Having registered six losses in as many games way back at the start of the season, Falkirk won on the seventh Scottish Championship match day.
The Bairns would go on and lose their following three but now having climbed out the potential relegation places, Falkirk’s focus changes by looking up the table.
Undefeated in their last eight and having scored in each of their last 10, it’s been quite the turnaround for Ray McKinnon’s men.
Ray McKinnon is the main man behind Falkirk’s fortunes changing. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Having scored in 77% of their away matches, they’ve scored in each of their last seven away games. They’re undefeated in their last four on the road.
Previously hopeless at home
But there’s two sides to every coin. For some reason, in front of their own supporters, they’d been unable to get going. At home, Falkirk seem to leak goals uncontrollably. The Bairns have conceded at least once in 79% of their home matches. Nearly four games in five. 20 conceded in 14 is the second worst in the entire division.
Alarmingly, they’ve also failed to score in 43% of them. Two wins from 14 at the Falkirk Stadium isn’t great but there’s still four home games to play. Whilst averaging a goal per game at home, they have to tighten up at the back in order for their home form to improve.
Club captain Jordan McGhee’s Falkirk reached the Scottish Cup quarter finals and climbed to saftey by finishing eighth last season. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Bizarrely, their two home wins this season are out of their last three games. A 3-0 win over Queen of the South at the beginning of last month was duplicated by Friday night’s 2-0 win over Ayr United thanks to club captain Jordan McGhee’s brace. Continuing to keep clean sheets is of the utmost importance.
What’s encouraging in their bid for survival is that they play more games away (five) left than at home (four). Now three points clear of basement boys Alloa, it’s far from done. Can the Bairns keep their fantastic run going and pull away from the possibility of League One football next season?