Scottish Championship high-flyers Falkirk are set to visit The Energy Check Stadium to take on mid-table Partick Thistle on Saturday afternoon, aiming to maintain their impressive start to the season.
The visitors are at the top of the division with 19 points from eight games, boasting six wins, one draw, and one loss, while the hosts sit in sixth place with nine points from two wins, three draws, and three losses.
Match preview
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Falkirk achieved promotion back to the Scottish Championship last season for the first time since their relegation to League One in 2018-19, phenomenally going unbeaten as they won the League One title with 90 points from 36 games, 16 points ahead of second-placed Hamilton Academical.
John McGlynn, who took over ahead of the 2022-23 season, narrowly missed out on promotion from League One in his first campaign in charge, losing in the promotion playoff semi-finals, before eventually recording promotion last year.
McGlynn's remarkable record at Falkirk has continued into the 2024-25 season, with his side fantastically sitting top of the Championship in their first season back after eight games played.
After winning their first five league matches, they have faced a slight downturn in form, losing one, winning one, and drawing one of their last three games, leaving McGlynn aiming for a return to their early-season success with another win here.
Their opponents, Partick Thistle, are enduring a mixed campaign after eight league fixtures, sitting sixth in the table with nine points, from two wins, three draws and three losses.
Those results already leave the hosts disappointingly trailing the playoff places by five points, but with 28 games still to play, Kris Doolan will be confident his side can close that gap.
The primary issue for Partick this season has been their lack of quality in front of goal, as they have scored just six times in eight matches, the second-fewest of any team in the division.
Doolan will be hoping his side can achieve a confidence-building victory against Falkirk on Saturday, but history suggests the hosts may struggle with Partick recording just one victory in their last nine encounters.
Team News
The hosts are likely to be without Terry Ablade for this match due to injury, meaning Ricco Diack could continue his partnership with Brian Graham in attack.
Elsewhere, despite recording a draw with Livingston in their last outing, a dominant performance could leave Doolan opting to name the same team here.
As for Falkirk, although they are experiencing a slight dip in form compared to their strong start to the campaign, McGlynn may choose to remain loyal to the starting 11 that has performed well this season.
Ross MacIver was forced off with an injury in their 5-2 loss to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals, and the striker is a doubt for this one, meaning Gary Oliver is likely to continue in attack.
Partick Thistle possible starting lineup:
Roberts; Megwa, Ashcroft, O'Reilly, Milne; Turner, Crawford, McBeth, Fitzpatrick; Graham, Diack
Falkirk possible starting lineup:
Hogarth; Adams, Graham, Henderson, McCann; Spencer, Tait; Miller, Nesbitt, Ross; Oliver
We say: Partick Thistle 0-2 Falkirk
Falkirk have had an extremely strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, and with the hosts struggling in front of goal, we believe the visitors will secure a comfortable win here.
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