Falkirk manager John McGlynn has dismissed a claim that Celtic were interested in Calvin Miller on transfer deadline day, insisting they received no contact from the 28-year-old wide man's former club last month. (Glasgow Times), external
Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.
Image source, SNSFor fans of Aberdeen, Dundee United, Falkirk, Motherwell, and St Mirren, the Scottish Cup draw went about as well as it could have done.
They all avoided the Old Firm at the quarter-final stage and, while games against Falkirk and Motherwell have been no easy feat this season, there is a real sense it could be anyone's year.
For fans of Rangers or Celtic, who face each other at Ibrox in the next round, a route to glory is also clear. Beat your biggest rivals in a one-off game, and you become favourites for the Cup.
"What I'm so excited about is the fact any Premiership team can win it," said Craig Telfer, podcast host and Stenhousemuir fan.
While his beloved Stenny side were beaten by their local rivals on Sunday night, he admitted: "Falkirk could actually see themselves winning. Aberdeen or Motherwell, whoever comes out that, can see themselves winning it.
"You've got a Celtic team that aren't particularly good, and while Rangers are getting better, they can be got at. This is wide open for any Premiership team to go and win it."
Dundee United have beaten Celtic this season, as have Motherwell, while St Mirren famously triumphed against them at Hampden in the League Cup final.
St Mirren and Motherwell have also taken points off Rangers, as have Falkirk and Dundee United.
It is only Aberdeen who have been beaten by the Old Firm at every opportunity, but memories of last year's Cup triumph over Celtic will spur them on.
"[As a non-Old Firm fan] you always want to see Rangers and Celtic drawing with each other as early as possible in the competition to knock them out," Telfer added.
"Once they're out, or it's just one of the Old Firm teams in there, every other team should be looking to win it."
Of course, Aberdeen and Motherwell are yet to meet after their fifth round tie was postponed, while Dundee United still have to avoid an upset against The Spartans.
And don't rule out Neil Lennon, who has won this competition eight times throughout his playing and managerial career, and his Dunfermline side.
Falkirk continued their impressive campaign by making it to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals after an extra-time win over local rivals Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn: "Bit of quality in the final third would have helped make it a bit quicker. We didn't really want to go through an extra 30 minutes, when we've got a big game on Wednesday night, but that's what it took.
"It was all about getting the first goal, but it took us too long to get it to be honest.
"Loads of effort and commitment, but not enough quality in front of goal. Credit to the Stenhousemuir defenders, who defended well and stopped crosses. I'm just delighted to be through.
"Delighted we've got a home draw, we've been away the last two rounds. When you get to the quarter-finals, there's not going to be any easy games.
"We made it hard for ourselves. If we'd got the first goal earlier, maybe we'd have relaxed a bit, had a bit more composure in front of goal. It just took us too long. We had a great start and could have gone ahead early, but they made it difficult.
"They're up there in League One, used to winning games, and they have a good home record. You have to take these things into consideration.
"When you go and watch Barney [Stewart] playing for Heriot Watt University just over a year ago, you couldn't imagine him doing this, and in the Premiership. It's not easy to go and score a hat-trick against Hibs.
"There's no holding this boy back. He's got so much improvement to come. He's a player.
"We got tipped off, he was scoring a lot of goals. We went along and had a look. The raw materials were there, he's big and physical and awkward to play against, a real handful. We took a chance, it was a shot to nothing but it's going to pay off."
St Mirren v Partick Thistle
Falkirk v Dundee United or Spartans
Rangers v Celtic
Dunfermline Athletic v Aberdeen or Motherwell
All four last-eight ties are scheduled to be played on weekend of 7 March.
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn has been speaking to the media before the Scottish Cup fifth-round tie with Stenhousemuir on Sunday (live on BBC Scotland).
Here are the key lines:
McGlynn believes counterpart Gary Naysmith has done a "very good job" at rivals Stenhousemuir, who are top of League One in competition with full-time teams, and says promotion to the Championship would be "amazing".
The manager admits "the fact it's a derby game certainly does make it bigger, and the fact it's a Scottish Cup tie makes it a potential banana skin" and adds "anything could happen".
He says Stenhousemuir's last cup result - a 4-0 win against Championship Morton - shows they "can rise to the occasion and they're no mugs".
McGlynn isn't worried about Falkirk being big favourites as they have experience of it in League One and in the Championship last season.
On team news: "One or two wee knocks and bruises, not quite sure we'll have everyone who played the other night." Ben Parkinson, Ross MacIver, Ethan Williams and Gary Oliver all remain out.
McGlynn admits this busy period "will test the squad" but highlights how well individuals have stepped up, singling out striker Barney Stewart.
McGlynn revealed his message to the players is "you're two games away from Hampden" and if they get to the latter stages of the cup, it could be "an absolutely amazing season".
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSFew will give Stenhousemuir much of a chance of upsetting Falkirk on Sunday evening and manager Gary Naismith, who won the Scottish Cup with Hearts in 1998, says his sole concern is on the League One side's performance.
"The only thing you can focus on as a manager or a player is giving the best version of yourself," he said.
"If we do that, that's all I can ask. It's disappointing when you go into a big tie and don't perform to the level you know you're capable of. We could play at our absolute best and it still might not be enough.
"I've never been involved in a Sunday evening kick-off at 7.30pm, so it's a first for me. I think it adds to the occasion, it's a local derby, the cameras are here.
"We're going to have a capacity crowd, which is brilliant for the club and the fans. But it'll only be great for me and the players if we give a good account of ourselves."
Naysmith crossed paths with Falkirk boss John McGlynn early in his career, having been a youth player at Hearts when McGlynn began coaching under Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown.
"It was a long time ago," Naysmith said. "I remember John popping in when we were sorting the training kit.
"He's worked his way up the ladder and he's not scared of hard work. He's very thorough and he's got his team playing a lovely style of football.
"They're nice to watch. Against Livingston in the first half they were excellent, they could have been four or five up by half-time."
'McGlynn doing fantastic job'
Sportscene pundit Scott Allan backs Falkirk for a top-half Premiership finish this season and praises the job of John McGlynn after the sixth-place Bairns beat Livingston 2-1.
Highlights: Livingston 1-2 Falkirk
We asked for your thoughts after Falkirk beat Livingston 2-1 at Almondvale to strengthen their bid for a top-six finish.
Here's a taste of what you had to say:
Nathan: Finally getting a result over Livi is the positive we need to take from this game and I thought we were excellent in the first half and gave ourselves plenty of chances to maybe get more than just the two goals. In the second half we made it as hard as we possibly could after Livi scored from a referee somehow failing to stop the game for a head knock, but in the end we've got the points. Now we need to take this result and push onwards.
Iain: If anyone told me we'd be in this position at the start of the season I'd have laughed. The way we've been playing I'll be devastated if we don't secure top six. Should have been done and dusted in the first half, but three points and up the road. Livi might be a decent team if they stopped diving and throwing hammers around. Delighted.
Dan: Great first-half performance and should have scored more. Nervy start to second half then chances to kill the game not taken. Good to see the game out and get three well-deserved points.
Highlights: Livingston 1-2 Falkirk
Watch Falkirk inflict more pressure on struggling Livingston with a 2-1 win at Almondvale in Marvin Bartley's first game as boss. (Available to UK users only)
Falkirk's impressive first half performance saw them establish a two-goal lead and despite pulling a goal back after the break, Livingston's long winless run continues.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn told BBC Scotland: "I think in the second half we made it hard for ourselves. I think in the first half we played extremely well.
"We scored a really good goal, had another one ruled out for offside, and then got that two-goal cushion.
"We were delighted at half-time and asked for more of the same. Fair play to Livingston, they got that goal back early in the second half, which was a huge boost for them to get back into it so early. And then we just have to make sure we hang on and win the game, which we eventually did.
"It was a bit nerve-wracking and we made it a bit more difficult for ourselves than it needed to be. We had chances to kill it off, hit the post, and there were other shots.
"So numerous chances but Livingston were always a threat with long throws and set plays, which we knew they were going to be and we would have to defend. That's how we lose our goal and of course had to defend various set pieces, which we did.
"We've not got the greatest record here so it is all about winning. It was a bit more stressful than it needed to be. But credit to Livingston for having a better second half performance.
"The fans were magnificent. We're taking big numbers everywhere we go so credit to them. We needed them to help us get over the line and they helped us no end."
Image source, SNSLivingston have only won one of their six previous top-flight meetings with Falkirk (D2 L3), though that was their first league win of this season, a 3-1 home victory back in August.
Only one of the last six Scottish Premiership matches between two newly promoted clubs has been won by the home side (two draws, three away wins), although that was Livingston's 3-1 win over Falkirk in August this season.
Livingston are winless in their last 15 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Scottish Premiership (D6 L9) since a 2-1 victory over Aberdeen in November 2022.
Falkirk have failed to win all four of their midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games this season (D2 L2), and are winless in seven midweek matches in the top-flight overall (D4 L3) since a 1-0 victory at Aberdeen in February 2010.
Livingston have won five of their last seven Scottish Premiership games at home to newly promoted opponents (L2), including a 3-1 win over Falkirk earlier this season.
Image source, GettyFalkirk's new signing Ben Broggio has revealed he was sold on a move to the Premiership after talking to Scotland star John McGinn.
The Aston Villa teenager is an FA Youth Cup winner and has been on the bench for the Villans three times but hasn't yet made his debut for the Premier League club.
He now has the opportunity to develop at Falkirk as he aims to help John McGlynn's side finish as high up the table as possible.
The 19-year-old, who can play in central midfield or out wide, hopes to bring some "magic" to the Bairns and is confident he can make the most of the experience.
"I spoke to Ginny at Villa, the captain, and he said it would be a really good opportunity for me," Broggio told Falkirk TV.
"He told me a bit about the club and his brother as well, which can be a good link from one club to another.
"I've heard a lot of good things about the club and how they play football. Hopefully, that will suit me.
"It will be a bit different. At Villa I've always been a bit in my comfort zone. Obviously, to move away from home and the club that I've been at since I was nine or 10 years old, it will be a good experience. To play Scottish football, it will be a bit different. I'm aware of that.
"I think I can be up to the challenge. Hopefully I can show them what I can do on the pitch.
"I'm a confident player. I feel like when I've got the ball at my feet, I can do a lot of things and create a lot of magic.
"Obviously, I look to drive the team up the pitch and get the ball, dribble past players, get the fans off their feet and try and create chances and get a couple of goals and assists. Hopefully I can bring that to the table."
Image source, SNSNew Livingston boss Marvin Bartley hopes to have Scott Arfield and Cristian Montano back from injury but Jeremy Bokila is suspended and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) is still not ready to be involved.
Falkirk add loan signing Ben Broggio while Ben Parkinson (ankle) and Ethan Williams (thigh) are out.
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
After falling to a 1-0 defeat at Dundee in our final league fixture of 2025, many Falkirk fans were quick to point out an extremely difficult set of fixtures lay in wait - and they weren't wrong.
All four of our January Premiership assignments were against sides that finished in last season's top six, and we also had Hearts to face in the Scottish Cup.
To come through those five games with three league victories - and eliminate Hearts from the cup at Tynecastle - meant we navigated what was always going to be a challenging month with flying colours.
Yes, we didn't take anything from Celtic, but fortune didn't favour us in our home clash with the champions.
Looking ahead to the rest of February's packed schedule, it already feels like it could be a season-defining month.
The pragmatist in me has been cautious all season, mindful of the gap between ourselves and the bottom of the table, while many other Bairns fans are beginning to feel bullish about a top-six finish. If we're going to make a top-half finish a reality, a strong showing this month - especially in our home games - will be crucial.
On top of that, we have a huge Scottish Cup tie with Stenhousemuir this weekend, offering a strong chance to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Who knows what might happen beyond that? Much will depend on the luck of the draw - if we get there, of course.
Irrespective, it already feels like February could be a pivotal chapter in what the rest of the season has in store for us.
With the transfer window now shut, we want to know if you think your team have made the right moves.
The Bairns added Aston Villa teenager Ben Broggio on loan on deadline day, adding to the arrivals of Ben Parkinson - who may not play again this season because of injury - and Louie Marsh.
Scott Arfield, Ryan Edwards and Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi are among the players who have moved on.
Are you happy with Falkirk's January business? Tell us here.
Image source, SNSRangers drew 0-0 away to Hibernian on Sunday
This season's Scottish Premiership top six could be "the best" yet in terms of quality, according to former Motherwell forward James McFadden.
Hearts lead the division, with defending champions Celtic and Rangers six points adrift and Motherwell, Hibernian and Falkirk making up the top half of the table.
"It makes the top six extremely interesting," McFadden told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"Falkirk are in the driving seat at that point as well. They will be a tough opposition for anybody. The next three games, if Hearts can win, I would make them heavy favourites to win the league.
"If they can win all three games and, well, that's including beating Rangers, then it goes to nine points on Rangers.
"Rangers need to play Celtic, throw Motherwell into the equation. Hibs, you look, you know, at their performance [in the draw with Rangers].
"It'll be the best top six that we've had in this split era because so many teams have so much to play for and so many strong teams are in there."
Tomas Cvancara marked his home debut with the breakthrough goal as Celtic held off a stubborn Falkirk challenge to move second in the Scottish Premiership.
