Falkirk emphatically secured their place in the top half of the Scottish Premiership as Motherwell's long home unbeaten record - stretching back to October - was broken.
Read the full match report here
Have your say on the game via this link
'It means everything' - McGlynn
Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "It feels amazing [to secure top-six].
"It was a little struggle to get over the line but we certainly put on a great performance today. I'm so pleased and so proud of the players.
"We would never have thought we would have been just coming up from the Championship and having that quick step from League One into the Championship and then the Premiership. I can't speak highly enough of the players, they deserve to be there. I'm so proud of them and delighted for everyone at the football club.
"As much as we've been invincible and won the Championship, this is probably the greatest achievement. We've come into the top league and we've not just tried to defend and look for a point here and there. We play attractive, attacking football, in my opinion anyway, and we've come out in a top six position which is incredible. It means everything. Hopefully there is still more to come from us.
"I'm hoping he's [Calvin Miller] going to do his chances of going to the World Cup a benefit. He's at the top of his game, I'm delighted to have him. Hopefully he's strutting his stuff for us going forward.
"You can only compliment Barney [Stewart] as a striker. You want him in between the sticks and finishing and he's doing that. He wants to do well and he's certainly doing that.
"We'll try and catch the team above us, which will be Hibs, we've got to try. Challenges keep coming. If you manage to do one you've got to get the next one. We've still got so much to play for, the guys aren't going to be on the beach they've still got so much to play for.
"When it comes to these last five games we've still got a bit of a say in where the title will go, that'll keep us motivated right to the end."
Image source, SNSMotherwell have lost Callum Slattery to suspension, but Emmanuel Longelo returns from a ban.
Regan Charles-Cook remains out alongside Johnny Koutroumbis (calf), Callum Hendry (groin) and Zach Robinson (Achilles).
Falkirk welcome back Liam Henderson and Kyrell Wilson from injury, while Ben Parkinson and Ross MacIver are both back training and have an outside chance of being involved.
Louie Marsh and Ethan Williams (both thigh) are out.
Image source, SNSJohn McGlynn has urged Falkirk to secure a top-six spot under their own steam and then chase down Hibernian.
The Bairns, who visit Motherwell on Saturday, are six points clear of seventh-placed Dundee United and boast a superior goal difference with two games left until the split.
And manager McGlynn is also mindful of the opportunity to pursue Hibs - currently five points above them - in the race for fifth place and a potential European spot.
"We would obviously like to do it ourselves, and we've said that for a few weeks," he said.
"We want to go to Fir Park and at least get a point to make it secure.
"But at the same time, it throws up new challenges. How far will we be behind Hibs with six games to go?
"Then with five games to go, hopefully we're in the top six and then we want to try and chip away at that points gap that there is between ourselves and Hibs."
After Motherwell, Falkirk play Rangers in their final pre-split match. McGlynn is taking motivation from his side's previous results against the pair.
"We made 15 points in the first 11 games and we thought, 'well, if we can do that again, that would be good', so we did, we got to 30," said McGlynn.
"So the target (at the end of the pre-split fixtures) was 45, and at the minute, we've picked up 13, and we find ourselves at 43.
"In the first round of games, we beat Motherwell and we drew with Rangers at home, so if we were to do that again then we'd be sitting very nicely.
"We were the last team to win at Fir Park, so maybe lightning will strike twice and we'll go there and win. Motherwell have been magnificent, absolutely brilliant, so that's a big task but it's not impossible."
Image source, SNSJohn McGlynn hopes Falkirk will have two players in Scotland's World Cup squad as he backed winger Calvin Miller to emulate Scott Bain and make a late dash for inclusion.
Goalkeeper Bain became the first Bairns player to be capped since 2008 when he played the second half of Tuesday's friendly defeat by Ivory Coast in Liverpool.
The 34-year-old has a strong chance of making Steve Clarke's squad for the showpiece in America and McGlynn reckons 28-year-old Miller - one of the standout wingers in the Premiership this term - is also in the reckoning.
"We don't have too many wingers, so Calvin would give you a lot of options, because he can play either side and he's got great delivery," said manager McGlynn, who signed Miller from Morton in 2023.
"I'm sure he was in Steve Clarke's thoughts, because when you look about, we've not got an awful lot to change to. You're looking at Ben Gannon-Doak and then Findlay Curtis.
"So if you want to go with wingers, it's difficult [for Clarke]. A lot of the teams in Scotland play with wing-backs, so it's not like Steve's got loads of wingers to choose from.
"I think fans in general love to see wingers taking players on. Calvin's got great flair, great pace, he's got skill, he's what you pay to see, and now he's doing it at the top level."
Miller was loosely linked with Celtic in January and McGlynn is braced for interest this summer.
"As a football club we've not had any interest," he said. "There seemed to be some interest in January, but it was never between club to club.
"Would I expect it? I would actually expect it, yeah, but he's got another year on his contract, so we'll see what happens."
Another Falkirk player McGlynn feels can make an impact for the national team is Scotland Under-21 forward Barney Stewart, who has scored nine goals for the Bairns since returning from a loan stint at Dunfermline in January.
"I think Barney will [play for Scotland]," said McGlynn.
"I'm not suggesting he'll be in the World Cup squad, he's just broken on to the scene and he's hit the ground running, so the sky's the limit.
"In time we would love him to be involved in it, but Scotland have got options in there, so the World Cup might just come a little bit early for Barney.
"But I'd like to think if he continues to do well, he'll get an opportunity to go to a European Championship or a World Cup."
Image source, SNSBarney Stewart has scored in each of Falkirk's past three league games; the last player to score in four successive top-flight appearances for the club was Anthony Stokes in November 2006.
Falkirk have only won one of their past five league matches (D1 L3), picking up just four points; since the start of this time (14 February), only Aberdeen have fewer points in the Scottish Premiership (two).
Motherwell are unbeaten in 12 home league games (W9 D3), conceding only one goal while keeping 11 clean sheets in this period. It's the fewest goals shipped by any side over a run of 12 home games in the Premiership since Rangers conceded one in 14 from August 2020 to February 2021.
Falkirk have won their past two league visits to Motherwell, although these came over 15 years apart: 1-0 in April 2010 and 2-1 in October 2025.
Motherwell have only won two of their past 13 league meetings with Falkirk (D5 L6), although both were at home in October 2008 (3-2) and October 2009 (1-0).
Image source, SNSFalkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain is relishing his return to the Scotland national team after contemplating "calling it a day" and hanging up his gloves.
The 34-year-old's second half cameo in Tuesday night's 1-0 friendly defeat to Ivory Coast marked his first appearance for the national side since 2019 when he played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over San Marino as part of their qualifiers for Euro 2020.
Bain, who had been third choice goalkeeper at Celtic for a number of years, joined Falkirk in the summer and has become a mainstay as John McGlynn's side edge closer to securing top six football.
"I was planning on doing coaching badges and calling it a day," Bain said of his career turnaround in the last 12 months.
"It's been a great season, a great moment for me. I can go home and potentially have an amazing season at Falkirk and if that leads to getting on the plane for the World Cup then that leads to that."
Bain replaced Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly at half-time in Tuesday's pre-World Cup friendly against Ivory Coast and put in a solid performance.
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Angus Gunn had started Saturday's game against Japan and of the three called up for this month's friendlies, Bain is the only one getting game time on a regular basis.
And while the Falkirk number one is hopeful it'll stand him in good stead when Steve Clarke contemplates his World Cup squad.
"The manager said before we left that it's not often you get to play a game with the shackles off and not scrapping for three points," he added.
"It resonated with me, I've waited a long time to come back into the Scotland set-up and I'm just going to enjoy it.
"We've got excellent keepers with real experience and a lot of caps between them so it certainly helps me to feel like I'm in a better place."
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
Our Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Dunfermline is fast approaching, and it's already shaping up to be a special occasion for fans of both clubs.
Any chatter from pundits or punters suggesting the tie should be moved to Tynecastle or Easter Road has quickly been silenced, thanks to the highly encouraging ticket sales over the past week. In just seven days, the two clubs have reportedly shifted around 20,000 tickets – a figure that looks set to climb even higher.
For comparison, the 2009 semi-final at Hampden drew 17,124 spectators, yet ticket sales for this year's showdown have already surpassed that number, underlining the huge anticipation for 18 April.
While it may not carry the same national profile as the Old Firm or the Edinburgh and Dundee derbies, this duel always delivers its own brand of chaos and passion - and the intensity is sure to spike with a place in the Scottish Cup final on the line. Beyond being a semi-final tie, this is the fixture that matters most to both fanbases.
Just as we did in 2009, here's hoping we can pull off another unforgettable semi-final triumph over the Pars at Hampden.
Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSJohn McGinn's older brothers Stephen (left) and Paul (right) are enjoying dream seasons at their clubs
How rare is it to have three brothers all involved in professional football? Very. How rare is it for all of them to be enjoying good seasons? Even more so, it seems.
The McGinn family group chat has been a positive place for the most part of this campaign, with John's Aston Villa flying high in the Premier League, Paul's Motherwell doing likewise in the Scottish Premiership, and Stephen's Falkirk enjoying a dream return to the top flight.
"In terms of seasons in football, this has probably been right up there for the three of us," Villa captain John, the youngest of the three brothers, tells BBC Scotland.
"Normally we're in the group chat - mum and dad and my sister are in there as well - and somebody has been beaten, somebody's been trounced, or one of us is going through a bad spell.
"This season's been pretty positive. Falkirk seem to be winning, Motherwell seem to be winning and so do Villa. There have been loads of weekends where all three of us have won."
Oldest brother Stephen, 37, has retired from playing and is now assistant to manager John McGlynn at Falkirk.
Following back-to-back promotions from the third tier all the way to the Premiership, McGlynn's side are on course for a top-six finish and have a Scottish Cup semi-final against rivals Dunfermline to look forward to next month.
"Stephen has been really good for John McGlynn and John McGlynn has been really good for Stephen," John says. "They are very different but both love football and they see the game in the same way.
"Stephen has his eye on being a manager in his own right one day and, for him, he is so fortunate to be learning from a great manager. Hopefully they can kick on and win a cup this season."
Paul, meanwhile, is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career at the age of 35, captaining Motherwell as they push for European football.
They too have received plaudits for their brave and expansive style of football under Jens Berthel Askou, all while boasting the best defensive record in the league.
Paul has been integral to that success and has excelled as a ball-playing centre-back - to the surprise of many. But John always knew his older brother had it in him.
"Paul's having one of the best seasons of his career," the Scotland midfielder adds. "He's had a manager come in and allow him to flourish.
"He's always had that ability, but it's just about having a manager who gives him that responsibility and belief.
"At 35, he's showing no sign of slowing down and he's capable of going up another gear or two."
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
Craig Sibbald was the toast of Falkirk last Monday when it was announced he had penned a pre-contract to return to the club in the summer.
This followed weeks of speculation we were looking to bring the self-confessed Bairn back home - making it all the more satisfying to see it confirmed.
It feels like the sort of transfer we simply wouldn't have been able to pull off this time last year.
That, in itself, speaks volumes about the position the club now finds itself in - one where we are capable of attracting players of Sibbald's calibre.
Of course, the emotional pull plays its part. He's one of our own, having come through the academy, and a local lad still based in the area. But even so, it's an encouraging sign of the direction we're heading.
It's also pleasing to see us getting our business under way early. That was a real bugbear for many Bairns fans last year, with so much of our recruitment dragged out until the final days of the summer transfer window.
By contrast, having survival comfortably secured with months to spare has allowed us to get ahead of the curve - something that simply wouldn't have been possible had our top-flight status still been hanging in the balance.
Here's hoping this is just the start, with more reinforcements to follow prior to what promises to be a busy summer rebuild at the Falkirk Stadium, particularly once the current crop of loanees move on.
On top of that, strong campaigns don't go unnoticed, so there is a lingering worry other clubs may be sniffing around some of our key players. Keeping hold of that core could prove just as important as any new additions.
This content isn't available anymore.
There was an error
St Mirren pick up three points against Falkirk and boost their Scottish Premiership survival battle (UK only).
Managerless St Mirren produced an upset to stun top-six hopefuls Falkirk and boost their chances of Scottish Premiership survival.
Image source, SNSFalkirk manager John McGlynn: "Good start, they make an error in defence and Barney's finish is really good, exactly where you want him to put the ball. I've seen them missed.
"But we didn't keep the lead for very long, we don't defend the set play particularly well. We give St Mirren some encouragement.
"We probably shaded the first half on territory, going towards their goal much more than the other way round and likewise in the second half. We were the team in the ascendancy.
"We were a threat, it looked like a goal would come and out the blue, St Mirren score. We got punished for a bit of an error, but we're aggrieved.
"Alex Gogic takes Filip Lissah out and goes into an offside position. There's a real inconsistency with decisions.
"We're disappointed. On some occasions we've got ourselves to blame. We're creating mistakes which are getting punished. We put a lot into the game, don't think we deserved to lose but we have done.
"We just have to lick our wounds and enjoy the international break, come back and be ready to end the season on a high."
Image source, SNSFalkirk's Kyrell Wilson and Ben Parkinson (both ankle), Ross MacIver and Louis Marsh, Liam Henderson and Ethan Williams (all thigh) are out.
St Mirren hope to have Mikael Mandron and Jayden Richardson involved while Declan John could feature despite needing hernia surgery at some stage.
Kion Etete is still out along with Conor McMenamin, Malik Dijksteel (both groin), Keanu Baccus (Achilles) and Marcus Fraser (shoulder).
Image source, SNSFull-back Leon McCann insists Falkirk aren't getting carried away with top-six talk until their position is mathematically confirmed.
The Bairns currently occupy sixth spot in the Premiership table and are nine points above Dundee United in seventh.
McCann joined Falkirk back in 2021 after leaving Airdrieonians and has been with the Bairns as they climbed through the divisions.
But the defender hasn't been surprised by Falkirk's impressive first season back in the top flight.
"I did tell a lot of people that my reason for signing with Falkirk was because I saw where the club could go if it just got out the wee bit of a rut it was in," he said.
"So I did imagine us being in the Premiership, because the club is massive and it was in the Premiership for so many years.
"However, I don't think I imagined this to do it the way we did, as invincibles, then straight up to the Premiership after one year in the Championship and now going for top six.
"I don't think anybody would have guessed that would happen in the space of three years or so.
"And so in some sense, I did think that at some point the club could be where we are now, but I just didn't think it would happen so quickly."
Falkirk are at home to St Mirren on Saturday afternoon before United travel to Celtic on Sunday lunchtime. John McGlynn's side will secure their top-six status with a victory tomorrow, regardless of the result at Parkhead.
A defeat for the Bairns and their wait for a top-six spot will continue, unless United also lose.
But McGlynn's men are not getting their hopes up just yet.
"No, not yet," he added when asked if a top-six finish was effectively in the bag.
"Not until it's mathematically over.
"We don't want to get stuck in that mindset of just coasting.
"We are here to win every game, take as many points as we can and obviously we have a semi-final coming up so we want to be in the best form we possibly can going into that.
"So until that's mathematically over, then we'll keep striving towards getting top six."
Image source, SNSSince (and including) his hat-trick against Hibernian on 24 January, Falkirk's Barney Stewart has eight goal involvements in eight Scottish Premiership appearances (six goals, two assists), the most of any player in the competition in this time.
After their 2-0 victory in January, Falkirk could win back-to-back top-flight meetings with St Mirren for the first time since February 2008.
St Mirren have won six of their past nine away games at Falkirk in the top flight (D1 L2), including most recently in September (2-1).
After only winning two of their opening nine home league matches of the season (D5 L2), Falkirk have since won four of six (L2).
St Mirren's only away league win of this season was at Falkirk in September; the Buddies are winless in 12 on the road since (D3 L9), their longest winless away run in the top flight since going 20 without victory from November 2009 to October 2010.
Image source, SNSFormer referee Steve Conroy thinks it is "mission creep" with VAR in Scottish football before new changes to the laws for the upcoming World Cup.
VAR was introduced in Scotland almost four years ago but has frequently been criticised by fans, players, managers and former players.
Now there could be more changes to the scope of technology as football's law-making body the International Football Association Board (Ifab) backed plans to increase the powers of VAR.
For this summer's World Cup in America, VAR will be allowed to intervene on second yellow cards and the awarding of corners, provided the process doesn't slow down the flow of play.
Ifab has also expanded the countdown rule around goalkeepers where they have eight seconds to release the ball from their hands to include goal kicks and throw-ins.
But former referee Conroy thinks involving the technology in more decision-making is bad news for the game.
"It's inescapable that there is more and more mission creep with VAR," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"The authorities seem hell-bent on using it more and more and relying on it and I think that is to the detriment of football.
"I know Ifab are talking about getting them involved for corners and second yellows and all that sort of stuff. As [Celtic interim manager] Martin O'Neill said, soon enough we'll just referee from a port-a-cabin somewhere.
"And this is all happening at the same time as every football supporter survey tells you that they just want it binned."
Grant Heaney
Fan writer
I think I speak for many Falkirk fans when I say we hope Stephen McGinn stays with the club, despite links to the managerial vacancy at St Mirren.
Midfielder McGinn was one of John McGlynn's first signings when he was appointed back in 2022 and quickly became central to our revival.
Among the early recruits, he helped restore discipline and stability after years of decline.
Even in his second season when his time on the pitch was limited, his off-field influence as club captain was vital in finally guiding the club out of League One at the fifth attempt - and doing so as Invincibles.
Last summer, his return as part of McGlynn's coaching staff was a major boost for everyone at the club.
McGinn remains hugely popular with both players and supporters, and many see him as a potential successor to McGlynn when the time inevitably comes.
Of course, few Bairns would begrudge McGinn the chance to take on a managerial role elsewhere - but for now, let's hope that day is still a long way off.
