Falkirk add goals and grit to McGlynn's guile on rapid rise

Falkirk have won five straight games to climb to third place in the Scottish Premiership, including victories over Celtic and Hearts.

Falkirk have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround under manager John McGlynn, winning five consecutive matches to reach third place in the Scottish Premiership. In the space of a week, they beat defending champions Celtic and became the first team to defeat Hearts at Tynecastle in 19 months, scoring seven goals across the two victories. Their 5-2 success in Edinburgh was particularly impressive.

The run is all the more striking given that a month earlier, after conceding a late goal to Dundee, Falkirk sat 11th and just a point above the relegation zone. McGlynn has overseen a significant squad rebuild, bringing in 17 new players over the summer after losing key figures like Barney Stewart (sold to West Bromwich Albion for a club record fee) and several loan players.

New signings Jacob Murrell, Finley Barbrook and Owen Eames all scored against Hearts, with Murrell winning the SPFL player of the month award for October and now joint-top scorer with seven goals.

McGlynn, who guided Falkirk to sixth place last season on their return to the top flight, has earned widespread praise for his management. The 64-year-old has built a team that combines technical quality with grit and work rate, with captain Brad Spencer described as the "heartbeat" of the side.