SPFL Weekly – Matchday 1: Five Talking Points
Russell Martin blows his top after a lacklustre showing, Luke McCowan spares blunt Celtic with late heroics, and Derek McInnes’ Jambos breezed into pole position for title challenge. Kieron Bowie was the Starman at Den’s Park, and it was a level start on opening day for promoted sides. We’re back! Here’s our round-up of the big talking points from Matchday 1 in the 2025/26 SPFL season. Martin Fires Warning Shot The post-match talk to the press is rarely more explosive than the game. Yet the new man in the dugout, Russell Martin, let rip in his Sky Sports interview after their opening SPFL game at Fir Park, criticising the mentality of his squad. He accused some of his Teddy Bears of ‘reverting to type’ and needing to ‘drop their egos’. An impressive second-half performance from Motherwell saw Emmanuel Longelo’s powerful strike cancel out James Tavernier’s first-half header in the 1-1 draw. The Lanarkshire side could have won, too, with Jack Butland denying Tom Sparrow, who scored their winner at Ibrox in March, in the game’s dying moments. Martin admitted that his ex-Norwich teammate’s side, Jens Berthel Askou, who joined Motherwell in the summer as Head Coach, was ‘braver’ and more ‘aggressive’ than his side and was lucky to get a point. Their supporters booed off the Glasgow side at full-time, echoing déjà vu from last season. The Brighton man, who played for Rangers on loan in 2018, delivered similar criticism in context to Barry Ferguson’s comments last season. Although Martin said it was ‘not an attack on anyone personally’ ahead of tonight’s Champions League qualifier against Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox, he will need to be careful not to alienate his squad. They overcame Panathinaikos over two legs in the previous round of European qualifiers. However, the less-than-convincing performances and players playing out of position have baffled supporters. He said some players must ‘drop their ego’, but perhaps he should be the one to compromise on his tactics and do so willingly if he wants to succeed in Glasgow. He told Sky Sports: “We need to work out who really wants to be all in and who doesn’t.” Martin has been busy in the transfer window, with the recent arrival of Finnish international Oliver Antman, who arrives from Go Ahead Eagles in a £4m deal, pushing the total to nine signings. The gaffer will hope Antman doesn’t shrink under pressure but grows into a giant in attack. Loyal servant and club captain James Tavernier, who has been at the club for ten years, has been an ever-present in this so-called egotistical environment. Still, question marks remain about his ability to instil a positive culture. Maybe Martin, Tavernier, fresh faces, and player exits can finally push the club in a new direction. Rodgers Needs Firepower After McCowan Bailout Luke McCowan saved Celtic’s blushes with a deflected strike in the last ten minutes of the game against a stubborn St Mirren side at Celtic Park. It was hard to say what was less surprising: Stephen Robinson’s men, unbeaten in last season’s top-six split and fresh off a third consecutive top-half finish, proving they are no pushovers, or McCowan coming off the bench and positively changing the game for the Hoops. The Bhoys started with a party. A rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone rang out, Kris Boyd pleading for Scott Brown to keep talking on Sky Sports so he doesn’t have to hear it. Lisbon Lion John Clark, who passed away in the summer, had a tifo unveiled in his memory. And the club welcomed back 90s legend Paul McStay before he unfurled the league champions’ flag at Celtic Park. Unfortunately, that’s where the shindig faded. The home side struck the woodwork four times and saw a Callum McGregor second-half strike correctly ruled out for handball. It wasn’t until McCowan’s 12-minute cameo that the game came to life. The 27-year-old brought energy and the decisive flourish that Benjamin Nygren and the front three of Yang, Adam Idah, and Daezen Maeda lacked. He had a similar role last year, coming on as a substitute 17 times for Celtic in the league, scoring six goals and assisting seven times for his boyhood club. The narrow 1–0 win means the reigning champions have now won their opening league fixture in 17 of the last 18 seasons. It has been a successful period for the club, but Brendan Rodgers will only continue at Celtic beyond his contract, which expires at the end of the season, if the club continues to develop on and off the park. Rodgers wants attacking reinforcements, but Yang is less than convincing. James Forrest is ageing, and the injured Jota is not expected to return until the new year. Adam Idah continues to blow cold, and Jonjoe Kenny and new signing Shin Yamada are both untested in the league. On BBC’s Sportscene, ex-Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew says the club needs two wingers and a striker, which is a fair assessment based on the manager’s recent comments. Hearts Weather the Wind and Bloom into Title Contenders The Jambos were back in league action after cruising in their League Cup campaign the past few weeks. Even Storm Floris caused chaos across Edinburgh, with Fringe shows cancelled, train services halted, and even the Military Tattoo called off. Still, it couldn’t disrupt Derek McInnes’ men with a 2-0 win over Aberdeen. They had no sympathy for the 650 Aberdeen fans attempting the journey south, or for Dons’ captain Graeme Shinnie, who put the ball into the back of his net in the early stages of the game from a Harry Milne cross. Jambos’ summer signing Stuart Findlay finished the scoring with a brave header past an onrushing Dimitar Mitov. Lawrence Shankland thought he had doubled their advantage in the first half with a wonder strike, which was disallowed for offside in the build-up. Managing his first league game for Hearts against a former club, Derek McInnes told Sky Sports afterwards that “we gave everything.” They will
Our Writers Predict the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership
The William Hill Premiership is looming, with the opening weekend starting with Killie hosting the newly promoted side of Livingston on Saturday and concluding with the blockbuster clash on Monday when Aberdeen visit Hearts. Fresh optimism, big questions and plenty of intrigue await. Will Celtic continue their domestic dominance? Can Hearts, Hibs, or Aberdeen close the Old Firm gap? And who’s facing a scrap at the bottom? The transfer window is still open, and predictions may hinge on late window shenanigans. However, our team of journalists has examined all 12 clubs and offered their early predictions for this season. Aberdeen Callum Hart – 4th I’m tipping them to finish 4th. Cameron Caldwell – 7th Guaranteed European football until January will be a double-edged sword for Jimmy Thelin’s squad. Balancing these demands with the busy domestic calendar will be a struggle. Jack Cranmer – 5th Jimmy Thelin pulled off a shock by guiding Aberdeen to Scottish Cup glory and European group stage qualification. However, that European run could become a burden. The squad is decent, but its depth is questionable. Thursday-Sunday football has hurt clubs like Hearts, and Aberdeen may suffer similarly. Recruitment has been shrewd, but whether it’s enough to maintain a top-four challenge remains to be seen. Mack Kelly – 5th They have had a lot of activity in the transfer window this season, and Thelin is now properly putting his stamp on the squad. I think European football this season will act as a derailer for the Dons and hold them back in the table. That said, I can see the Reds going on a run in the Conference League. Michael Shuel – 5th The Dons have been busy in the transfer market, but losing Jamie McGrath on a free is a blow. Hopefully, their recruits can prove effective. The extension of Alfie Dorrington’s loan is a good move, as he will continue to develop into a top defender. They hope to continue last season’s success, which saw them pick up silverware. Ryan Niven – 5th Inconsistent last season, and with the addition of European football, I feel the Pittodrie club will struggle. Scott Bradley – 5th Despite the historic Scottish Cup win against Celtic last season, we can’t forget the Dons had a poor second half of the season, only managing to win five of their last 26 league games. The Dandies played in Europe under former boss Barry Robson, and they struggled to cope with that Thursday-to-Sunday schedule; the same could happen this season. Celtic Callum Hart – 1st Celtic still seems to be the better team between them and the Rangers; however, I think the gap will be closer this year than last. Cameron Caldwell – 1st While there’s still work to do in the transfer market, Celtic’s established core should be consistent enough to secure their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title. Jack Cranmer – 2nd Celtic remain favourites, but a storm may be brewing. Brendan Rodgers’ recent comments hint at dissatisfaction with the club’s backing during the summer window. Nicolas Kühn’s departure is a blow, and while Benjamin Nygren appears a capable replacement, it’s hard to argue he’s an upgrade on an in-form Kühn. If he stays fit, Kieran Tierney will be an improvement on Greg Taylor, but that’s a big ‘if’ across a 50+ game season. Up front, serious concerns remain: Jota won’t be fully fit until late in the campaign, Adam Idah is still unconvincing, Kyogo Furuhashi still hasn’t been truly replaced, and the new options lack the quality Celtic have had in recent years. Rodgers has a track record of third-season stagnation, and if he’s not backed, he could walk. If that happens, chaos could open the door to a Rangers resurgence. Mack Kelly – 1st It will be much tighter at the top end of the table this season, but I think the squad’s quality and experience will deliver the Celtics’ fifth consecutive title by no more than six points. Michael Shuel – 1st With the Rangers experiencing a tactical revolution (or mess, as some could call it) and the mastermind Russell Martin joining, the Celtics should be scared. Not really. It will take time for Rangers to gel, and the Hoops have too much quality in all areas of their squad. Could they do with more wingers now? Sure. But that’ll come. Are there question marks around Adam Idah? Look, he will still get 15-20 goals this season. If that’s what you call a flop (even at a staggering £9m), then so be it. Ryan Niven – 1st With the Rangers being rebuilt, Celtic will bring home another title. However, their lack of transfer business so far makes me believe it’ll be a closer title race than last season. Scott Bradley – 2nd Despite winning a double last season, Brendan Rodgers’ men have dropped in form and standards over the last few months. There doesn’t seem to be a real buzz and excitement surrounding the Scottish champions at this moment in time, and the lack of transfer business is a concern, especially amongst the Celtic faithful. I believe this will be Rodgers’ last season, and if he loses the first Old Firm game at Ibrox, the alarm bells will start ringing. Dundee Callum Hart – 12th After Dundee’s poor start to the campaign, I think it’ll continue into the league season. Cameron Caldwell – 12th Steven Pressley hasn’t been a manager since 2019. This lack of recent experience could prove problematic for a Dundee team that only narrowly avoided relegation last year. Jack Cranmer – 12th I don’t want to be too harsh on Steven Pressley; he’s done his homework at Brentford, but alarm bells are already ringing. Losses to Airdrieonians and Alloa in the League Cup, plus a narrow win over Lowland League Bonnyrigg Rose, don’t inspire confidence. Their recruitment, mainly from English lower leagues and loans from Brentford youth, looks risky. Pressley’s man-management has also been questioned, and losing Josh Mulligan and Lyall Cameron won’t help. If results don’t pick up soon, the
Hibs 1–2 Midtjylland: Extra-Time Agony Ends Europa Hopes at Easter Road
Hibernian faced Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland in a crunch Europa League qualifying second leg in Edinburgh this evening. The Hibees went into the match level after a credible 1–1 draw in Herning last week and looked to navigate their way into the third qualifying round. Both sides looking to book advance and earn a tie with Norwegian side Fredrikstad. The Danes had put six past Sønderjyske on Monday, ahead of the tie and were looking to continue that form and silence a sold-out Easter Road. Head coach David Gray named an unchanged side from last week’s first leg. They remained without Lewis Miller, who looks set to head south to Blackburn. Scotland international Grant Hanley was in attendance, rumoured to be the Australian’s replacement in the Hibs backline. First Half The visitors kicked things off shooting toward the Hibernian Block Seven Ultras in the Famous Five Stand. The home crowd were in full voice from the outset, creating a hectic and formidable atmosphere for the four-time Danish champions. Their efforts would pay off, with the hosts creating the early chances and twice forcing Jonas Lössl into saves. Hibs had the ball in the net after just 15 minutes, however the assistant’s flag denied them a memorable early breakthrough. Both sides traded blows for the remainder of the opening half, with Hibs carving out a few promising opportunities. Midtjylland were limited to chances only through some nervy Hibs defending and efforts from range. Stopper Jordan Smith pulled off solid stops and Warren O’Hora making a goal-denying block. It was level at the interval, with everything still to play for as the hosts looked to join fellow Scottish sides Rangers and Dundee United in the next round of European qualification. Second Half The offside rule that had denied Hibs in the first half came to their rescue early in the second. Franculino Djú broke through on the right-hand side of the area and slotted past Smith, but this time it was VAR, not the assistant’s flag, that ruled the opener out and kept the tie level. Smith continued to be the busier of the two keepers in the second half, making multiple stops, while Lössl was reduced to a near spectator. Thomas Thomasberg’s side dominated the second period, but a combination of Smith’s heroics and wasteful finishing kept them from taking the lead. Djú, in particular, will be kicking himself, the Bissau-Guinean striker rounded Smith midway through the half but hesitated, allowing Jack Iredale to nip in and clear before he could slot home. Hibs thought they had won it right at the death when captain Martin Boyle found himself racing through on goal in stoppage time. The Hibs legend squared it to substitute Nicky Cadden for a simple tap-in, but once again the offside ruling came into play to cancel out the would-be opener. And so it remained 0–0. With no away goals rule in European competition anymore, the tie headed into extra time. Extra Time With legs tiring and supporters’ anxiety levels sky-high, the game carried on into extra time here in Leith, both sides desperately searching for a winner. The visitors looked to have found it through Chilean midfielder Darío Osorio, whose long-range strike finally beat the outstanding Smith to send the Danish side on course to face Norwegian outfit Fredrikstad. But Hibs struck back right on the cusp of the extra-time interval, with Rocky Bushiri cementing his place as a Hibs hero by finding the crucial equaliser when his side needed it most. The big central defender wheeled away toward the Main Stand, sparking wild celebrations from all four sides of a packed Easter Road. Both sides would have chances at the death, but nerves and fatigue would finally get to Hibs, a cross from the wide right was turned in spectacularly by Júnior Brumado. Inside the penalty area the unmarked Brazilian got his back down and a great connection on the ball to send his team through to the next round. What’s Next? Midtjylland advance to the next round to face Fredrikstad, while Gray’s men must now regroup for a shot at the UEFA Conference League. They will travel to Belgrade to take on FK Partizan in what promises to be an intimidating affair. The Serbians advanced from their own second-round qualifier with a 6–0 aggregate win over Ukrainian side FC Oleksandriya. Att: 19,556
SFA Approves Tier 5 Restructure from 2026/27
The Scottish FA membership has officially approved a resolution to restructure the fifth tier of Scottish football. This move will see the current Lowland League replaced by two new regional divisions: the Lowland League East and Lowland League West. These changes will take effect from the beginning of the 2026/27 season and mark a significant overhaul of the national football pyramid. The revamped Tier 5 structure will feature the two new Lowland Leagues operating alongside the existing Highland League, creating a three-league fifth tier. Each Lowland League will comprise 16 teams, with promotion and relegation systems linked to the surrounding non-league structures. While the restructure will not come into force until the 2026/27 campaign, the upcoming 2025/26 season will act as a transition year, particularly for clubs in the West of Scotland Football League (WoSFL). A minimum of eight WoSFL clubs could be promoted to the new Lowland League West at the end of the campaign, with no teams relegated from any WoSFL division, as confirmed at the league’s AGM before the end of last season. Promotion eligibility is also contingent on Scottish FA licensing, with only clubs holding an SFA Membership Licence able to be promoted to Tier 5. From 2026/27 onwards, the new Tier 5 setup will see each Lowland League operate with promotion and relegation to and from their respective regional leagues, such as the WoSFL and East of Scotland League. The three champions of the Highland League, Lowland League East, and Lowland League West will enter a round-robin play-off. The winner of that mini-league will then face the bottom club in SPFL League 2 in a two-legged tie for a place in the professional leagues. At the other end, one team will be relegated from each Lowland League annually, with the corresponding regional champion replacing them, again, subject to licensing.
Spartans Boss: East Kilbride the Team to Beat in League Two
The Spartans concluded their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a 4–0 defeat to William Hill Premiership side Falkirk earlier today. The Edinburgh-based side went into half-time trailing by just one goal, but three second-half strikes from the full-time Bairns saw the score line widen after a promising opening 45 minutes. Dylan Tait opened the scoring in the first half before the Spartans tested Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain on several occasions. However, a second-half double from Calvin Miller and a goal from Scott Arfield secured a comfortable win for the hosts. Despite the two sides being separated by the full length of the SPFL pyramid, Spartans boss Douglas Samuel, now the longest-serving manager in the SPFL, having been at the helm since 2012, felt his side competed well. Speaking post-match, the former Edinburgh University boss said he was “proud” of his players and praised their “effort and performance,” although he admitted the second-half display could have been better. Spartans earned promotion into the SPFL pyramid in 2023 after defeating Albion Rovers in the play-offs as Lowland League champions. They begin their League Two campaign next week away to last season’s Lowland League winners, East Kilbride, marking their official debut in the senior league setup. Despite East Kilbride also being newly promoted, Samuel has already identified Mick Kennedy’s side as the ones to beat this season. He said: “They are the favourites for League Two, so I expect it to be a hard game. In that sense, today was great preparation for us” “Will they be able to press and get after us with the same intensity as full-time Falkirk players? “We’ll find out.” Kennedy, the former Darvel boss who famously defeated Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup, has been open about his ambition to take East Kilbride as high as the Championship within the next few years, and his side have already shown flashes of their quality. Earlier this month, they defeated Championship side Raith Rovers 4–2 in their own Premier Sports Cup group. However, they also suffered defeats to St Johnstone and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the latter a 6–2 loss on Tuesday, suggesting there’s still work to be done. East Kilbride have also endured a disrupted pre-season in terms of squad building. Summer signings Josh O’Connor, son of former Hibs striker Garry, and Sena Niang both left the club just weeks after signing, in a bizarre situation. They’ve also been hit hard by injuries. New signing Ouzy See is out for the entire season after picking up an injury against Raith Rovers. Cami Elliott remains sidelined with an Achilles issue that kept him out over the summer. Defenders Jamie Hamilton and Jordan McGregor are out, while midfielder Joao Balde is racing against time to be fit for the League Two opener. While the Spartans’ heavy defeat to Falkirk exposed the challenges of stepping up against full-time professional opposition, there were encouraging signs in their competitive spirit and early-season preparations. With the League Two campaign kicking off next week against a strong East Kilbride side, Douglas Samuel’s squad will be eager to build on their pre-season efforts and make their own push at the top of the table. The coming weeks will be crucial in setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting season in the SPFL’s fourth tier.
McGlynn: “We’re Going to Another Level Now” as Falkirk Prepare for Premiership Return
Falkirk manager John McGlynn praised his side’s focus and momentum after a dominant 4–0 win over The Spartans secured progression to the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup. Goals from Dylan Tait, Scott Arfield, and a Calvin Miller double rounded off an impressive group stage campaign at The Falkirk Stadium, with the Bairns finishing unbeaten on eleven points. Despite missing out on a seeded place McGlynn insisted the bigger picture far outweighs any short-term disappointment. For the Falkirk boss, next Sunday’s Premiership opener against Dundee United represents more than just a fixture, it marks the end of a long road back to the top flight after 15 years away. He said: “Next Sunday, at 2 o’clock, we’re live on Sky, everybody is buzzing here, everybody is so excited. “It is the first time for a generation of fans that they’re going to see their team playing in the Premiership.” The sense of anticipation has been building for weeks, ever since the Bairns secured their second consecutive promotion to return to the Premiership. McGlynn’s men looked sharp and clinical, with quick, one touch passes, and the ability to drive up the park quickly either from the flanks, or through the centre. While Falkirk’s cup form has been almost flawless, apart from a 0-0 draw away to Cove, where they picked up a bonus point during the shootout, McGlynn admitted it’s now all about what lies ahead: “We’ve come back, and we’ve played a lot of pre-season friendlies, and we’re fed up with them. “With the greatest respect, we’ve got a bit fed up with this because we’re going to go to another level now. “It’s the excitement and the enthusiasm that will be out here next Sunday. The winning momentum is there. “We wanted to continue the momentum today, which we have done.” Falkirk may have been edged out of a seeded spot by the likes of Hearts, St Johnstone, and Partick Thistle, all of whom took maximum points, but they head into the new league campaign unbeaten, confident, and with belief surging through the stands. For the Falkirk faithful, many of whom have never seen their club in the top tier, Sunday’s clash against Dundee United will be more than just a curtain-raiser, it’s a whole new ball game for a generation of supporters.
Falkirk Stroll Past Spartans to Seal Last 16 Spot
Falkirk beat The Spartans 4-0 at The Falkirk Stadium this afternoon in their final Premier Sports Cup group stage fixture. Dylan Tait scored in the first half, with Scott Arfield adding a second after the break, before Calvin Miller struck twice to round off an emphatic second-half display. The Bairns entered the match knowing that only a win would keep their hopes of progressing as a seeded team alive. Several sides, such as Premiership rivals Hearts, have already made it through on the maximum 12 points. Team News After the midweek win over Queen’s Park, John McGlynn spoke about rotating between goalkeepers Nicky Hogarth and Scott Bain ahead of the league season. That policy continued today, with the former Celtic stopper returning to the starting line-up in place of Hogarth. McGlynn has yet to confirm his first-choice goalkeeper for next Sunday’s Premiership opener against Dundee United, the club’s first top-flight fixture in 15 years. Also returning to the Bairns’ starting XI were Brian Graham, Tuesday night’s goal scorer, and talisman Scott Arfield. The Spartans needed a win to have any chance of leapfrogging Cove Rangers into second. They made changes themselves, including rotating their goalkeeper with Paddy Martin coming in. There was still no place for Jordan Tapping, who rejoined the club this summer after more than a year out of football in Australia. First Half Falkirk started brightly, particularly through Ethan Ross, who was fresh from scoring twice on Tuesday evening. His pace and delivery caused problems for the Spartans down their right-hand side. The Bairns made their pressure count before the half-hour mark. Brad Spencer whipped in a corner that Brian Graham met with a powerful header. Although his effort was blocked, Dylan Tait reacted quickest and smashed home the rebound. Spartans nearly found an unlikely equaliser late in the half when Liam Henderson misjudged a cross and almost diverted it into his own net, the ball skimming just over the bar. The score remained 1–0 at the break despite Falkirk’s dominance. Second Half That changed early in the second half. Arfield raced through one-on-one with Paddy Martin on the left side of the box and coolly slotted the ball beneath the Spartans’ goalkeeper to double the lead. Moments later, Arfield turned provider. The former Rangers midfielder fizzed a low cross into the box, where Keelan Adams pounced. His shot was blocked on the line, but Calvin Miller followed in to bundle the ball over and seal a comfortable win for Falkirk. Bain would make an excellent save to deny Bradley Whyte to ensure his competitive clean sheet record with the Bairns remained intact. Substitute Alfredo Agyeman turned provider for Miller’s second and Falkirk’s fourth. The Ghanaian picked up the ball on the left wing and delivered a pinpoint cross onto the foot of Miller, who volleyed it home. Falkirk had a couple of chances for a fifth, and a few penalty shouts were waved away, but the match finished 4-0 to the hosts, who advanced to the last 16. Despite their unbeaten group record, the Bairns go into the next stage unseeded, with Hearts, St Johnstone and Partick Thistle all joining the five Scottish European representatives as the seeded sides after finishing their groups on the maximum 12 points. Falkirk will now turn their attention to their Premiership return against Dundee United this weekend, while the Spartans will return to League 2 action against Lowland League winners East Kilbride. Attendance: 2,312
Premier Sports Cup: Hearts Cruise Past Dumbarton to Secure Seeded Knockout Spot
Hearts continued their impressive Premier Sports Cup showing with a win over Scottish League Two side Dumbarton at Tynecastle this evening. The Jambos finished their group stage campaign with a perfect 12 points from four games and progress to the knockout rounds as a seeded team. Dumbarton, entering a new era under Canadian owner Mario Lapointe and signing 16 new players, came into the match off the back of a heavy defeat to Dunfermline. Amongst the new arrivals at Dumbarton was former Hearts forwards Ally Roy, who started at the ground he began his career at. The hosts got proceedings underway, shooting towards the travelling Dumbarton support, and dominated the early stages, Lawrence Shankland going close within the first minute. Dumbarton’s Irish defender, Gordon Walker, produced a crucial early interception to deny Hearts, but the breakthrough came midway through the first half. Club captain Shankland met a pinpoint Stephen Kingsley cross with a diving header past Dumbarton keeper Shay Kelly, the 18-year-old younger brother of Rangers stopper Liam. Hearts killed off any chance of an upset just before half-time. A Sander Kartum corner was nodded home by Michael Steinwender, breaking the resolve of Dumbarton’s stubborn defence. In the second half, Scott Tomlinson rattled the crossbar for the visitors after beating Kingsley, as the Sons pushed for an unlikely comeback. But Hearts extinguished any remaining hope when new signing Alexandros Kyziridis burst into the penalty area and drove a low effort across Kelly into the net. The Greek winger now has two goals in two games as the Jambos look to bounce back from last season’s disappointing campaign, with signs of smart summer business under new boss Derek McInnes. Hearts hit four for the fourth consecutive Premier Sports Cup match with another new signing Claudio Braga, tapping home a Cammy Devlin cut back. Hearts would continue to threaten for a fifth while Dumbarton huffed and puffed for some rare up field ventures. Both sides would make numerous changes as the game petered out. Hearts finish the group with four wins from four and look back to their best ahead of their Premiership opener against Aberdeen. The Jambos looking to return to the top-six this year and push for a European return. Dumbarton now travel to Hamilton knowing only a win and a huge goal swing from Dunfermline would see them progress. Dunfermline take on the group’s basement side Stirling in their final fixture. Dumbarton return to League Two this year and kick off their campaign against Clyde at the Marbill Coaches Stadium a week on Saturday as they look to return to the third tier at the first time of asking.
Falkirk Boss Weighs Up Goalkeeper Options Ahead of League Opener
Falkirk claimed a 3–1 victory over Queen’s Park in the Premier Sports Cup on Tuesday night. A double from Ethan Ross and a late Brian Graham strike cancelled out Josh Fowler’s opener. But despite the result, much of the post-match focus turned to the battle for the No.1 shirt. Manager John McGlynn reflected critically on the goal his side conceded, suggesting that Nicky Hogarth, back in the starting XI, could have done more. “They get a free kick, their first time up the park, and we don’t defend it,” McGlynn said. “Nicky maybe should do better, and Keelan [Adams] doesn’t follow in. There are factors to us losing the goal.” Hogarth, who had been tipped for a Scotland call-up during the national team’s recent injury crisis between the posts, has been rotated with former Celtic keeper Scott Bain throughout pre-season and the early stages of the cup. McGlynn confirmed that Bain would return for this weekend’s tie against The Spartans but stopped short of naming a first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the new league campaign. “Scott is going to go back in goals on Saturday,” he said. “We’ve alternated pretty much every game, cups and friendlies. There’s been just a minute separating them overall. “Nicky played the first game against Brechin, Scotty played against Cove, then Nicky played tonight. To be honest, they’ve not had an awful lot to do, so I haven’t learned much. “But Scotty needed minutes. He hadn’t played a lot at Celtic, and I think the games have been valuable for him. “Both are very good with their feet, their distribution is excellent, which is something we value in a goalkeeper. “Nicky’s developing well, and for a goalie he’s still young, but he’s gaining experience fast. “It’s a decision we’ll have to make. Scotty will play again on Saturday, but for Dundee United, I couldn’t tell you just yet.” With both keepers pushing for the gloves and McGlynn still undecided, the final Premier Sports Cup group match could prove decisive in settling Falkirk’s goalkeeping hierarchy before the league campaign kicks off. The club boast one of the strongest goalkeeping divisions in the Premiership, with former Partick Thistle number one Jamie Sneddon also an option going forward.
Brian Graham Seals Comeback Win as Bairns Edge Past Queen’s Park
Back-to-back promotion winners Falkirk continued their preparations for their return to Scottish football’s topflight this evening by hosting Queen’s Park in the Premier Sports Cup. Both sides were in the Championship last season, but with very different fortunes, the Bairns securing the second of two successive promotions, while Queen’s fell into freefall following their famous victory over Rangers at Ibrox. The Spiders won just once in 13 Championship games after that shock win against their Glasgow rivals. Falkirk began their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a big win over Brechin City but followed it up with a disappointing draw away to Cove Rangers, though they did secure the bonus point on penalties against the Aberdeenshire side. Queen’s, on the other hand, had played two group fixtures already, losing away to The Spartans before comfortably defeating Highland League side Brechin in their second outing. Both teams still had everything to play for heading into kick-off. The hosts got us underway, wearing their change kit and shooting towards the Kevin McAllister Stand. Falkirk dominated the early stages without creating anything clear-cut, and they were punished as the visitors took the lead, Josh Fowler tapping home at the back post after a fine initial save from Nicky Hogarth, who had denied Charlie Fox’s diving header. The goal seemed to rattle the Bairns, and Queen’s almost doubled their advantage soon after. Fowler won the ball with some tenacious pressing on the byline, but the angle was too tight, and Hogarth managed to block. Falkirk drew level right before the break after a lung-bursting counterattack from Ethan Ross. He laid the ball off to Calvin Miller, whose shot was blocked, but Ross was on hand to poke the ball past Callum Ferrie and restore parity. After the interval, the Bairns completed the turnaround. A back-post cross from the left found Ross MacIver, and the target man cushioned his header back across goal, where Ross was waiting to double his tally. Sebastian Drozd, the Spiders’ Ibrox hero, had a huge chance to level the match, finding himself clean through inside the Falkirk penalty area, but the former Millwall man lost his composure and could only find the side netting. Both sides had late chances, with Brian Graham, on as a substitute, notably missing two great opportunities. However, the former Partick Thistle player-manager atoned for his earlier wastefulness by tapping home a deflected Scott Arfield effort at the back post to secure the points for the Bairns. Graham’s finish put the back-to-back title winners back on track for progression to the knockout stages of the Premier Sports Cup. Queen’s Park now travel north to Cove knowing anything less than a win will end their cup hopes while Falkirk can now breathe a little easier after their Cove Rangers draw as they host The Spartans in their final game where a win will be enough to see them top the table. Attendance: 2,387