Highlights: Hearts 1-0 Falkirk
Watch the best of the action from Tynecastle as Islam Chesnokov's first Hearts goal earns victory over Falkirk. (Available to UK users only)
Hearts got back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership title race, overcoming Falkirk with a narrow victory at Tynecastle thanks to Islam Chesnokov's first goal for the club.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn: "I'm frustrated by our performance, I don't think we were at our best.
"I do take into consideration we're away to the league leaders who are looking to bounce back from a defeat last week and giving it everything, but we felt we could come and we put up a fight.
"A bit naivety, a bit of frustration that we didn't take more responsibility in the final third of the pitch, particularly in the first half, but not exclusively.
"The timing [of the Hearts goal] was bad game management from our point of view, we lose a goal virtually right on half time. Getting to half-time at 0-0, all the pressure's on Hearts then.
"In the second half, we've not done enough, we've not created enough, that's the frustration. Barney [Stewart] has had a couple of opportunities that he should've done better with, he should've taken responsibility.
"We passed the buck, didn't take the responsibility to shoot, and Barney had another chance with a header that put us over the bar, which could have changed things.
"I'm not hanging these guys out to dry, absolutely not. They've been doing amazingly well, but they have come a long way in a very short period of time
"We've six games to go to the split, and we're in the mix, and we're competing with a club like Hearts, who are going for the league title.
"We've done amazingly well, and going away a little bit disappointed, and it speaks volumes for how far we've come in a very short period of time."
Image source, SNSWillie Collum has backed match officials in the latest Scottish Football VAR Review Show in the wake of criticism of dismissals for denying obvious goalscoring opportunities.
The Scottish Football Association head of referees thinks it was correct to upgrade yellow cards for Celtic defender Auston Trusty and Falkirk centre-back Liam Henderson.
Dundee United's Iurie Iovu and Motherwell pair Oscar Priestman Liam Gordon were sent off this week for similar offences after the show was filmed.
Trusty was sent off in a 2-2 draw at Hearts for a foul on Pierre-Landry Kabore, having been in a "fairly central" position, according to referee Steven McLean, while Lewis Neilson was deemed too far away to catch Dundee United forward Max Watters, who was brought down near halfway by Henderson.
Collum felt the consistency in the Trusty and Henderson decisions was correct but also backed the decision not to issue the same punishment to Rangers captain James Tavernier, who was on a booking when he tangled with Kilmarnock striker Tyreece John-Jules.
Referee David Dickinson said there was "minimal contact" in the immediate aftermath and the VAR team did not intervene.
"What I would say is different from the previous clip (Trusty against Hearts) is the ball is in the air," said Collum. "There really is quite a bit of debate about whether the Kilmarnock player would have reached the ball before it went through to the goalkeeper.
"What I will say is the KMI panel felt unanimously that this was a foul and this would have been a second yellow card for James Tavernier. What we don't have here is an opportunity for VAR to be involved there because it's not a clear and obvious goalscoring opportunity."
Collum supported officials in every other incident shown, including red cards for St Mirren attacker Jake Young and Dundee United winger Amar Fatah.
Image source, SNSHearts will be without Oisin McEntee (shoulder), Stephen Kingsley (calf), Cammy Devlin (ankle), Lawrence Shankland, Calem Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock (all hamstring).
Falkirk lose the suspended Liam Henderson and on-loan Hearts player Lewis Neilson from their central defence, but Connor Allan should shrug off a head wound and Ethan Williams is back. Ben Parkinson (ankle) remains out, while Ross MacIver and Gary Oliver are still working their way back.
Image source, SNSFalkirk have announced that club captain Coll Donaldson has signed a new one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027 at least, with the option of another year.
Donaldson has been at the club since 2022 and was manager John McGlynn's second signing. He's since made 116 appearances for the Bairns but has suffered injury problems in recent seasons.
A groin injury ruled him out of the first half of the season but he's been back in action this month and looking forward to enjoying Premiership football.
"I'm over the moon, "Donaldson told the club website. "Everyone wanted this deal so it was a straightforward process. I feel grateful to the manager who's shown me so much support, as has everyone around the club. It's a tight knit group here and that helps a lot.
"I'll stay here as log as possible, I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here. Nobody thought in their wildest dreams a few years ago that we'd be top six in the Premiership now. This season I've mostly been a spectator but I'm looking to end the season on a high. I'm delighted today. It's a really good moment for me."
McGlynn welcomed the news and said Donaldson was now fully fit and could show his value again.
"It's very good to get this done," the manager said. "We never really fall asleep at the wheel and we're always looking to extend and obviously bring in new players when the time is right.
"We have a number of contracts on the table for a few players right now, and we're delighted to get Coll extended.
"He's our club captain, even when he's not been playing, he's done a great job off the pitch and that's important as well.
"It's about security for him, and he can now go out enjoy the rest of the season.
"We're in a very good place, he's got a big part to play in it, and it's very much over to Coll"
Image source, SNSHearts have won eight of their last 10 league games against newly promoted opponents (L2), including all four so far in 2025-26 (two v Livingston, two v Falkirk).
Falkirk are winless in seven top-flight meetings with Hearts (D2 L5) since a 2-1 victory in September 2008, losing their last four in a row.
Hearts remain the only unbeaten side at home in the Scottish Premiership this season (P13 W9 D4), with no side picking up more points on home soil in the competition this term than the league leaders (31, level with Celtic, Motherwell and Rangers).
Falkirk have alternated between defeat (three) and victory (three) in their last six away league games, beating Livingston 2-1 most recently.
Hearts have scored 19 goals from set-pieces (excl. penalties) in the Scottish Premiership this season, more than any other side, with eight of their last 11 home league goals coming from set plays (five corners, three free-kicks).
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Dundee United was a deflating one, but it also shows just how far we've come in such a short space of time.
The fact that we're disappointed not to have won against the side that finished fourth last season speaks volumes about the progress we've made. It was also a stark reminder of just how cutthroat this league can be.
There's plenty of talk about us clinching a top-six spot - which is still very much within reach - but falling short wouldn't be a failure. Our main goal this season was survival, and we're comfortably on course to achieving that.
Before a ball was even kicked last summer, many supporters - myself included - would probably have settled for preserving our top-flight status via a nerve-shredding play-off if need be.
To be part of the top-six conversation at this stage is a testament to the fantastic work John McGlynn and the players have done up until now. A tough pre-split schedule means the top six isn't guaranteed, but missing out shouldn't tarnish what has been a terrific campaign.
And with a huge Scottish Cup quarter-final tie on the horizon, likely against Dundee United, there's a perfect, quickfire chance to respond to Saturday's setback in the best possible way.
Whatever happens over the next few months, we've made huge strides this season - and there's plenty to be positive about, with the best still possibly to come.
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Dundee United get the better of Falkirk in a five-goal Scottish Premiership encounter (UK users only).
We sought your views after Falkirk's 3-2 defeat by Dundee United...
Dave: Have to say ref had a shocker. Red card dubious. Obvious foul for one of their goals on a Falkirk player in build-up. We will come again. We have the bonding in the team.
Colin: The referee had a nightmare with loads of poor decisions. Dundee Utd players consistently fouled with no bookings. The sending off took place just over the halfway line with two Falkirk players level and chasing back. The ref wasted the game.
Don: Never seen anything like it in years. The video evidence speaks for itself and even that misses 90% of what went on. I'll park it there. We all saw what went on. Shocking.
Nathan: Where do we start here then? First of all, this would've been a great game for the neutral with ourselves scoring two brilliant goals however a great game in the end is spoilt by SFA officiating incompetence if we gloss over the blatant 12th man for United. No matter what circumstance, Henderson should never have been sent off if the officials deem this as a last man foul then Neilson is five yards behind it so it's not last man, it's not denial of a goalscoring opportunity as it's 50 yards from the goal and it's not a red for the tackle because it's a tactical foul, which is always a yellow card. In terms of the goals we lost the first is a combination of errors which we haven't done a lot this season, Sibbald's goal is a moment of pure quality - he's still welcome back at Falkirk anytime - and the third goal is a great finish so I'm not complaining about the actual goals but the SFA need to take a long hard look at themselves and their hiring of officials.
Dundee United came from behind to win a five-goal thriller against 10-man Falkirk and breathe fresh life into their hopes of catching the Bairns for a top-six spot in the Scottish Premiership.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Sportsound: "I don't think we deserved to lose the game. We've scored two cracking goals.
"We make an error for their goal, which allowed Dundee United to get back in the game.
"Second half, we lose [another] very, very quick equaliser, which I'm really disappointed about. From scoring that goal to losing the goal, it's far too quick. We have to do better than that.
"And then it's 11 men against 10. Disappointed that we didn't deal with that better. We don't do enough to keep the ball out the back of the net, basically. I don't think we deserved to lose. We've been on a good run. We're not going to beat ourselves up.
"We have a heady schedule. I think we've played four games in the period that United have not played at all. So we can't be too harsh on ourselves."
Image source, SNSFalkirk have Scott Bain and Kyrell Wilson back but Connor Allan is a doubt after sustaining a head injury in training. Ben Parkinson (ankle) and Ethan Williams (thigh) remain out.
Dundee United pair Amar Fatah and Pan Camara are suspended but midfielder Emmanuel Agyei is in contention for a debut. Long-term absentee Isaac Pappoe (knee) remains out.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn has told their players to "keep doing what they are doing" in the hope their impressive season ends with qualification for Europe.
Last season's Championship winners find themselves in sixth place in the table, behind Hibernian on goal difference, and will be aiming for another victory when they host Dundee United on Saturday.
"I'm not going be getting a loudhailer out and saying we're going for Europe, but if we continue to win games, it will come along with that," McGlynn said.
"We're breathing doing the neck of Hibs, for example, who are a huge, huge football club.
"They've brought in a lot of players there just towards the end of that window and they played very well the other night against Hearts.
"You can see maybe that the players are going to make a little bit of difference to them, who knows?
"So it's going to be very, very difficult, but we're in the hunt now, we've got a ticket for the raffle. We're right in there.
"So I think we've got to just continue doing what we're doing."
A top-six spot looks much more likely than not but McGlynn wants his team to embrace the challenge of climbing further and says they can't let up now.
"We're really enjoying it," he added. "We're in a position now that we can actually enjoy it. But without easing up at all…we have to keep our foot to the floor.
"We have got ourselves in a position that's a great position. And we've got a little cushion.
"Our ambition is still to do the best you possibly can. We look to win and try to get closer and go above Hibs. That is the next challenge."
Image source, SNSFalkirk have dropped a league-low two points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, while conversely Dundee United have recovered a league-high 10 points from losing positions.
Dundee United have lost their past four league games, last losing five in a row in the top flight in May 2023.
Falkirk have won their past two league games and could win three in a row in the top flight for the first time since January 2008 (four).
After their 3-1 win over Livingston in December, Dundee United could win back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches against newly-promoted opponents for the first time since May 2015.
Falkirk have won none of their past four top-flight home games against Dundee United (D2 L2), after having won four in a row before this run.
Image source, SNSGoalkeeper Nicky Hogarth earned the praise of Falkirk boss John McGlynn after stepping in at short notice for the first top-flight start of his career.
The 24-year-old was a late replacement for Scott Bain after the former Celtic keeper pulled out with illness in the warm-up to Falkirk's 1-0 win over Dundee.
Hogarth made four saves and marked the occasion with a clean sheet despite conceding a 95th-minute penalty for hauling down Joe Bevan, as Yan Dhanda sent the spot-kick wide.
McGlynn said: "Nicky did great. On a night like that when shots are coming in and they are probably oving all over the place, his handling was really good, his kicking was really good and his decision-making was good.
"It was a really good performance from him and delighted to get a clean sheet.
"There was a bit of disruption. We made five changes against [Stenhousemuir] and five changes again, and for his own benefit we took Brad Spencer out because of a little ankle injury.
"So the cohesion maybe wasn't there but it was good for the guys coming in."
We asked for your views after Falkirk's narrow 1-0 win over Dundee in which the visitors missed a late penalty.
Here's what some of you had to say:
Nathan: A more open encounter than the our previous games against Dundee and in the end we've gained a vital three points. Ben Broggio took his goal well when the ball dropped for him and I think Nicky Hogarth actually had a great game covering for Scott Bain, he was a bit unlucky for the penalty. All in all a great result which we had to graft for amid a hectic fixture schedule along with a touch of luck for the penalty.
Tommy: Don't look for pretty football every game, it doesn't happen. Look at Rangers and Celtic, you need a bit luck. Conditions didn't help, well done the Bairns for digging in. Clean sheet, three points, next game. Falkirk will have a say in who wins this league.
Watch all the highlights as Falkirk scraped a 1-0 win over Dundee as the visitors missed a late penalty. Available to UK users only
Ben Broggio's first Falkirk goal propelled the dogged hosts past Dundee and level on points with fifth-placed Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "Horrible night for watching football. The fans braved it tonight, the wind blowing the ball all over the place.
"But I thought the teams put on a good show. We got the all-important goal and we got a bit of fortune that Dundee missed the penalty right at the end. I said to the players before the game it might have been a toss of the coin."
On goalkeeper Scott Bain: "He picked up a bug, went out for the warm up and was feeling ill. Delighted for Nicky [Hogarth] to keep a clean sheet. He played a big part in that and did the job tonight.
"We felt 40 points this season would keep us up. Without getting carried away, I think we'll stay up.
"We're absolutely delighted with where we're at. It's beyond our expectations but we're enjoying it."
Image source, SNSBoth league matches between Falkirk and Dundee this season have been home wins, with the Bairns notching their first victory of the campaign by beating Steven Pressley's side 2-1 in October.
Dundee have won three of their past five Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted opponents (D1 L1), as many as their previous 16 beforehand (W3 D5 L8).
Falkirk have won five of their past eight league games (L3), as many as their first 17 of the season beforehand (W5 D6 L6).
Only Livingston (zero) have fewer away wins in the Premiership this season than Dundee (one), who have scored just five goals on the road this term, the fewest of any side.
Dundee's Ethan Hamilton has had more shots without scoring than any player in the Scottish Premiership this season (38). Thirty of those shots have been from outside the box, with his expected goals tally at just 1.42 (0.037 xG per shot).
