2017–18 Falkirk F.C. season

The 2017–18 season was Falkirk’s fifth season in the Scottish Championship and their seventh consecutive season in the second-tier of Scottish football following their relegation from the Scottish Premier League at the end of the 2009–10 season. Falkirk also competed in the League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Falkirk
2017–18 season
ChairmanMargaret Lang
ManagerPeter Houston
(until 24 September)
Paul Hartley
(from 4 October)
StadiumFalkirk Stadium
ChampionshipEighth Place
League CupSecond Round
Challenge CupQuarter-Final
Scottish CupQuarter-Final
Top goalscorerLeague: Louis Longridge (7)
All: Longridge, Muirhead,
McKee & Jakubiak (7)
Highest home attendance6,094 vs. Dumbarton, Championship, 24 February 2018
Lowest home attendance2,044 vs. Stirling Albion, League Cup, 15 July 2017
Average home league attendance4,676

Summary

Management

Falkirk began the 2017–18 season under the management of Peter Houston who had guided the club to a Premiership play-off place in his previous two seasons. On 24 September, Houston left his position as manager following a poor start to the season.[1] Paul Hartley was appointed as his replacement on 4 October and guided the club to safety with an eighth place finish at the end of the season.[2]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Scottish Championship
Main article: 2017–18 Scottish Championship
5 August 2017 1 St Mirren 3 – 1 Falkirk St Mirren Park, Paisley
15:00 Reilly  9'
Demetriou  33'
Smith  46'		 Report Austin  2'
Muirhead  77'		 Attendance: 4,639
Referee: Don Robertson
12 August 2017 2 Falkirk 1 – 1 Dumbarton Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Hippolyte  24 pen.' Report Roy  13' Attendance: 3,864
Referee: Alan Muir
19 August 2017 3 Dunfermline Athletic 3 – 1 Falkirk East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 McManus  5'
Cardle  11', 90+2'		 Report Sibbald  52'
Miller  62'
Taiwo  83'		 Attendance: 5,751
Referee: John Beaton
26 August 2017 4 Falkirk 1 – 4 Queen of the South Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Gasparotto  89' Report Kerr  2'
Dobbie  41', 46', 49 pen.'		 Attendance: 4,108
Referee: Colin Steven
9 September 2017 5 Brechin City 1 – 1 Falkirk Glebe Park, Brechin
15:00 Graham  72' Report Harris  15' Attendance: 748
Referee: Barry Cook
16 September 2017 6 Falkirk 0 – 0 Dundee United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Report Attendance: 4,874
Referee: John Beaton
23 September 2017 7 Falkirk 0 – 2 Livingston Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Report Mullen  47'
Mullin  53'
Gallagher  90+1'		 Attendance: 4,091
Referee: Greg Aitken
30 September 2017 8 Greenock Morton 0 – 1 Falkirk Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 Report Mckee  62' Attendance: 1,992
Referee: John McKendrick
14 October 2017 9 Falkirk 0 – 0 Inverness CT Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Report Attendance: 4,107
Referee: Nick Walsh
21 October 2017 10 Falkirk 0 – 0 St Mirren Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Report Attendance: 5,080
Referee: Don Robertson
28 October 2017 11 Queen of the South 4 – 2 Falkirk Palmerston Park, Dumfries
15:00 Dobbie  16'
Dykes  19'
Brownlie  75'
Lyle  90+1'		 Report Mckee  85'
McGhee  89'		 Attendance: 1,716
Referee: Steven Kirkland
4 November 2017 12 Falkirk 1 – 1 Dunfermline Athletic Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 McGhee  64' Report Higginbotham  28 pen.'  56'
McManus  90+2'		 Attendance: 5,465
Referee: Craig Thomson
19 November 2017 13 Dundee United 3 – 0 Falkirk Tannadice Park, Dundee
15:00 McDonald  21'
Robson  41'
Flood  45'		 Report Attendance: 5,915
Referee: Alan Muir
25 November 2017 14 Falkirk 0 – 3 Greenock Morton Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Report Harkins  9'
Thomson  43', 61'		 Attendance: 4,361
Referee: Greg Aitken
19 December 2017 15 Livingston 0 – 0 Falkirk Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:45 Report Attendance: 1,287
Referee: Gavin Duncan
23 December 2017 16 Dumbarton 0 – 0 Falkirk Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00 Report Attendance: 874
Referee: John McKendrick
30 December 2017 17 Falkirk 3 – 2 Queen of the South Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Grant  20'
Hippolyte  42'
Longridge  44'		 Report Dobbie  45+2'
Kerr  90+1'		 Attendance: 4,285
Referee: Alan Newlands
2 January 2018 18 Dunfermline Athletic 2 – 0 Falkirk East End Park, Dunfermline
15:00 Clark  16'
McManus  51'		 Report Attendance: 7,140
Referee: Willie Collum
6 January 2017 19 Falkirk 6 – 1 Dundee United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Grant  21'
Tumilty  41'
Longridge  57', 73'
Robson  65'
Kidd  90'		 Report King  6' Attendance: 5,326
Referee: Nick Walsh
9 January 2018 20 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 – 1 Falkirk Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
19:45 Oakley  10'
Bell  28'
Mulraney  30'
Baird  88'		 Report Longridge  88' Attendance: 2,014
Referee: John Beaton
13 January 2018 21 Greenock Morton 0 – 1 Falkirk Cappielow, Greenock
15:00 Report Sibbald  20' Attendance: 2,084
Referee: Andrew Dallas
27 January 2018 22 Falkirk 3 – 1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Muirhead  48 pen.', 66 pen.'
Nelson  87'		 Report Mulraney  45'
MacKay  84'		 Attendance: 4,251
Referee: Euan Anderson
3 February 2018 23 Falkirk 1 – 3 Livingston Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Jakubiak  72' Report Lithgow  39'
Hardie  59'
De Vita  62'		 Attendance: 4,123
Referee: John McKendrick
6 February 2018 24 Falkirk 3 – 1 Brechin City Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45 Jakubiak  13'
Loy  28'
Longridge  71'		 Report Mackin  67' Attendance: 4,214
Referee: Matt Northcroft
17 February 2018 25 Brechin City 0 – 1 Falkirk Glebe Park, Brechin
15:00 Lynas  68' Report Jakubiak  90+3' Attendance: 805
Referee: Greg Aitken
24 February 2018 26 Falkirk 0 – 0 Dumbarton Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Report Attendance: 6,094
Referee: Colin Steven
10 March 2018 27 Falkirk 3 – 1 Greenock Morton Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Muirhead  4 pen.'
Nelson  18'
Jakubiak  30'		 Report Harkins  90+1' Attendance: 4,218
Referee: Euan Anderson
17 March 2018 28 Livingston 0 – 0 Falkirk Almondvale, Livingston
15:00 Report Attendance: 1,319
Referee: Gavin Duncan
31 March 2018 29 Falkirk 3 – 0 Brechin City Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45 Muirhead  17'
Sibbald  29'
Nelson  60'		 Report Crighton  41'
McLean  44'		 Attendance: 4,422
Referee: Stephen Finnie
3 April 2018 30 Queen of the South 2 – 2 Falkirk Palmerston Park, Dumfries
19:45 Thomson  51'
Brownlie  73'		 Report Nelson  5'
Longridge  87'		 Attendance: 1,062
Referee: Steven Kirkland
7 April 2018 31 Falkirk 1 – 2 Dunfermline Athletic Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Muirhead  79 pen.' Report Higginbotham  24'
Aird  48'		 Attendance: 5,784
Referee: Don Robertson
10 April 2018 32 Inverness CT 1 – 0 Falkirk Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
19:45 Mulraney  81' Report Attendance: 2,053
Referee: Nick Walsh
14 April 2018 33 Dundee United 1 – 0 Falkirk Tannadice Stadium, Dundee
15:00 Mikkelsen  7' Report Attendance: 5,170
Referee: Craig Thomson
17 April 2018 34 St Mirren 1 – 2 Falkirk St Mirren Park, Paisley
19:45 Hippolyte  55 pen.' Report McKee  83'
Sibbald  90+1'		 Attendance: 3,761
Referee: Alan Muir
21 April 2018 35 Dumbarton 2 – 5 Falkirk Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00 Gallagher  34'
Burt  87'		 Report Jakubiak  19'
Longridge  47'
Robson  59'
Sibbald  70'
McKee  86'		 Attendance: 942
Referee: Mike Roncone
28 April 2018 36 Falkirk 1 – 0 St Mirren Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Blair  85' Report Attendance: 5,508
Referee: Stephen Finnie

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 2017–18 Scottish League Cup § Group A

Group Stage

Results

15 July 2017 Group Stage Falkirk 4 – 1 Stirling Albion Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Austin  24'
McKee  26'
Harris  39'
Muirhead  57 pen.'		 Report Smith  87' Attendance: 2,044
Referee: David Lowe
22 July 2017 Group Stage Inverness CT 0 – 2 Falkirk Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
15:00 Report McKee  21'
Austin  43'		 Attendance: 1,859
Referee: John Beaton
25 July 2017 Group Stage Falkirk 4 – 0 Forfar Athletic Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45 Hippolyte  8', 38', 50'
Austin  29'		 Report Attendance: 2,187
Referee: Kevin Graham
29 July 2017 Group Stage Brechin City 0 – 3 Falkirk Glebe Park, Brechin
15:00 Report Miller  20'
McKee  52'
Harris  72'		 Attendance: 712
Referee: Euan Anderson
Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification FAL INV STI BRE FOR
1 Falkirk (Q) 4 4 0 0 0 13 1 +12 12 Qualification for the Second Round — — 4–1 — 4–0
2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 2 1 0 1 5 3 +2 8 0–2 — — 3–0 —
3 Stirling Albion 4 2 0 1 1 6 5 +1 7 — 0–0p — 2–0 —
4 Brechin City 4 0 1 0 3 1 9 −8 2 0–3 — — — p1–1
5 Forfar Athletic 4 0 0 1 3 3 10 −7 1 — 1–2 1–3 — —
Source: [3]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[4]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

Knockout Stage
8 August 2017 Second Round Falkirk 1 – 2 (a.e.t.) Livingston Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45 Craigen  40' Report Robinson  32'
De Vita  101'		 Attendance: 2,667
Referee: Andrew Dallas

Scottish Challenge Cup
Main article: 2017–18 Scottish Challenge Cup
2 September 2017 Second Round Sligo Rovers 1 – 2 Falkirk The Showgrounds, Sligo
19:45 Sharkey  18' Report Austin  9'
Craigen  28'		 Attendance: 520
Referee: Keith Kennedy
7 October 2017 Third Round Falkirk 2 – 0 Dunfermline Athletic Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Balatoni  19'
Hippolyte  59'		 Report Shiels  90+6' Attendance: 4,082
Referee: Steven McLean
11 November 2017 Quarter-final Inverness CT 1 – 0 Falkirk Caledonian Stadium, Inverness
17:15 Bell  57' Report Attendance: 1,078
Referee: Euan Anderson

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2017–18 Scottish Cup
20 January 2018 Fourth Round Livingston 0 – 1 Falkirk Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
19:45 Report Tumilty  90+3' Attendance: 1,237
Referee: Alan Newlands
10 February 2018 Fifth Round Cove Rangers 1 – 3 Falkirk Harlaw Park, Inverurie
15:00 Megginson  3' Report Jakubiak  2', 48'
Sibbald  46'		 Attendance: 1,687
Referee: Alan Muir
4 March 2018 Quarter-final Rangers 4 – 1 Falkirk Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
16:15 Cummings  16', 21', 75'
Muirhead  44 o.g.'		 Report Muirhead  20' Attendance: 33,968
Referee: Craig Thomson

Player statistics
As of 28 April 2018 (UTC)[5]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalChampionshipLeague CupScottish CupOther
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Robbie Thomson 29020+004+002+002+10
2 DF Lewis Kidd 18110+610+002+000+00
3 DF Jordan McGhee 38332+020+003+013+00
4 DF Aaron Muirhead 43733+054+013+013+00
5 DF Peter Grant 34124+314+002+001+00
6 MF Joe McKee 31716+544+130+302+00
7 MF Tom Taiwo 30121+113+002+102+00
10 MF Craig Sibbald 29525+140+003+010+00
12 GK David Mitchell 301+001+000+001+00
14 MF Louis Longridge 29724+170+003+001+00
16 DF Reghan Tumilty 20217+010+003+010+00
18 GK Conor Hazard 12010+100+001+000+00
20 FW Kevin O'Hara 2205+1300+300+001+00
21 MF Ryan Blair 814+310+000+100+00
22 FW Alex Jakubiak 18713+250+002+120+00
23 DF Tony Gallagher 17011+005+000+001+00
26 MF Reis Peggie 000+000+000+000+00
27 DF Jonathan Mitchell 000+000+000+000+00
29 FW Mark Stowe 000+000+000+000+00
33 FW Rory Loy 2619+914+101+001+10
35 MF Cieran Dunne 603+200+000+000+10
42 DF Thomas Robson 21218+020+003+000+00
43 FW Andrew Nelson 15412+040+002+100+00
44 DF Paul Watson 24014+404+001+001+00
45 MF Sean Welsh 1107+400+000+000+00
Players who left the club during the 2017–18 season
8 MF Mark Kerr 22015+003+200+001+10
9 FW Nathan Austin 2158+614+030+002+11
11 FW Myles Hippolyte 1668+224+030+002+01
15 DF Luca Gasparotto 913+213+000+000+10
18 FW Lee Miller 1813+1001+410+000+00
19 FW Scott Shepherd 700+200+400+000+10
21 DF Conrad Balatoni 1118+000+000+003+01
24 MF Cameron Blues 802+400+000+001+10
28 MF James Craigen 1725+503+110+002+11
31 GK Robbie Mutch 505+000+000+000+00

Club statistics

League Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
6 Queen of the South 36 14 10 12 59 53 +6 52
7 Greenock Morton 36 13 11 12 47 40 +7 50
8 Falkirk 36 12 11 13 45 49 −4 47
9 Dumbarton (R) 36 7 9 20 27 63 −36 30 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10 Brechin City (R) 36 0 4 32 20 90 −70 4 Relegation to League One
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Points in head-to-head matches; 5) Goal difference in hth matches; 6). Goals scored in hth matches; 7). Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[6]
(R) Relegated.

Division summary
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
GroundAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHHHAHHAHAHAAAAH
ResultLDLLDDLWDDLDLLDDWLWLWWLWWDWDWDLLLWWW
Position989999988999999999999888887777788888
Updated to match(es) played on 28 April 2018. Source: [7]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Transfers

See also

References
  1. "Falkirk: Peter Houston exits as manager after poor start to season". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. "Paul Hartley: New Falkirk manager aims for top four and promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. "Summary - League Cup Group A". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  4. "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  5. "Falkirk 2017/2018 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  6. "Championship 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  7. "Scottish Championship 2017/18". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  8. "Bairns confirm David Mitchell signing". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  9. "Alex Harris signs two-year deal". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  10. "Rory Returns!". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  11. "Bairns Recruit Robbie Mutch". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  12. "Falkirk sign defenders Jordan McGhee and Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  13. "Falkirk sign defenders Jordan McGhee and Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  14. "Hamilton Accies striker Louis Longridge joins Falkirk on emergency loan deal". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  15. "Falkirk bring in defender Tumilty from Ross County". falkirkherald.co.uk. Falkirk Herald. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  16. "Bairns sign Tommy Robson from Sunderland". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  17. "Falkirk:Andrew Nelson and Sean Welsh join as Conrad Balatoni leaves". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  18. "Falkirk:Andrew Nelson and Sean Welsh join as Conrad Balatoni leaves". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  19. "Alex Jakubiak joins from Watford". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  20. "Falkirk take Ryan Blair back on loan from Swansea City". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  21. "Conor Hazard joins Falkirk on loan". celticfc.net. Celtic FC. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  22. "Bob McHugh joins Morton on two year deal". gmfc.net. Greenock Morton FC. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  23. "McCracken moves to Peterhead". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  24. "Luke Leahy: Walsall sign Falkirk left-back on a free transfer". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  25. "Baird is first summer signing for ICT". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  26. "Former Rangers and Falkirk midfielder signs for Dunfermline". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  27. "Signing News:Keeper arrives on loan". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Dumbarton FC. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  28. "Shepherd joins Edinburgh City on loan". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  29. "Luca Gasparotto joins Morton on loan". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  30. "Falkirk:Andrew Nelson and Sean Welsh join as Conrad Balatoni leaves". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  31. "January transfer window signings". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  32. "Craigen signs". dafc.co.uk. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  33. "Lee Miller signs on dotted line". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  34. "McCall adds auld acquaintance". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  35. "Myles Hippolyte: St Mirren sign winger from Falkirk". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
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