Falkirk rise to third in Scottish Premiership after five straight wins
Falkirk have climbed to third in the Scottish Premiership on a five-match winning run, capped by a 5-2 victory at Hearts, as John McGlynn's rebuilt squad draws praise for its blend of goals and grit.
Falkirk's 5-2 win at Tynecastle made them the first side to beat Hearts in a Scottish Premiership match in Edinburgh in 19 months and extended their winning run to five games, lifting John McGlynn's team to third. The result followed a victory over defending champions Celtic, with Falkirk scoring seven goals across the two matches. A month earlier, an added-time goal conceded against Dundee had left them 11th, a point off the bottom.
McGlynn urged perspective, telling BBC Scotland that winning five in a row shows the team has something about it, but noting the campaign is only 13 games old. He said the aim is to strike a balance without getting carried away or playing down the achievement, and that his side must keep their feet on the ground while enjoying seeing Falkirk third.
The squad has changed significantly since last season, when McGlynn guided Falkirk to sixth on their return to the top flight after consecutive promotions. Calvin Miller joined Hearts, Dylan Tait became Dundee United captain and Barney Stewart was sold to West Bromwich Albion for a club record fee, while six loan players departed. McGlynn brought in 17 new faces, including Finley Barbrook, Owen Eames and Jacob Murrell, who all scored against Hearts. Murrell, the October SPFL player of the month, has seven league goals and is joint-top scorer.
Centre-half Liam Henderson, who scored the fourth goal at Tynecastle and was with the club in League One along with Brad Spencer and Ethan Ross, credited team spirit, togetherness and a willingness to work for one another, adding that Falkirk now have a ruthlessness up front. He described McGlynn as massive to the players because of his knowledge and detail, and said the side is breaking records and creating history after pundits and fans questioned whether it was the team it had been last year.
Former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart praised Falkirk's scouting, saying players know what they are getting when they arrive. Former Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan called captain Spencer the heartbeat of the team, saying Falkirk have real control in midfield when he plays and have added a steeliness, doing the dirty side of the game when required. Stewart said McGlynn is comfortable in his own skin and exudes confidence, and suggested the manager could be in the running for bigger jobs rather than an outsider.
Supporters' doubts about the side, referenced by Henderson, reflect opinion rather than a verified judgement, and the article offers no prediction about how long the run will last. For now, the table shows Falkirk third after 13 games, with McGlynn emphasising enjoyment alongside caution.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
