13/09/2025 – FALKIRK (A)

Gameday 5 of the Premiership season witnessed Saints visit Falkirk for the first time in over 7 years, and the first time in the top flight in 15 years.

After an hour and a half of traffic delayed travel to Grangemouth, we were all finally in our seats just before kick off to see Saints record their first win of the league season to propel the side to 3rd in the division, although we would drop a place once Hibs and Dundee Utd played later that evening.

As we’ve covered before, our first 4 fixtures were extremely tough, with all of last season’s top 3 played, as well as a tricky match against Motherwell, who remain undefeated after 5 matches, as do Hibs and Celtic who we have also faced.

It wouldn’t be disrespectful to newly promoted Falkirk to suggest it was a game most Saints fans believed we should win, and we did so with a very good 2nd half performance, in particular the last half hour, where the gulf in quality between the sides became clear.

It was a different story in the first half however, when the match was scrappy and without any real incident, although Mark O’Hara had a great chance from a Declan John cross, but his goal bound header deflected off a Falkirk defender and went straight into the arms of Scott Bain.

It was clear however that Saints posed a much greater threat than the hosts from wide areas, with Jayden Richardson and Declan John found with regularity by an ever improving midfield trio of Baccus, O’Hara and Phillips.

Richardson rampaged down the right with regularity and was a threat throughout the match. It was his persistence that helped get Saints on top in the second half as the hosts increasingly realised that they were up against it with the quality we possess.

On the other side, John had delivered many crosses and proved to be as equally a good option as Richardson, however the little Welshmen went into overdrive in the last half hour, propelling Saints to victory.

Another key factor in the victory was Mikael Mandron, especially in the 2nd half. On his day, the big Frenchmen with Scottish heritage is simply unplayable, and his mazy run just after the hour mark led to the opener, after he was hauled down 25 yards out.

John and Phillips eyed it up, but it suited the left footer, and Declan curled an effort goalward, only for it to be deflected beyond Bain and into the net to open the scoring in front of a delirious Saints support.

From here, there was only one winner. Phillips almost double the lead from an exquisite Richard King dinked pass, but his spectacular volley was brilliantly saved by Bain with most of the stadium expecting the net to bulge.

King had come on as sub for the second game running following an injury to Marcus Fraser in the first half, and moved seamlessly into the back three once more.

The young Jamaican is adjusting to life in Scotland splendidly well, and although we sincerely hope that Fraser misses no football as he has been magnificent for a long time now, it is comforting to have such quality on the bench.

Saints continued to open Falkirk up looking for a killer second, and got it with nine minutes remaining, when an outstanding John cross was headed home by Mandron to seal the 3 points.

This came following Dan N’Lundulu causing real issues for Falkirk with his pace, and the former Bolton man could be a very useful signing indeed based on his 20 minutes at Grangemouth.

Falkirk did grab a late consolation, when the veteran forward Brian Graham headed home at the back post in the last minute of normal time.

Although it is normal to feel nervy following this, in truth Saints seen out the 4 minutes added time with ease, and the 3 points were delivered to an ecstatic set of fans and players.

We now have a League Cup quarter final at Rugby Park on Friday night to look forward to, against a well drilled Kilmarnock side. It’s a tough match, and one that both sides will feel they can win.

Killie are replacing their plastic surface at the end of this season after 12 years. Saints have never won on it, but did beat Killie on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the same competition in 2018, and we’ll take that again if necessary.

If you can, get down to Ayrshire and support the team!

COYS!

Falkirk Players of the Match:

5 points – Jayden Richardson

3 points – Declan John

1 point – Mikael Mandron

Check our the Player of the Season race here –

PLAYER OF THE SEASON 2025/26