Falkirk

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Falkirk Stadium

Image source, SNS

Scott Bain has had worse Tuesdays.

Before a commanding performance between the sticks in the victory against Hearts - Falkirk's first win of the Scottish Premiership season - the goalkeeper was recalled to the Scotland squad by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

"I'm absolutely delighted," the 34-year-old told BBC Scotland. "It's absolutely great. A really, really good day."

Though John McGlynn's side had to wait a little longer than they would have liked for a win in the league, Bain's performances have been solid, hence the shouts for his return to the national team following his omission from the World Cup squad under Steve Clarke.

On Tuesday night, though, he experienced "an easier game" than he's had before, crediting the "outstanding" defence in front of him.

"It was definitely an easier game than some of the games I've had, but I think that was all down to the workrate and effort the players put in," he explained.

"They were absolutely outstanding defensively. We switched off once with Josh McPake and he creates the chance - showing how good a player is - but apart from that, the full-backs and the wingers were excellent in stopping the supply."

Now Bain hopes the Bairns can kickstart their season.

"I just said that in there, I think now it's a chance for us to really kick on," he added.

"It's been a little bit of a stop-start season for us, obviously a lot of change in players, but I think you can see the squad's gelling.

"To get that win, we're absolutely delighted. It was a little bit nervy at the end just because we were desperate to get the monkey off our back."

Next up is a trip to Premiership newcomers St Johnstone on Saturday, and it's only after that Bain will turn his attention to joining up with the Scotland squad.

While McPake - one of seven uncapped players - picked up an assist for Hearts after dominating much of the discourse before the announcement, Bain highlighted the balance required and the need for some regulars to remain.

"I've seen a lot of chatter about people being excited about a new era, but I think it's really important to have the core group who have been mainstays with Scotland," four-cap Bain said.

"They create an excellent atmosphere, they're real quality players and they'll bring these new lads in.

"It'll be great to get away, get together and try and gel as quickly as possible because the games come thick and fast."

We asked for your views after Falkirk beat Hearts 2-1 at home for a first victory of the Premiership campaign.

Here's what some of you said:

Dougie: Falkirk certainly deserved their win, with Owen Eames man of the match. All the team played well.

Pabs: What a performance from a Falkirk side that looks like it's starting to gel. Eames looks like yet another fantastic John McGlynn loan star, his workrate and determination paid off by scoring the winner.

Iain: Six games in and we've already played last season's top four. We might be down the bottom end right now but we've gathered a point more than I expected with a reasonable GD considering we've played both halves of the Old Firm. St Mirren caught us cold but signings are starting to gel and we're on the right track.

Mark: Outstanding team performance with no failures in the navy blue. Nullified Hearts for much of the game by continually pressing them into making basic mistakes across their backline and midfield. Scott Bain showing why he has earned the right to be in the Scotland squad with his point-blank save to keep the scores tied.

Watch the best of the action as Falkirk secure their first Scottish Premiership win of the season with a 2-1 home victory over Hearts. (Available to UK users only)

Falkirk secured their first Scottish Premiership win of the season as they defeated Hearts.

It could have been a more handsome win over a side who had the opportunity to move up to second in the table and were unbeaten in nine games.

Manager John McGlynn thinks the first win will allow his side to "kick on now", but we want to hear your reaction the performance and result.

Read the match report.

Have your say on the game.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn is delighted to "get the monkey off" their back after beating Hearts 2-1 to record their first Scottish Premiership win of the season.

"I'm delighted for the players," he tells BBC Scotland.

"They put so much work in there and played some excellent football and scored some good goals. I thought we were good in and out of possession.

"We have to be good as they [Hearts] have two lightning wingers who are absolutely flying and I am delighted to say we kept them fairly quiet tonight, which speaks volumes for the team and the way we set the team up.

"Absolutely delighted to get the monkey off the back and I think that'll kick us on now. It's just getting that first win.

"We have been gradually getting better, the transfer window has closed and we can just concentrate on our football and we saw the fruits of that tonight.

"The teams above us not winning, it's tightening up very quickly."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

There is absolutely no need to hit the panic button this early in the season, but the next six weeks or so could tell us plenty about what lies ahead.

Tuesday night's visit of Hearts will take care of itself. The Jam Tarts arrive in excellent form, so anything we take from the game would be a welcome bonus.

However, Saturday's trip to St Johnstone already feels like a significant fixture. October then brings home games against Dundee and Kilmarnock, as well as trips to face Hibs and Aberdeen.

Across that run, we have to be aiming to put more points on the board and secure a victory or two along the way.

None of those fixtures are make or break in isolation, but collectively they could shape our season. By the time October has come and gone, we should have a much clearer idea of where we stand and what the remainder of the campaign might hold.

The sooner that first league win arrives, the better. It would lift a weight from our shoulders and hopefully allow us to play with the freedom and confidence that served us so well last season.

The longer the wait drags on, the harder it can become to escape that rut and pull ourselves away from the wrong end of the table.

Here's hoping the next few weeks provide the spark that gets our season properly up and running.

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Falkirk striker Joe Gardner will be out for two months after suffering a tear in his thigh.

But full-back Keelan Adams and midfielder Craig Sibbald return from respective foot and hamstring injuries for Hearts' visit in the Scottish Premiership on Tuesday.

Conor McLeod, Aidan Nesbitt and Finn Yeats remain out.

Hearts midfielder Tomas Magnusson has had a bout of sickness and will be assessed on Tuesday morning along with utility man Oisin McEntee, who has been missing through injury.

Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud, Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Craig Halkett remain out, while Ageu is set to return after the international break.

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Falkirk forward Joe Gardner faces up to two months out after a significant thigh tear, says manager John McGlynn.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international has featured twice for the Bairns this season, his most recent appearance coming in this month's 1-1 draw at Dundee United.

McGlynn explained: "It's more than a strain, it's a grade-three tear of his thigh, so you're looking at a couple of months there, which is a bit of a blow."

McGlynn does, however, have defender Keelan Adams and midfielder Craig Sibbald available for selection once again.

Sibbald, 24, last featured on 9 August, while Adams, 24, has not played yet this season.

Falkirk host Wouter Vrancken's Hearts in one of Tuesday's three Scottish Premiership fixtures (19:45 BST).

"The manager has come in, he's done exceptionally well," McGlynn said of the Belgian head coach.

"New ideas, a new way of playing, new players coming in and a turnaround in players.

"They are certainly on course."

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• Only Aberdeen (49) have fired in fewer shots in the Scottish Premiership this season than Falkirk (50), while on the other hand, Hearts have faced the fewest shots of any side in the division this term (51).

• Hearts have won each of their past four league games, their second-longest win streak since the start of last season, behind only a six-match run from August to October 2025.

• Falkirk have lost each of their past four home games in the Scottish Premiership, last losing more in a row on home soil in the top flight in January 2006 (six).

• Hearts have kept a clean sheet in seven of their past eight top-flight meetings with Falkirk, the exception a 3-2 win in February 2010.

• Falkirk have lost each of their past six top-flight matches against Hearts, failing to score at all in all four league meetings between the two sides last season.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

A late Dundee United equaliser denied us our first league win of the season on Saturday, but now is not the time to start sounding alarm bells.

We came within a whisker of leaving Tannadice with all three points although, in truth, the equaliser was the least United deserved. Had it arrived earlier, I fear we might have come away empty-handed.

Nevertheless, our first-half performance offered plenty of encouragement and I'm hopeful our fortunes will soon change.

The league table does not make particularly pleasant reading, but context is important. Everyone has to play each other at some point, although it would be fair to say Falkirk have arguably had the toughest opening set of fixtures.

We have already produced spirited displays against both halves of the Old Firm and picked up a point at Motherwell, something few visiting teams managed last season and plenty will struggle to do this term.

Even our opening-day defeat to St Mirren looks less damaging with every passing week given the Saints' flying start to the season.

There is also a strong argument that our performances have deserved a healthier points tally. We squandered enough chances to take something from the Rangers game before coming within minutes of securing a precious victory at Tannadice.

Things do not get any easier when we return to league action against Hearts, but there are signs the squad are beginning to gel.

Getting that elusive first league win on the board remains vital. Once it arrives, it should lift confidence and belief, while hopefully providing the springboard we need to start climbing the table.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Scott Bain (Falkirk): Will he be Sebastien Pocognoli's Scotland number one? He did himself no harm against Dundee United.

Dujon Sterling (Rangers): Strong showing from the versatile defender in the weekend win over Motherwell.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic): Another impressive display at the back, winning 12 of his 14 duels in the victory at St Mirren.

Michael Forbes (Dundee United): Big goal to earn a point against Falkirk at Tannadice.

Jordi Altena (Hearts): A fine display at Tynecastle. Brave on the ball and at his best getting forward in the comeback win over Dundee.

Dan Neil (Rangers): Maybe his best game for Rangers since joining the club; good on and off the ball.

Jason Holt (St Johnstone): A 95% passing completion rate from the evergreen midfielder against Hibernian.

Yang Hyun-Jun (Celtic): Another goal to underline his growing importance to this Celtic side.

Camilo Duran (Celtic): Perhaps the signing of the season so far - the Colombian always makes things happen and proved his worth again in Paisley.

Josh Fowler (St Johnstone): Both goals to sink Hibs from the former Queen's Park man; on another day he could have had a hat-trick.

Djeidi Gassama (Rangers): A tremendous display overall from a player who might finally be finding consistency at Ibrox.

Watch all the highlights as Dundee United leave it late to snatch a point at home to Falkirk. Available to UK users only.

A stoppage-time Dundee United equaliser prevented Falkirk from claiming their first Scottish Premiership win of the season in a hard-fought contest at Tannadice.

Read the full match report here

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "Very frustrated, if we could just have held out, another two points would've been massive. I thought we started the game really well on the front foot and took the game to Dundee United and created some good opportunities.

"Great goal from big Jacob [Murrell], after the other night there, he missed a couple of chances, so I'm delighted for him that he's got that goal and he's off and running.

"Dundee United got themselves back in the game and took a little bit of control in the second half of the first half. The second half started and probably went on the same way as the first half with Dundee United very much on top and we didn't create an awful that.

"I think tiredness set in and then it was just a matter of could we see it out, we defended our box really well and when we didn't, Scott Bain made saves.

"An extra two points would've made a big difference, but in reality, Dundee United created numerous chances in the second half, and I couldn't deny the fact that they were at least worthy of a point.

"I think Scott [Bain] ticks every box for [the national team], if you're looking for someone to play a new style and play out from the back and still makes saves, and bring composure and calmness to your defence then Scott ticks all those boxes so I have no doubt the Scotland manager will be looking at Scott Bain.

"Scott's excellent that's why we wanted to bring him in here when we did. We knew he'd bring a calmness, we knew he would be assured and would make saves, and he's great with the ball at his feet. It was just one save too many, the ball dropped a little bit shorter than other crosses that were coming in, they were going deeper, and we were managing to deal with them. It's a good header, can't complain over the piece, Dundee United were worthy of that, it's just a little bit frustrating that we couldn't hold out for all three points."

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Dundee United will include new signing Zidane Iqbal but Emmanuel Agyei is suspended after the club failed with an appeal against his midweek red card at Fir Park.

Falkirk are set to be without Conor McLeod (knee), Keelan Adams, Ethan Laidlaw (both foot), Aidan Nesbitt, Finn Yeats (both ankle) and Craig Sibbald (hamstring), but Joe Gardner is pushing for a return.

Owen Eames could make his Bairns debut after agreeing a loan move from Derby County on deadline day.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn says he doesn't want his side to be known as a team that "plays nice football but doesn't win games".

Following their League Cup group stage elimination at the start of the season, the Bairns have suffered three defeats and a draw in their first four Premiership fixtures, including 2-1 losses to both Celtic and Rangers.

And while McGlynn has been pleased with the effort shown by his side, he wants results to follow as they prepare to visit Dundee United on Saturday.

"The players are now working so hard together," he told Falkirk TV.

"They're playing as a team, some really, really good quality in it as well. We don't want to be known as this team that plays some nice, attractive football but we don't win games.

"We've played potentially the best two teams in Scotland, the two that spend the most money and the two that are normally there or thereabouts.

"Unfortunately we came away with nothing but we put in a real, real shift and real, real good performances. There's loads of encouragement but we've got to make sure now that we go and pick up points in these other games, starting on Saturday."

The deadline day arrival of Owen Eames on loan from Derby concluded Falkirk's transfer business and takes their total summer signing count to 17 new arrivals.

With that, McGlynn admits there will be teething problems but already has seen a lot of progress from the group.

"That's a lot of players so it takes a bit of time but I can see on the training ground, the boys are now gelling so well," he added.

"There's a better understanding of what we're trying to achieve.

"I think everyone can see that now. We're not far away, we're not far away at all."

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• Both of Falkirk's Scottish Premiership goals this season have been own goals. The Bairns have seen their players attempt 38 shots without scoring in the competition this season.

• No side has attempted fewer shots in the Scottish Premiership this season than Falkirk (38, level with Aberdeen), who have lost three of their four league matches in 2026-27 (D1).

• Dundee United have just four points from five Scottish Premiership games this season (W1 D1 L3). The Tangerines have finished bottom of the league in both of the least two top-flight campaigns in which they have had four or fewer points at this season: four in 2015-16, and one in 2022-23.

• Falkirk's 3-0 win over Dundee United in November 2025 ended a five-game winless run away to them in the Scottish top-flight (D1 L4) in which they had scored just one goal.

• Dundee United have only lost one of their last 10 top-flight meetings with Falkirk (W6 D3), although that was their last at home, going down 0-3 in November 2025.

Image source, Getty Images

Falkirk have signed midfielder Owen Eames on a season-long loan from English Championship side Derby County.

The 19-year-old is John McGlynn's 17th and final summer signing and could make his debut when the Bairns travel to Tannadice to play Dundee United on Saturday.

Eames signed his first professional contract with the Rams in 2025 and since making his debut this year has gone on to feature five times in the English Championship.

"We like the fact he's very tenacious and he works extremely hard," manager McGlynn said.

"He can play across the midfield in all positions, he can play wide, or he can play through the middle, and he's an infectious type of boy that presses the ball so well.

"If you go onto YouTube I'm sure you'll find him scoring some really good goals, because he's got that in him. He's quick, he's an exciting prospect, and we're very grateful to have him here.

"With him being on the fringes of the first team it's obvious that Derby think an awful lot about him and we're very grateful to them for allowing him to come up to Falkirk."

Falkirk fans, we asked for your views after Wednesday's defeat to Rangers.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Iain: An entertaining game for the wrong reasons. We were terrible first half and Rangers terrible the second. The weather played a part but a poor effort from both sides. Finley Barbrook lucky not to see red while Emmanuel Fernandez should have had two assists for Falkirk.

Pabs: Positive signs, some good build up play towards the end of the first 45. Second half the Bairns showed grit and willingness to get something from the game. Brad Spencer, Ethan Ross and Leon McCann were excellent. Head up Jacob [Murrell] more chances will come.

Watch all the highlights as Rangers managed a narrow victory against John McGlynn's Falkirk side in the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users only.

Rangers made it back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership as Lawrence Shankland's superb double downed wasteful Falkirk.

Read the match report.

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