Falkirk Flex Their Muscles in Opening Rout Over Brechin

Falkirk kicked off their season with a return to competitive action in the Premier Sports Cup group stage, beating Highland League side Brechin City 7-0 away from home. Dylan Tait began his campaign with a hat-trick, while talisman Scott Arfield netted a brace. Alfredo Agyeman and Ross MacIver also got on the scoresheet in a ruthless performance. The two clubs have experienced vastly different fortunes in recent years. Both were in the Championship during the 2017/18 season, when Brechin endured a disastrous campaign, failing to win a single match before being relegated. Falkirk would follow them down to League One the following year, while Brechin’s decline continued with successive relegations that eventually saw them drop out of the SPFL entirely. Fast forward six years, and the contrast couldn’t be starker. Falkirk is back in the top flight, while Brechin remains stuck in the fifth tier’s northern section. A fixture that was a second-tier clash in 2018 now features a four-division gulf, and the Bairns made that difference count in emphatic fashion at Glebe Park. A dominating performance in the sunshine was the ideal way to kick off the season. While William Hill Premiership rivals Motherwell and Dundee failed to defeat lower league opponents, the league’s newest addition showed their class early on and calmed any nerves over new-season jitters. While the gulf in quality was expected, Falkirk’s relentless display hinted at something deeper: a winning mentality that could set them apart from several of their Premiership rivals this season. Manager John McGlynn has retained the core of the squad that delivered back-to-back League One and Championship titles. His only permanent signings so far are experienced striker Brian Graham from Partick Thistle and goalkeeper Scott Bain from Celtic, with loan additions Lewis Neilson (Hearts) and Henry Cartwright (Leicester City) adding depth. It’s early days, but Falkirk’s strength in depth and ingrained belief raise a tantalising question: might they do more than simply survive in the Premiership? Could the league’s newcomers even push for a top-half finish in their first season back? The Bairns possess a potent blend of youth and experience, balance across the pitch, and, crucially, the mentality of winners. That mindset, forged over two title-winning campaigns where they had to deliver almost every week, is hard-earned and not easily undone. Underestimating Falkirk would be a mistake. If other teams do, they might find themselves playing catch-up, and by then, the new boys could already be out of sight of their expected relegation rivals.