- Manager McGlynn insists he always had faith in player despite recent wobble at top of league
- They trailed to an early goal against Hamilton, but a double from Ethan Ross turned the game on its head as Bairns won 3-1
- It also sealed back-to-back promotions for the club after they won last season League One title
John McGlynn insisted he always had faith in his Falkirk players as they sealed back-to-back promotions and returned to Scottish football’s top tier for the first time in 15 years.
The Bairns had wobbled in recent weeks and looked in danger of throwing it all away after losing an 11-point lead at the top, but they held their nerve when it mattered most to clinch the Championship title.
Trailing by an early goal to relegated Hamilton at a tense Falkirk Stadium, they fought back with a double from Ethan Ross and a decisive third from Calvin Miller in a 3-1 victory which sparked delirious celebrations.
Livingston, hoping to snatch the title on a nail-biting final night, were beaten 1-0 at home by Partick Thistle, who earned a play-off with Ayr United.
After adding to last season’s League One Invincibles triumph, Falkirk manager McGlynn said: ‘It’s an amazing feeling, absolutely different class. We’ve made it hard for ourselves over the last few weeks but it’s all come to fruition tonight.
‘We made it hard again by going behind. But the guys have shown enormous character to come back in the game and get the goals that we deserve.
It’s a fantastic night in Falkirk as the Bairns players celebrate winning Championship title
Manager John McGlynn can’t hide his delight as he holds the league trophy aloft
Liam Henderson is carried on shoulders of fans as club return to the Scottish top flight
‘They’ve just been incredible, coming up from League One as Invincibles, and just continuing from there. I know that these guys have got an enormous spirit. And I’m delighted for everyone involved at the football club.
‘I had plenty of belief because I knew the character of the dressing room. We’ve come up a level from League One. Everyone knows how difficult the Championship is and we’ve come out on top. It speaks volumes for the players that they could manage to step up to that level and continue to play at the standard that we’ve played at.
‘I think we’ve had many, many compliments for the way that we’ve played. That speaks volumes for the style that we’ve got and the patterns of play that we have.
‘We get forward really, really well at every opportunity. And we don’t have a 15-to-20 goal striker, so the goals have to get shared out across the team.
McGinn, who has been nominated for PFA Scotland Manager of the Year, added: ‘We really did believe in ourselves. The reality is that sometimes you believe and it’s false. But we stayed up there for a long time to get shot down. Fair play to Livingston, they gave us a run for our money at the end but we’ve come out on top.’
It’s the magic moment as Falkirk realise they have been promoted to the Premiership
Ethan Ross, on right, helped himself to two goals as Falkirk fought back from behind
Calvin Miller slams home the third goal that made sure Bairns were winning Championship
Two-goal hero Ross revealed: ‘The gaffer pulled me aside yesterday and said he wanted more from me, so I hope that’s enough that I’ve given him tonight!
‘There were question marks over our bottle after the last couple of results. Tonight, though, there was no doubt who the champions are.’
Hamilton manager John Rankin admitted it had been an emotional 24 hours for him and his players after their appeal against a 15-point deduction was thrown out on Thursday evening, relegating the club back to League One before a ball was kicked on Friday night.
‘I just said thank you to my players,’ he said. ‘I’m a bit emotional at the moment as I never slept last night but I awoke knowing they would give me everything and that’s what they did. I honestly don’t care about the result. I just wanted a performance and I got that.’
