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Watch Falkirk v Kilmarnock highlights

01/11/25

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Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Falkirk Stadium

Falkirk's emphatic first-half display earned a third win in four league games as the promoted side rose to fifth place in the Scottish Premiership.

Manager John McGlynn insisted his team came into this with confidence despite defeat by Celtic in midweek, having won their previous two fixtures.

Ethan Williams, Ross MacIver and Calvin Miller all netted as the home side were rampant in an impressive first-half.

Stuart Kettlewell's Kilmarnock responded well after the break, though, having two goals chopped off before a lifeline arrived through Tyreece John-Jules' strike.

However, the damage was done in that punishing opening period, with Kilmarnock now having lost their last four ahead of a trip to face Celtic next weekend.

The outcome became more debatable given the visitors' response but McGlynn's side delivered further evidence that they belong at this level after winning the Championship last term.

Four changes brought freshness and they were at the top of their game instantly.

The opener arrived when Miller superbly threaded a ball behind Kilmarnock's back four and Williams slotted home. The offside call was overturned after review.

A second arrived Maciver followed in and capitalised on Tobi Oluwayemi's parry straight into his path after Kyrell Wilson's strike.

MacIver departed shortly after through injury, with Brian Graham taking his place. He made a quick impact with an excellent flick on, Williams raced down the left and found Miller, who finished confidently although Oluwayemi might have done better.

It looked a lost cause for Kilmarnock but a change in shape and personnel sparked a revival.

Robbie Deas was deemed to have fouled Scott Bain when nodding home and Bruce Anderson raced clear to net, but was called offside.

John-Jules did convert confidently when he turned in the box but the margin proved a bridge too far as Falkirk held off their spirited fightback.

Analysis: First half decisive despite improvement

Graphic

Falkirk were on it from the start and deserved this on the basis of the first half. They could have had more than three and were outstanding in front of a raucous crowd.

They have undoubtedly found their feet at this level and showed real quality, intensity and desire to establish that lead and then hold off a resurgent Kilmarnock.

Safety is the first objective for them and in their next fixture they'll have the chance to move significantly clear of the bottom-place side, who they face at home.

Even better, they lie within the top six. It's been a very impressive run of late and return to the Premiership overall.

Kettlewell spoke of the importance of getting the first goal for Kilmarnock. They didn't and left another uphill battle ahead at a very early stage. It got worse, quickly.

Four defeats on the trot have been damaging and with that visit to Celtic next, the Ayrshire side are heading in the wrong direction.

Credit to them for responding in the manner they did. However, few teams can afford to fall three goals behind and expect to get anything.

What they said

Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "First half, we blew Kilmarnock away, the boys were in top form. I'm delighted with them.

"Obviously, the message at half-time was to try and keep it going but we knew that Kilmarnock would never ever just lie down and were going to get a lot closer to us and make it lot more difficult. To be fair, I thought they dominated the second half.

"We wanted another three points to add to the 12 we had but I believe that's a really, really good return after the first 11 games."

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I know sometimes people say this for effect, but we owe the travelling supporters an apology for the first 45 minutes.

"People pay their hard-earned cash to follow their club, and the absolute minimum they should see is a real desire to come out in your individual battles. And in that first 45 minutes, I'm struggling to think of one occasion where a Kilmarnock player came out on top against a Falkirk player.

"We're unable to pass the ball properly, we're unable to secure the ball, which gives up opportunities for a good team to keep coming back at you. I have to take full responsibility for that."

What's next?

Falkirk host Livingston on Saturday, 8 November (15:00 GMT) and Kilmarnock visit Celtic the following day (16:00) in their final fixture before the international break.

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