Falkirk

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Just when you think this Falkirk team can't raise the bar any further, they only go and do so.

Saturday's 4-1 hammering of Hibernian was easily one of the greatest team performances in our two-decade-plus history at the Falkirk Stadium.

Every pass, every movement felt purposeful, a demonstration of a side brimming with confidence in their style and belief. Then there was the quality of the goals, each a testament to just how well-coached this group of players are.

In all honesty, it felt as though this kind of performance had been coming - we could have quite easily scored several goals against Celtic a few weeks back, but everything finally clicked into place against Hibs on Saturday.

It was a statement victory and showed just how clinical we can be when firing on all cylinders.

Of course, the man of the moment was Barney Stewart, whose hat-trick was the cherry on top of a near-perfect team performance.

Considering big Barney was playing university football just over a year ago, what he delivered on Saturday was nothing short of extraordinary.

In many ways, his journey mirrors the club's rise over the past two years, culminating in the brilliance we witnessed at the weekend.

And yet, the only bittersweet note is how this latest masterclass further highlights John McGlynn's incredible work - something that makes us Bairns fans a little nervous.

With every passing week, it becomes more obvious why he is being touted for other jobs - but for now, we can revel in what he's built at the Bairnabeu.

Image source, SNS

Falkirk striker Barney Stewart has signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until June 2028.

There is also an option in the deal for a further year.

Stewart, 22, scored a magnificent hat-trick in Falkirk's 4-1 win over Hibs on Saturday, having been recalled from a loan spell at Dunfermline earlier this month.

He signed from Heriot-Watt University last season and helped the Bairns to the Championship title

"I'm absolutely buzzing to sign a extension, it was a no brainer for me," Stewart said.

"It's been an incredible experience since I joined the club just over a year ago and I love it here.

"It's an amazing squad and dressing room, it's been great working under the gaffer and Paul [Smith], and I've got a really great connection with the fans.

"This is where I belong and I'm so happy to be here for the next two and a half years."

Manager John McGlynn added: "Barney has impressed us from the minute he walked in the door. As a team that gets a lot of crosses into the box, we should have been scoring more goals over the past couple of months, maybe even years, so to get someone who instinctively gets on the end of those crosses is brilliant.

"He's got a lot of natural attributes; his size, his height, he's a powerful boy and he's got good pace.

"We're really looking forward to continuing Barney's progress and seeing him score more goals for the team."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Calvin Miller was simply sensational on the left for Falkirk in their 4-1 win against Hibernian.

He had to do the hard career yards ever since Celtic decided he had no future at the club back in 2020.

There have been stop offs at Dundee, Ayr, Harrogate and Chesterfield amongst others along the way, but all those roads have led to him being a shining light in John McGlynn's seriously impressive Falkirk side.

Electric on the wing with two assists for Barney Stewart, Miller is the jewel in the Falkirk crown right now.

It was a first-class graduation to Premiership football for Stewart who swapped university football for life at Falkirk. His hat-trick against Hibs was a major statement from the big 21-year-old.

Arguably the only thing missing from the Falkirk fairytale has been a number nine who can regularly find the net, and Stewart looked the real deal confidently putting the visitors from Leith to the sword in a devastating display in the penalty box.

McGlynn knows a player when he sees one. He plucked Kieron Bowie from local football obscurity when he was Raith Rovers manager.

Bowie - now playing up front for Hibs - could only look on as McGlynn's latest rough diamond sparkled in front of the adoring Falkirk faithful.

Watch Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith discuss Barney Stewart's hat-trick for Falkirk in Saturday's 4-1 win over Hibernian.

Watch Sportscene pundit Steven Naismith heap praise on Falkirk's impressive team performance in their 4-1 win over Hibernian on Saturday.

A hat-trick from striker Barney Stewart helped claim a statement victory for John McGlynn's side, who continue to defy the odds on their top-flight return.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, pundit Scott Allan was also keen to hail McGlynn and his players.

"I love everything about this Falkirk side, the fact they've come up from League 1 and McGlynn's now starting to add to that.

"There was like 10 Scottish players in the starting line-up as well, and that actually shows you in this country we do have Scottish footballers who can play some really good football and take on information and go and carry it out for their manager.

"John McGlynn deserves all the praise that is coming his way at this moment, and they're filling out the stadium every home game as well.

"Some of the stuff the fans are getting to watch is dreamland stuff, but all that comes down to McGlynn, the trust he has in the players and the trust he's kept showing them."

Watch highlights as Barney Stewart's hat-trick helps Falkirk beat Hibs 4-1 in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Falkirk's 4-1 win against Hibernian.

Here's what some of you said:

Tommy: We fear no one in this league. Again I have to take my hat off to John McGlynn for sticking by Barney Stewart up front. Barney rewards him and the club back with a hattrick against a good side.

Pabs: Barney rightfully gets the headlines but Dylan Tait and Leon McCann were superb. Grit, work rate and determination to win. They bossed Hibs. McGlynn and his staff have built an incredible team.

Scott: Barney will get all the plaudits and rightly s, particularly given Kieron Bowie's performance which wasn't his best, but the comparison between Liam Henderson and Grant Hanley was no contest. Wild to think one was playing in League One a couple of years ago and the other has over 60 caps, when today suggested it should be entirely the other way round. Also shoutouts to Tait and Calvin Miller who were outstanding once again. Hope Steve Clarke was watching, at the very least for the March friendlies – I won't hold my breath.

David: Another step in the McGlynn journey. We didn't manage to overcome the two Edinburgh giants in each of the first two games of the season, but have now dispatched both in the space of a fortnight. The men from Leith came calling with a team of international defenders but were dispatched back by a scintillating performance by McGlynn's footballers in a performance that merited accolades in a higher league. Stewart's story will make all the headlines this week and rightly so, but there will be others in this dressing room that will make the headlines in future weeks. This is the McGlynn story.

Neil: Absolutely superb, every single player in navy blue put in a shift. Some of the play was the best I've ever seen from a Falkirk side. Well done big Barney, great hattrick from a young lad who was playing in the Lowland League just 12 months ago, his story is Roy of the Rovers stuff. John, Paul Smith and Stephen McGinn are giving us a Falkirk side that will be talked about for years. It just keeps getting better and better, what a time to be a Bairn.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn reckons Barney Stewart is the poorest paid player in the Scottish Premiership but has told the 21-year-old striker, who scored a hat-trick in Saturday's win over Hibs, he is still not getting a rise unless he agrees a new contract. (Daily Record), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Barney Stewart's hat-trick inspired impressive Falkirk to an emphatic victory over Hibernian as their incredible return to the Scottish Premiership continued.

Read the full match report here.

Share your thoughts here.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "It was a very impressive display, great goals, could have possibly been more. The performance was outstanding, our football was sublime at times. So pleasing for me and my staff.

"I'm delighted for Barney [Stewart]. He scored a hat-trick. It doesn't happen often, but he made it look very easy. I'm delighted for the team for putting on another excellent performance.

"Our DNA for the last three and a half years has been to go for it, we're not a team that will sit back. The game became very open, we could go up the park and be a threat almost every time."

Image source, SNS

Falkirk are missing Filip Lissah after the defender picked up an injury against Hearts last weekend while Gary Oliver (hamstring) is still out. Ross MacIver, Tom Lang and Lewis Neilson are all pushing for involvement after recovering from injury.

Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan will be out for a few weeks after picking up an ankle knock in last weekend's Scottish Gas Scottish Cup defeat at Dunfermline. David Gray has a few concerns while Josh Campbell has been out this year with a hamstring problem.

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John McGlynn insists Falkirk are "still big underdogs" despite the impressive strength in their squad.

Key defender Filip Lissah will be absent for this weekend's trip to Hibernian due to injury but the Bairns boss says he's spoilt for choice with the options available to him.

Falkirk's squad has been boosted by the arrival of Ben Parkinson and Louie Marsh this month, with Scott Arfield and Alfredo Agyeman departing in search of regular game-time.

"We've got a lot of players back now. We only really have Ross MacIver and Gary Oliver [of the long-term absentees] out and even MacIver now could be knocking on the door to get in the squad," McGlynn said.

"But such is the strength in our squad that we can let Alfie [Agyeman] go out to St Johnstone because he can't even get on the bench now.

"Our squad is so strong that some of our good players can't even get on the bench.

"Lewis Neilson's coming back, we've got Coll Donaldson back and Tom Lang's actually been back in full training for a couple of weeks now as well.

"I'm delighted at the strength in depth that we've got in the squad. Our 11 v 11 games in training, the quality is just so good."

Falkirk are sixth in the Premiership and can narrow the gap on Hibs with victory at Easter Road on Saturday.

"We're five points behind Hibs – we could narrow that down to two," McGlynn added.

"We find ourselves five points ahead of Aberdeen and Dundee United.

"Of course, they're going to continue to put pressure on us, so it's just about managing to continuously get results and try and stay in that position that we're in.

"We're in a really good place. The boys are buzzing. We also understand that David Gray won't be happy getting knocked out the cup.

"They'll have been extra focused this week in training, I'm sure. He'll be looking for a reaction from them.

"We've got to make sure that we don't get complacent at all. We're still big underdogs."

Falkirk have held talks about striking up a potential partnership the SFA Performance School at Graeme High School in the town in the wake of the governing body's announcement the system is to undergo a phased closure in the coming years. (The Herald), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Falkirk manager John McGlynn has played down links to the vacant Aberdeen manager's job and insists he's had "no contact" from Pittodrie.

After back-to-back promotions, McGlynn's side are currently sixth in the Premiership and the 64-year-old is reportedly in the frame to replace the sacked Jimmy Thelin at Pittodrie.

"I'm purely focused on this game," McGlynn said as Falkirk prepare to host Hibernian on Saturday.

"I've had no contact and I'm not looking for that. I'm just looking to concentrate on the next game, keep the boys focused.

"The last thing I want is distractions. I've got to just focus on this game.

"I've been in the game a long time, it's not the first time. I was heavily linked with the Hearts job as well not so long ago.

"I always look upon it as a back-handed compliment for the work that's getting done. It's similar when players are doing well, they sometimes get moves on the back of it.

"I certainly don't want it becoming a distraction, that's for sure. As I say, I'm totally focused on this. I've got a good group of boys here. I've got guys like Scott Bain who's just re-signed a longer-term contract in here.

"I've been enjoying my work here. I'm just focused on that."

McGlynn, who has signed striker Ben Parkinson and playmaker Louie Marsh this month, indicated he is unlikely to add any further January recruits, saying: "I'm happy with what we've got."

Image source, SNS

• Falkirk have had more shots following high turnovers (32) than any other side in the Scottish Premiership this season, while Hibs top the division for goals following high turnovers (seven).

• After their 3-1 win at Kilmarnock, Hibs are looking for back-to-back away league victories for the first time since December 2024.

• After only losing one of their first eight home league matches this season (W2 D5), Falkirk have since lost two of their past three (W1).

• Hibs have only lost one of their past 12 league matches against newly-promoted sides (W7 D4), going down 3-2 away to Dundee United in October 2024.

• Falkirk remain winless in 12 top-flight matches against Hibs (D5 L7) since a 2-1 victory in December 2006.

Grant Heaney
Fan writer

Toppling Hearts at Tynecastle in the Scottish Cup was arguably our finest hour of an already remarkable season - and yet it was just another example of how impressive our away form has been.

Yes, it came via a penalty shootout, but before that no team had emerged from Tynecastle with any kind of victory this season.

It's the latest in a string of standout performances on the road from John McGlynn's Bairns. Notably, we're also the only side to leave Fir Park with all three points in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Even Danny Rohl's Rangers, so strong at home since appointing the German, were thwarted by Falkirk - the only team to deny the Light Blues a win at Ibrox across their past seven league games in Govan.

Add to that victories at Aberdeen, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and St Mirren, and it's clear our away record isn't just solid - it's exceptional.

This is underlined by the fact only the title-chasing trio of Hearts, Celtic and Rangers have a better record on the road than the Bairns in the Premiership this season.

For a newly-promoted side, consistently delivering results away from home while playing an attractive, confident style of football is no small feat.

McGlynn and his staff have fashioned a side that carries its identity with it, thriving no matter the postcode.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn is emerging as the leading candidate for the vacancy at Aberdeen. (Pete O'Rourke on X), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Falkirk forward Alfredo Agyeman will spend the remainder of the season in the Scottish Championship at promotion-chasing St Johnstone.

The 25-year-old has featured in 20 top-flight games for John McGlynn's impressive side this term, failing to score.

Starts have been hard to come by for the Ghanaian, who scored five times in the Championship last season during Falkirk's league-winning campaign.

St Johnstone currently lead the second tier by five points and have a game in hand.

Falkirk forward Alfredo Agyeman is poised to join Championship leaders St Johnstone on loan. (The Courier - subscription required), external