Falkirk

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Dundee United midfielder Craig Sibbald will be "extremely proud" to make his 500th career appearance in Saturday's Premiership tussle with hometown club Falkirk.

The Bairns academy graduate spent seven years in the Falkirk first team, playing over 250 games, before moving to Livingston in 2018.

Sibbald joined United four years later and has made 116 appearances for the Tannadice side, scoring nine times.

"It means everything," the 30-year-old told DUTV.

"It's obviously what you kind of want to do when you grow up. You just want to be a professional footballer. I'm lucky to have done that.

"To hopefully at the weekend play 500 games, I'll be extremely proud and hopefully many more to come.

"It puts it into perspective how long I've been playing, all the ups and downs, the high and lows. It's all been really enjoyable and worthwhile.

"Hopefully I'm selected or come on at some part of the game and I can make that 500th appearance against my local team, so it could be a special day."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn has been speaking to the media before his side's trip to face Dundee United on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Striker Ross MacIver has undergone surgery on the ankle injury he suffered earlier this month against Kilmarnock and will be out "long term".

• McGlynn is confident goalkeeper Scott Bain can bring some of the positivity from Scotland's successful World Cup qualifying campaign back to the Bairns.

• Falkirk are feeling "refreshed" following the international break and McGlynn is happy with their work in training during the time off from competitive fixtures.

• The Falkirk boss is expected a "tough, tough, game" at Tannadice against United, who had a "great season" last term in finishing fourth after promotion.

• McGlynn is looking forward to having a run of uninterrupted fixtures with no further international breaks until March.

• He feels his fifth-place side are adjusting well to life in the Premiership after the "huge step up" from the Championship but is aware that they need to continue to get results.

• McGlynn adds: "We've been showing consistently that we deserve to be here and we're competing and the guys are starting to build confidence and belief."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

To say the decision to loan Barney Stewart out to Dunfermline split opinion among the Falkirk support would be a big understatement.

After suffering a fractured metatarsal in pre-season, a temporary exit for the Bairns fan favourite before the lower-league loan window closing at the end of September seemed a sensible solution for everyone concerned.

However, many eyebrows were raised when news of Stewart's loan move to East End Park came to light.

On the face of it, it's a move that ticks a lot of boxes given the Pars are a club of a similar size and with an expectation level comparable to ourselves - a view echoed by John McGlynn and certain sections of the Bairns fanbase.

However, a number of supporters have also voiced discontent at the decision to do our rivals a favour by sending Barney across the Forth until January.

I could see both sides of the argument when the news broke, but with every passing week it's looking like the right decision.

Stewart has been in red-hot form of late, scoring in each of his four starts for Dunfermline, with his exploits earning him a first call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad.

If Barney can maintain his current form between now and the end of his loan spell, he will return to the Falkirk Stadium with his confidence sky high, and could prove a great asset for us during the second half of the season.

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Former Falkirk striker Rory Loy isn't sure Scott Bain has done enough during his time at Falkirk to be given a start for Scotland.

The former Celtic goalkeeper joined the Bairns this summer and has become a key member of John McGlynn's side.

And while Bain's former Dundee teammate Loy believes Falkirk is the "perfect place" for the 33-year-old, a start for Scotland may not be on the cards.

"He's very, very good with his feet. He's a fantastic shot stopper. He's brave, he's agile, he's nimble. He can get around," Loy said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"The only thing he maybe lacks ever so slightly is presence in the goal. He's quite small for a goalkeeper, but what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in his ability to shot stop.

"At Celtic, his confidence took a little bit of a hit. He was in the team for a stretch, did exceptionally well for a small period of time and then a couple of mistakes and he was out of the team. It's difficult to recover from that, especially at a club like Celtic.

"He just wanted to get out and play first team football and Falkirk was the perfect place to do that for him.

"Whether he's done enough to get a start for Scotland remains to be seen.

"I've got a wee feeling Gordon might get the nod, I know he's not played any games this season. But if you're going to pick any goalkeeper who's Scottish, who's not played any games, who's going to be able to come in and do a job for you, it's Gordon."

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Dundee should have had a penalty when midfielder Ethan Hamilton was challenged by Kyrell Wilson in last month's 2-1 defeat by Falkirk, according to Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum.

He suggested on The VAR Review show that a broken shin pad and blood on the Falkirk player's leg had misled the referee and VAR team.

"No question for us - this should have resulted in an on-field review," Collum said. "The referee is good at communicating - we need to get the full picture.

"But they are too forensic to justify why it is a defensive free-kick and not a penalty. There is maybe some contact of the Dundee player's studs on the Falkirk player slightly, but that's caused by the defender kicking into the Dundee player.

"The attacking player leads with his studs, but there is nobody in front of him at that point. The Dundee player commits no offence. He is not reckless and he is then kicked."

We asked what one thing you would change at Falkirk.

Here's what some of you said:

Donna: Falkirk need to play the right players from the start, and substitute earlier. Some player's, not surprisingly, look tired after 60 minutes. Fresh legs as required early in the second half and a stronger midfield presence from the get-go would be my wish. But, well done to the team and staff at FFC. Love the attacking style and resilience from the whole team.

David: A lot being said about the inability to defend set-pieces. But if I could change anything then it's the tendency to wait until a goal is conceded before pushing players forward. The game against Killie showed what the team can do when they attack from the start and keep attacking.

Andy: Due to some long-term injuries, the only thing I would do is strengthen our back four. Scott Bain is unbelievable between the sticks but needs that little bit more experience in central defence. Other than that? Europa here we come!

Harry: We need a strong penalty-box defender. A modern Willie Miller would be perfect. Additionally, some back-up for Keelan Adams at right-back and let him play a bit further forward.

Barry: A touch more defensive in the last 20 minutes of a game, we still seem to try to play the way we always do. Tactically we have to be more streetwise at the end of games.

George: Absolutely delighted with our start but we really need to cut out giving teams a goal or two of a start. Cut that out and we'll be okay.

Pabs: Build a small, compact fourth stand that can easily have its capacity extended in the future. Lets build on the success.

David: Would like to have a fully-fit squad to pick from. We've had rotten luck with injuries in defence so hopefully we'll get them all back fit soon. Would have also have liked a 20+ goalscoring forward as we've never replaced Calumn Morrison.

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Steve Clarke has a "massive issue" over Scotland's goalkeeping situation but must start Craig Gordon against Greece in the make-or-break World Cup qualifier, says former international Cammy Bell.

With Angus Gunn out injured, 42-year-old Hearts keeper Gordon - who has not played this season - is vying with Rangers back-up Liam Kelly and recalled Falkirk number one Scott Bain for the gloves in Athens where Scotland need at least a point to make the final game against Denmark a qualification decider.

Kelly, 29, has played one game for Rangers this term while 33-year-old Bain is back in the Scotland squad for the first time in six years after reviving his career since moving from Celtic to Falkirk in the summer.

"These games of such huge magnitude and pressure around it, I think you've got to go experience," former keeper Bell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I know Liam Kelly and Craig Gordon aren't playing, Scott Bain is playing but although he's had a fantastic season so far, he had long periods when he was at Celtic and never played a lot of football as well.

"For me, in games of this magnitude, you've got to go experience and Gordon's the one that can hopefully get us over the line."

However, Bell doesn't see any of the three goalkeepers in the squad as a long-term solution.

"It's massive issue for Scotland going forward," he added.

"Kelly's not playing at Rangers and he's probably one of our younger ones. Bain's playing, but he's not that young. So again, we've got to find the next generation.

"We've had it so good for so long with Gordon, Allan McGregor and David Marshall in our squads for over 10 years. It's a big issue and it's something we need to look at."

Life is pretty sweet for Falkirk fans.

The Bairns have slotted seamlessly into top-flight football after a 15-year absence and are sitting pretty in fifth place.

The international break provides the chance to pause for breath and reflect after a frenetic few months at the Falkirk Stadium.

So, if you could change one thing about the Bairns' season so far, what would it be?

Let us know here.

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Falkirk occupying fifth place 12 games into their first top-flight campaign in 15 years has fans in "dreamland", says Scottish football writer and Bairns supporter Gordon Waddell.

"It's been 10 years of nightmares. Actually it's probably 15 years of nightmares, but certainly 10," said Waddell on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"We've had such a long wait after five years in League One.

"To get to where we've got to over the last two or three years has been a steady climb.

"Did I think that we would be in the top six by now? No. Did I believe that John McGlynn would do as good a job as he's doing? Absolutely.

"There's an element of dreamland about it, but there's an element of realism about it as well because of the manager that we've got."

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

The hoodoo continues. As was the case last season, bogey team Livingston have haunted us again.

David Martindale's side just seem to have some kind of hold over us that is difficult to shake off.

There was a sense of inevitability about the manner of Livingston's equaliser - one they fully merited - and it was no surprise it arrived from a set-piece.

While Graham Carey's set-piece taking ability is up there with the best in the country, our struggles at defending such situations are not new under John McGlynn.

In fact, we have now conceded a goal from a set-piece in three of our past seven matches, including two of our latest three at home.

It is not just a minor flaw either - it is a glaring weakness that dates back to our time in League One. I can remember Edinburgh City taking advantage from set-pieces to score two goals against us at Meadowbank in January 2023, while Morgan Boyes and Jack Baird both netted from near-identical free-kicks for Morton during an early-season trip to Cappielow last term.

Our inability to deal with set-pieces also threatened to spoil the party when we had to fight back to secure the Championship title with a 3-1 win over Hamilton on the final day of last season. That's just a handful of many examples from the past three or four seasons.

While McGlynn will know his side needs to be better at defending set-pieces, it's an alarming issue that has to be addressed and worked on over the international break.

Watch all the highlights as Livingston score late equaliser to hold Falkirk to a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Premiership.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn insists his players deserve "enormous credit" despite being held to a draw at home to Livingston on Saturday.

The promoted club are fourth in the Scottish Premiership after 12 games and, for a brief period on Saturday, had moved up to third despite the draw.

The result leaves Falkirk with 16 points from their first 12 top flight games, eight clear of Livi at the bottom and two behind Hibs in third.

"The players have got to take enormous credit," McGlynn said.

"For a lot of them, it's maybe only their 12th game in the Premiership and we've got a lot of young guys on loan as well coming up from England and getting the taste of playing at the likes of Celtic Park.

"They're picking up all the time and starting to believe, and gain the confidence that they deserve to be here.

"We were sitting third in the table for a few hours, so the players have got to take enormous credit after 12 games to get to 16 points.

"It's one point on the board in this next set of 11 games, and we're hoping that we can put up a similar tally to what we've got in the first 11 games.

"But we can't get too carried away, we've really got to take it one game at a time."

We asked for your views on Falkirk's 1-1 draw against Livingston.

Here's what some of you said:

Nathan: Honestly I would've taken a draw before the game considering our record against Livi. Sadly I am disappointed with once again giving away a goal from a set piece. We struggled to deal with Livingston's aggression and physicality in the second half and turned the ball over too much. Work to do before Dundee United.

Gary: Made a couple of poor substitutions and it cost us the three points, but on the plus side we are third in the league.

Paul: We need to be shooting from distance, too busy trying to pass the ball into the net.

Neil: Felt we were good in the first half and deserved our lead. Thought some of the substitutions in the second half didn't work and made us poorer. On the balance of play, a draw is probably fair. Big Barney Stewart coming back confident in January will be a bonus. I honestly can't complain though, to be where we are after seasons in the doldrums is magnificent, so proud of this team.

Livingston snatched a point at the death for the second consecutive week but it was not enough to halt fellow Scottish Premiership newcomers Falkirk rising to third in the table.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "We were the better team first half and Livingston were better second half. We lost a bit of control in the game, and without creating too many goalscoring opportunities, they had the better of it.

"They had more of the ball, and we defended well for the vast majority. We come away with one point instead of three. Maybe we should have been further ahead in the first half, but I think a draw is a fair result.

"I'm disappointed but it could be an important point.

"It's been a good start. Every game is difficult and Livingston are a decent team that will pick up more points. We just had to do better second half, but I'm delighted with where we're at."

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Falkirk welcome back Leon McCann and have added new signing Ryan Edwards to their squad but Ross McIver drops out with an ankle injury to join Lewis Neilson (ankle), Coll Donaldson (abdomen), Tom Lang (foot) and Aidan Nesbitt (foot) on the sidelines.

Livingston have Ryan McGowan back in training but are still without Shane Blaney (hamstring), Adam Montgomery (calf), Connor McLennan (concussion), Cammy Kerr (ankle) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring).

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Livingston manager David Martindale believes Falkirk's form shows how strong the Championship was last season and he feels his own team are also backing up that assertion.

Falkirk will be two points off Celtic in third place in the Premiership if they beat Livingston on Saturday, after winning three of their previous four games.

The Bairns pipped Livi to the Championship title last season and Martindale's side have also proved themselves to be highly competitive in the vast majority of games this season, with the concession of four last-minute winners consigning them to bottom place.

Martindale said: "They've always got goals in them, Falkirk. They're a good attacking team and they've kept that even when they've changed the players within the group.

"For me, in certain games where we've got to be a wee bit more clinical is at the top end of the park.

"Falkirk have probably been that wee bit more clinical at the top end of the park.

"If you wanted to strip every game back, they played Aberdeen for 50 minutes with 10 men. So there's different reasons. But they're up there on merit.

"I was a big advocate of it last year, how strong the top end of the Championship was.

"And I think we've shown that. Because even though we may be sitting at the bottom of the table just now, if you went around our opponents, I don't think they would actually say they would have thought Livingston were bottom of the league based on the performances."

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Scott Bain says Falkirk have helped him rekindle his passion for football after several seasons as a back-up at Celtic.

The 33-year-old joined the Premiership newcomers on a one-year deal after his contract at Parkhead expired and has since made 14 appearances.

Bain was named in Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Denmark having won the last of his three international caps in 2019.

Scotland's regular first-choice Angus Gunn is out injured and he believes his move to Falkirk has thrust him back into contention.

"It was all about getting regular games, playing again," he said. "I wanted to see if I still had this desire and hunger.

"And thankfully, after a couple of weeks, I knew that I did. I'd still had that fire in the belly, as they say, and wanted to improve and be better. And over the course of the pre-season, I got my eye back in and I felt really good and really comfortable."

Bain won 14 major honours with Celtic, but had dropped to third choice in his final season.

He was full of praise for Celtic and his time there, but says he missed the "buzz" of being involved on matchday and his priorities in life had shifted.

"There were times when I thought, that's fine," he said of his situation in Glasgow. "Monday to Friday, really enjoyed it, training hard. Everything at the club was fantastic.

"And then it would come to a Saturday and you'd do the warm up. You'd feel the buzz of the game and then the boys would go out. If you weren't on the bench you'd be sat there and you'd think, 'what's the point?' It's difficult.

"If I was just me and had no responsibilities, then I think I probably would have left earlier. But me and my partner, we have a young boy now. So I think the responsibilities of that sort of kept me in.

"Yeah, I get paid well. I get everything that I need. I'm missing the game, but overall, is this going to benefit my family more to be here? And I think at the time it did.

"But the last year I wasn't on the bench really at all. I felt like to go through life without the purpose and the motivation to get better and to play football and to really enjoy it every day. It took over and I needed to get that back."

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn insists he doesn't have to rush new signing Ryan Edwards into action.

The 32-year-old defender joined on a short-term deal this week to bolster the Bairns squad after injuries to fellow centre-backs Tom Lang, Lewis Neilson and Coll Donaldson.

Prior to Saturday's visit of Livingston, McGlynn said: "He's trained with us two or three days now and looks okay.

"We are not in a position where we absolutely need to throw him in. We can afford to have a look at him and see exactly where he is, but if we need him he's there.

"I spoke with [former Dundee United manager] Liam Fox and Owen Coyle, who he has been playing under most recently in India.

"They speak very highly of him. With that leadership quality, he is a good type in the dressing room.

"I'm sure he is going to do the job we expect him to do."

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• Falkirk last hosted Livingston in the top flight on the final day of the 2005-06 season, winning 1-0 courtesy of Daniel McBreen's goal.

• Livingston have lost four of their past six Premiership away games against newly-promoted opponents (W2), including both of their last two: 2-0 v Kilmarnock in May 2023 and 1-0 v Dundee in November 2023.

• Falkirk have won three of their past four league games (L1), with no side winning more matches than the Bairns in the Premiership since the October international break (3, level with Hearts). At home, Falkirk are looking to win three successive games in the top flight for the first time since December 2007.

• Livingston have just seven points in 11 league games this season (W1 D4 L6), while a defeat here would make this the poorest start by any side after 12 matches of a Premiership campaign since 2021-22, when Ross County managed just six points in their opening 12.

• Falkirk have had 11 different goalscorers in the league this season (excluding own goals), more than any side. Only Aberdeen (5) have had fewer than Livingston (6).

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Falkirk boss John McGlynn has hailed Scott Bain's "fairytale" Scotland recall after helping to revive the goalkeeper's career.

Bain, 33, was third choice at Celtic and hadn't played a first-team game for more than a year when released in the summer.

McGlynn took a "risk" by snapping up Bain on a one-year deal and he has started all 11 games on Falkirk's Premiership return to earn a first Scotland summons in six years for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Greece and Denmark.

"I wanted to bring in an experienced goalkeeper, someone who had played in the league," said McGlynn.

"Of course there's a little bit of risk, because he hadn't played for so long, but everyone knew what Scott had done previously.

"He's just got better and better and better. He's had some amazing performances. Even at Tynecastle where we lost, he saved us from an absolute doing.

"He's been like that virtually every game, making saves. His distribution was a big part of why I wanted to bring him in. He's a ready-made player.

"The goalies that were keeping him out [at Celtic] were Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel, top drawer. You can understand why Scott would maybe end up a little bit in the background, but I'm absolutely delighted at where he is now.

"I'm delighted he's got this call-up, it speaks volumes for him. It's been such a long time, we must have wondered would that opportunity ever arise again.

"He's a great boy to work with, he's enjoying his time here. It's a fairytale from where he's been to where he is right now."

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John McGlynn has been speaking to the media before Falkirk's home game with Livingston on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• He is "delighted" Scott Bain has earned a first Scotland call-up since 2019, adding: "It's a fairytale from where he's been to where he is right now."

• McGlynn says Bain's work with the club's young goalkeepers is "invaluable and very instrumental" in helping them progress.

• Newly-signed defender Ryan Edwards won't be rushed into action.

• McGlynn says Falkirk need to find a way to beat Livingston after failing to do so in the past eight meetings: "We have to change that, we have to beat Livingston at some point in time."

• The Bairns are "in a much better place" after winning three out of their past four fixtures.

• Ryan McKeever is added to the players out injured after picking up a knock in last week's win over Kilmarnock.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

It is fair to say it has been a pleasing start to the season for those of a Falkirk persuasion.

Sitting fifth in the table with 15 points to our name after 11 matches, the impact we have made on our top-flight return so far has exceeded all expectations.

Our stunning first-half goal blitz against Kilmarnock on Saturday was one of the best 45 minutes I have ever witnessed from a Falkirk side.

And it certainly augurs well heading into the latest cycle of fixtures now we have played every team in the division.

While the Bairns have rightly earned a lot of plaudits for our style of play and commitment to attacking football, we have also been a tough nut to crack, particularly in front of our own fans.

The only real fly in the ointment is our lack of clean sheets - one in 11 games - with defending set-pieces still a particular weakness.

However, if manager John McGlynn can find a way to tighten us up, it will only enhance our chances of securing the points needed for safety - which has to remain the primary objective, even though we are currently in the lofty heights of fifth.

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Ryan Edwards adds "invaluable" experience to Falkirk after the former Dundee United defender joined on a deal until January.

The 32-year-old has spent the past two seasons in India, making 46 appearances for Super League side Chennaiyin, after leaving Tannadice.

Edwards bolsters an injury-hit Falkirk defence, with Lewis Neilson, Coll Donaldson and Tom Lang all sidelined.

Manager John McGlynn said: "Ryan is a player who we've brought in as a replacement, more or less, for Lewis Neilson.

"Lewis picked up an injury against Motherwell and has gone through an operation, so we're looking at him being out for around another 10 weeks from now.

"Ryan is 32 and he's played in this league before with Dundee United. That experience will stand him in good stead for playing here.

"He's a no-nonsense centre-back, who is 6ft 5in. He's going to head the ball in both boxes, he's going to be a threat at the other end, so he'll add that experience that is invaluable in this division."