NEXT STOP: RAITH ROVERS (H)

The Navy Blue Train returns to The Falkirk Stadium this weekend as we host Raith Rovers in William Hill Championship action.

Kick-off is at 3pm, Saturday 7th December.

We return to league duty this weekend after our successful start to the 2024/25 Scottish Cup campaign.

Monday night’s trip to East Kilbride was a successful one, with a 3-1 victory securing a spot in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup. The relentless Bairns made it six wins from seven in all competitions against a team who have already beaten Championship opposition on two occasions this season.

It was Alfredo Agyeman, making his first competitive start since September, who opened the scoring after 20 minutes. Some nice build-up play saw Gary Oliver play in Keelan Adams down the right wing. The young full-back did what we’ve seen him do so many times already this season, and fired the ball across the box for Agyeman to send a first time effort crashing into the roof of the net.

The second came 17 minutes later and was straight off the training ground. A corner kick was played low to Gary Oliver, whose smart back-heel flick set up Calvin Miller at the edge of the left side of the box, who fired a first time shot low into the bottom right hand corner.

The Bairns kept up the pressure, creating numerous chances but failing to find a third goal. Nicky Hogarth was called into action on a couple of occasions, but was finally beaten with three minutes left to play. Scott Ferguson pulled one back for the hosts when the ball fell to him after a scramble in the box following a corner kick. The midfielder smashed the ball through the crowded six-yard area and into the back of the net to give his side a lifeline.

East Kilbride were only back in the game for 60 seconds however, as Falkirk’s reply from kick-off was instant. Keelan Adams was involved again, intercepting a stray pass from the East Kilbride defence before laying off Callumn Morrison. The winger unleashed a powerful strike across the goal, past the helpless ‘keeper, for his first goal since August following a spell on the sidelines through injury and illness.

Falkirk now turn their attention to Saturday as they look to make it back-to-back league wins to maintain their six point gap at the top of the table.

Saturday’s visitors, Raith Rovers, also enjoyed a successful Scottish Cup outing over the weekend, securing their spot in the next round with a 4-0 win at Linlithgow Rose. Goals from Lewis Gibson, Dylan Easton and Jack Hamilton set up a fourth round tie here at The Falkirk Stadium in January.

In the league, Raith currently sit sixth, just three points off the relegation play-off spot, after a poor start to the season. Rovers had only won a single league game until managing back-to-back wins at the end of October and into November, beating bottom side Airdrieonians and Ayr United. The meeting between Raith and Falkirk ended in defeat for The Bairns as, despite dominating the game, the hosts ended Falkirk’s 43-game unbeaten league run with a penalty kick being the difference. This time out, the Bairns are aiming to set the record straight.