falkirk next weekend.

Victory also secured an unbeaten season against the high-flying Steelmen who occupy fourth place with Cartwright netting the winner moments after coming on.

"I'm obviously not playing as much as I really want to and getting a few minutes here and there but I'm happy to come on and make a difference for the team today," Cartwright told BBC Scotland.

"Of course it's massive [potentially finishing fifth] obviously, there's a [potential] European spot so of course that's what we're looking to do.

"It could be a six-pointer next weeko hopefully we jump them and see how the rest of the season goes."

"You know back-to-back promotions, finally got in the top six - it's a massive achievement but we've not got it by just being comfortable and accepting our fate.

"We're always striving for what's next, so credit to the lads that have been playing every weekend, doing well and doing Falkirk proud."

The midfielder, on loan from Leicester City, netted his second league goal of the campaign, the other coming in a 1-1 home draw against Rangers in October.

Falkirk completed an unbeaten campaign against Motherwell and closed in on fifth place as substitute Henry Cartwright converted to seal a Scottish Premiership victory.

Read the full match report here

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Falkirk head coach John McGlynn: "The boys gave everything, had to work their socks off.

"Everyone knows how good a team Motherwell are but we've managed to stifle them a little bit nearly every time we've played them bar the first half of the first game.

"We're delighted with the win, we wanted to try and close that gap on Hibs and we've done that for at least 24 hours, hopefully longer.

"The first half, the intensity, the pace of the game was ridiculous. We had to defend well, Nicky had one really good save on the first half and I think on another day Barney gets himself a hattrick, maybe it's just a little dip in confidence.

"We managed to defend well as a team, we defended the box and we were a threat throughout the game. I'm delighted for the players, they put so much work into that."

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Falkirk have Filip Lissah back but Dylan Tait is a doubt, while Scott Bain (ankle) and Liam Henderson (hamstring) remain out.

Louie Marsh and Ethan Williams (both thigh) are out for the season.

Motherwell defender Stephen Welsh has recovered from the knock that forced him off at Rangers while Johnny Koutroumbis could make a comeback.

Eythor Bjorgolfsson is unlikely to return this season along with Zach Robinson, although the latter has made a partial return to training after 18 months out.

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Falkirk defender Lewis Neilson hopes to end an injury-ravaged season on a high before facing an uncertain summer.

The 22-year-old is in line to start against Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday, with just four games left on his loan deal from Hearts.

The central defender has missed a large chunk of the season through an ankle injury that required surgery, but is now hoping to help Falkirk in their end-of-season push for a European place by cutting the gap to fifth-place Hibs to two points.

Neilson said: "I'm out of contract in the summer, so it's hard not to think about the future, especially when it's so unknown where you'll end up. So I've been giving it a wee bit of thought.

"But my main focus is to finish the season as strongly as possible and hopefully that'll put me in as good a position as possible."

When asked if he had spoken to Falkirk about a potential contract, he said: "It's something I would definitely be open to, but it's not something we've discussed so far.

"I will try to finish the season as strongly as possible myself and hopefully that puts me in a position to have conversations like that."

The former Dundee United player added: "I had a really good start to my loan. I'd played every single minute up until I got my injury against Motherwell in October.

"It felt like a long process to me – to come back three to four months.

"I probably haven't played as many games as I would have liked to since being back, but that's due to the boys being brilliant. But hopefully I can finish the season strong.

"We've still got one eye set on fifth place. It's still within our reach.

"If we can get a win against Motherwell, that would set us up nicely to go play against Hibs the week after."

Neilson has watched from a distance as his Hearts team-mates have pushed for the league title all season, but knows the move to Falkirk was the right one for his career.

"I'm really close with a lot of the boys," he said. "It's a brilliant changing room so I'm delighted how well the season's gone for them so far.

"Hopefully they can go and do the job.

"But in pre-season, I was over there in Spain with them and I was looking around, there was about seven or eight centre-halves.

"I knew I probably wasn't going to be getting a sniff, so I don't look at it with any jealousy, because I knew I probably wouldn't have been much of a part of that anyway.

"So I'm really glad I've come here and enjoyed my season at Falkirk."

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• Motherwell left-back Emmanuel Longelo has scored eight times in the Scottish Premiership this season, the most non-penalty goals by a defender in a single campaign in the competition since James Tavernier in 2022-23 (also 8). No defender on Opta record (from 2005-06) has netted more (excluding penalties) in a Scottish top-flight season.

• Falkirk are unbeaten in five league meetings with Motherwell (D3 L2) since a 1-0 defeat in October 2009.

• Motherwell are winless in six league visits to Falkirk (D3 L3), scoring just one goal in that run since a 2-1 victory in February 2007.

• Falkirk have lost their past two league games but are yet to lose three in succession this season, last doing so in the top flight in March 2010.

• Motherwell have conceded two or more goals in five of their past six league games, as many as the previous 32 combined. Their 13 goals conceded in this time are more than their previous 24 Scottish Premiership matches prior (12).

Barnsley and Plymouth are keen on landing Dylan Tait if he leaves Falkirk at the end of his current contract this month. (Football League World, external)

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn says his manager of the year nomination is recognition for the entire club.

McGlynn is in the running to win the Managers and Coaches Association of Scotland Manager of the Year award for a third consecutive season after following successive promotions by leading the Bairns into the top six of the Premiership.

He has been nominated alongside Hearts boss Derek McInnes and Stenhousemuir's Gary Naysmith.

McGlynn thinks McInnes should win the award but is surprised Motherwell's Jens Berthel Askou wasn't on the shortlist.

Before their fixture against Motherwell on Saturday, the 64-year-old said: "It's a privilege and an honour, obviously, your fellow managers voting for you.

"All due to the work that's been done in the background and on the pitch, obviously. Managers can't get nominated for these things if the players aren't doing the business, the whole backroom staff, everyone involved.

"I'm getting the recognition, but it's a recognition for the football club.

"I have heard people saying we've been a breath of fresh air. I think we've certainly brought something to the Premiership, the same as we brought something to the Championship from League One.

"Motherwell have been outstanding, absolutely outstanding. The football team are fantastic, and the manager's been great to turn that around in a very, very short time.

"And it's quite topical that Jens has not made it into the nominations for the manager of the year.

"You get two votes and I voted for Derek McInnes and Jens. And if I get beat by one, I'll be kicking myself.

"I'm only kidding but I think he's done a great job. But to be there for so long, for me, it has to be Derek McInnes."

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Falkirk striker Barney Stewart wants to finish his Premiership season strongly with more goals, but believes a surprise World Cup place may come too soon.

The 22-year-old, who was playing for Heriot-Watt University just 18 months ago, has enjoyed a remarkable rise this term to become one of the top flight's in-form strikers.

Stewart, who was nominated for the SPFL young player of the year award, has scored eight league goals in 14 appearances and is keen to add to his tally before the end of the campaign.

"Obviously, it's been a great season for me personally, but I'd love for the rise to keep continuing," he said.

"Obviously it'll be tough because we've got all the hardest teams in the league still to play, so to get a few more goals would be great. I'm happy with what's happened so far, but I'd love to score against all the big teams.

"I've actually been quite poor in those games this season when you look at my record. I've walked away from them happy with my individual performance, but a goal would just be the cherry on top.

"I'd like to hit 10 before the end of the season, so that's the personal target."

The striker has made four appearances for Scotland's Under-21s in their Euro 2028 qualifying campaign and started one of those matches.

Up top has been a problem area for senior side, and with the World Cup on the horizon, there have been suggestions that Stewart could be a surprise addition to the squad for the tournament in the United States.

However, Stewart himself feels he is still some way off making that step up.

"Personally, I think there are so many other good strikers in and around the Scotland set-up that it might be a little bit too soon for me, but you never know," he added.

"It's great that my name's in these conversations. It means I've been doing something right. I just take confidence from it."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Many Falkirk fans, myself included, suspected our season might fizzle out following the disappointment of the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at Hampden.

That was compounded before the trip to Celtic Park when John McGlynn confirmed we would be without three key players in Filip Lissah, Liam Henderson and Scott Bain - making an already daunting away day all the more difficult.

Having conceded six against Rangers in our last Premiership outing, plenty of Bairns fans were fearing the worst at Parkhead on Saturday.

Yes, we fell to defeat - but our performance proved we haven't got the flip-flops on just yet.

We were bold and brave on the ball, holding our own for large spells. The first two goals we conceded, and the timing of them, were largely self-inflicted, which has been a running theme this season.

Even so, we've sent a clear message to the sides we still have to face that a free pass won't be coming their way, particularly with three of our final four matches at home.

Reeling in Hibs might be a bridge too far, but we look ready to give it everything between now and the end of what has been a brilliant campaign.

ARE HEARTS DESTINED TO WIN THE TITLE? 🏆

It was a seismic weekend in the hunt for the Scottish Premiership crown. Are you rejoicing, are you quietly optimistic, or are you chucking it?

Join the debate with Ray Bradshaw at 18:00 BST TONIGHT on the BBC Sport Scottish Football YouTube channel, external to give us your views in the chat. The show is fully interactive, so have your say.

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Dundee's Luke Graham, Arbroath's Findlay Marshall, Rangers' on-loan Tottenham winger Mikey Moore and Falkirk's Barney Stewart have been nominated for the SPFL young player of the year award.

Centre-back Graham has been a key figure for Dundee in their fight against relegation and has also chipped in with three goals in all competitions.

Moore has scored six goals and contributed two assists in an impressive campaign at Ibrox, while Stewart has been prolific all season - scoring six in 11 Championship matches on loan at Dunfermline before finding the back of the net eight times for Falkirk in the top flight.

Midfielder Marshall - who is on loan from Aberdeen - has 12 goals in 35 games in the Championship as Arbroath chase promotion.

Watch all the highlights as Celtic kept their Scottish Premiership title hopes alive with a 3-1 win over Falkirk. Available to UK users only

We asked for your views as Falkirk were beaten 3-1 by Celtic at Parkhead.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Barry: Usual from Falkirk away to Celtic. Played some nice stuff, but ultimately not clinical enough and undone at other end by conceding soft goals.

Don: Let's be grateful and celebrate where we've got to this season. Proud of everyone at the club.

David: Looked a lot better that last Saturday with more drive and go. Need to cut the silly errors out at the back but it's been a good season. We stayed up, top six finish so can't complain. Happy with the season we have had.

Celtic moved level on points with Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts as Daizen Maeda's double and a Kieran Tierney strike secured a vital - and at times nervy - win over Falkirk.

Read the match report here.

Have your say on the match here.