2018–19 Falkirk F.C. season

The 2018–19 season was Falkirk's sixth consecutive season in the Scottish Championship and their eighth consecutive season in the second-tier of Scottish football. Falkirk also competed in the League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup. Falkirk finished the season in tenth place and were relegated to the third-tier of Scottish football for only the second time in their history.

Falkirk

2018–19 season
Chairman	Margaret Lang
Manager	Paul Hartley (until 27 August) Ray McKinnon (from 31 August)
Stadium	Falkirk Stadium
Championship	10th (relegated)
Scottish Cup	Third round
League Cup	Group stage
Challenge Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Zak Rudden (12) All: Zak Rudden (12)
Highest home attendance	6,173 vs. Dunfermline Athletic, Championship, 6 October 2018
Lowest home attendance	1,429 vs. Forfar Athletic, League Cup, 17 July 2018
Average home league attendance	4,742
Home colours Away colours
← 2017–18 2019–20 →

Summary

Management

Falkirk began the 2018–19 season under the management of Paul Hartley who had guided the club to safety from relegation in his previous season. On 27 August, Hartley left his position as manager following a poor start to the season.^[1] Ray McKinnon was appointed as his replacement on 31 August^[2] but he could not prevent the club from being relegated. Falkirk's relegation was confirmed on the final day of the season despite winning their final match against league winners Ross County.^[3]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre Season

The New Saints v Falkirk

29 June 2018	The New Saints	2–0	Falkirk	Oswestry
19:00	Brobbel Cieslewicz	Report		Stadium: Park Hall

Aberdeen v Falkirk

29 June 2018	Aberdeen	1–0	Falkirk	Arbroath
19:30	Ferguson 83'	Report		Stadium: Gayfield Park

Falkirk v Airdrieonians

7 July 2018	Falkirk	3–2	Airdrieonians	Falkirk
15:00	Petravičius 6' O'Hara 16' Dallison 33'	Report	O'Neil 27' McIntosh 75'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium

Alloa Athletic v Falkirk

10 July 2018	Alloa Athletic	1–2	Falkirk	Alloa
19:45	Graham 73'	Report	Lewis 45' Allan 76'	Stadium: Recreation Park

Scottish Championship

Main article: 2018–19 Scottish Championship

Falkirk v Inverness CT

4 August 2018 1	Falkirk	0–1	Inverness CT	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Oakley 10'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,538 Referee: Steven McLean

Partick Thistle v Falkirk

11 August 2018 2	Partick Thistle	2–1	Falkirk	Glasgow
15:00	Penrice 24' Erskine 28'	Report	Greenwood 90+1'	Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 3,417 Referee: Kevin Clancy

Falkirk v Queen of the South

25 August 2018 3	Falkirk	0–3	Queen of the South	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Dobbie 11', 39', 75'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,026 Referee: Steven Reid

Ross County v Falkirk

1 September 2018 4	Ross County	2–0	Falkirk	Dingwall
15:00	Lindsay 68' McManus 90'	Report		Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 3,564 Referee: Nick Walsh

Ayr United v Falkirk

15 September 2018 5	Ayr United	3–2	Falkirk	Ayr
15:00	Shankland 48' Geggan 63' Fasan 65 o.g.'	Report	Rudden 18' Petravičius 25'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,250 Referee: Alan Newlands

Falkirk v Dundee United

22 September 2018 6	Falkirk	0–2	Dundee United	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Šafranko 59' Curran 86'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,933 Referee: Alan Muir

Alloa Athletic v Falkirk

29 September 2018 7	Alloa Athletic	0–2	Falkirk	Alloa
15:00		Report	Rudden 26', 69'	Stadium: Recreation Park Attendance: 1,392 Referee: Steven Kirkland

Falkirk v Dunfermline Athletic

6 October 2018 8	Falkirk	0–2	Dunfermline Athletic	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Ryan 40' Hippolyte 90'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 6,173 Referee: Bobby Madden

Greenock Morton v Falkirk

20 October 2018 9	Greenock Morton	1–0	Falkirk	Greenock
15:00	McHugh 76'	Report	Fasan  49'	Stadium: Cappielow Attendance: 2,757 Referee: John Beaton

Queen of the South v Falkirk

27 October 2018 10	Queen of the South	2–0	Falkirk	Dumfries
15:00	Doyle 52' Marshall 54'	Report		Stadium: Palmerston Park Attendance: 1,463 Referee: Colin Steven

Falkirk v Ross County

30 October 2018 11	Falkirk	1–1	Ross County	Falkirk
19:45	Cowie 25 o.g.'	Report	Vigurs 78'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 3,767 Referee: Euan Anderson

Falkirk v Ayr United

3 November 2018 12	Falkirk	0–1	Ayr United	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Moore 51'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,310 Referee: Greg Aitken

Dunfermline Athletic v Falkirk

10 November 2018 13	Dunfermline Athletic	0–1	Falkirk	Dunfermline
15:00		Report	Rudden 71'	Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 5,762 Referee: Andrew Dallas

Falkirk v Partick Thistle

17 November 2018 14	Falkirk	1–1	Partick Thistle	Falkirk
15:00	McKee 59'	Report	Slater 57'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,589 Referee: Craig Thomson

Inverness CT v Falkirk

1 December 2018 15	Inverness CT	2–3	Falkirk	Inverness
15:00	Walsh 6' Oakley 61'	Report	Rudden 16', 36' Harrison 90+3'	Stadium: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2,260 Referee: Colin Steven

Falkirk v Alloa Athletic

8 December 2018 16	Falkirk	2–2	Alloa Athletic	Falkirk
15:00	Petravičius 7' Paton 28'	Report	Trouten 42', 77'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 3,907 Referee: Barry Cook

Falkirk v Greenock Morton

15 December 2018 17	Falkirk	0–0	Greenock Morton	Falkirk
15:00		Report		Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 3,775 Referee: Gavin Ross

Dundee United v Falkirk

22 December 2018 18	Dundee United	2–1	Falkirk	Dundee
15:00	Stanton 22' Šafranko 53'	Report	Paton  65' Muirhead 90+2 pen.'	Stadium: Tannadice Park Attendance: 5,267 Referee: Colin Steven

Falkirk v Dunfermline Athletic

29 December 2018 19	Falkirk	2–4	Dunfermline Athletic	Falkirk
15:00	McKee 2' Harrison 74'	Report	Hippolyte 13' Beadling 17', 51' Vincent 67'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 5,786 Referee: Colin Steven

Ayr United v Falkirk

5 January 2019 20	Ayr United	0–1	Falkirk	Ayr
15:00		Report	Rudden 56'	Stadium: Somerset Park Attendance: 2,729 Referee: John Beaton

Partick Thistle v Falkirk

12 January 2019 21	Partick Thistle	1–1	Falkirk	Glasgow
15:00	Spittal 61' Harkins  74'	Report	Rudden 76'	Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 4,438 Referee: Andrew Dallas

Falkirk v Dunfermline Athletic

26 January 2019 22	Falkirk	2–2	Dunfermline Athletic	Falkirk
15:00	Rudden 29' McShane 56'	Report	Rooney 12' Doran 45'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 5,843 Referee: David Munro

Falkirk v Queen of the South

2 February 2019 23	Falkirk	3–0	Queen of the South	Falkirk
15:00	Keillor–Dunn 8'  72' Edjenguélé 64' Petravičius 77'	Report		Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,538 Referee: Gavin Duncan

Alloa Athletic v Falkirk

9 February 2019 24	Alloa Athletic	1–2	Falkirk	Alloa
15:00	Shields 31'	Report	McGhee 20' Waddington 46'	Stadium: Recreation Park Attendance: 2,116 Referee: Craig Thomson

Falkirk v Dundee United

23 February 2019 25	Falkirk	1–1	Dundee United	Falkirk
15:00	McKenna 84'	Report	Smith 49'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 5,840 Referee: Greg Aitken

Greenock Morton v Falkirk

1 March 2019 26	Greenock Morton	1–1	Falkirk	Greenock
19:05	Kiltie 32'	Report	Rudden 40' Dixon  60'	Stadium: Cappielow Attendance: 1,838 Referee: Andrew Dallas

Falkirk v Ayr United

8 March 2019 27	Falkirk	2–0	Ayr United	Falkirk
19:05	McGhee 27', 40'	Report		Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,344 Referee: Alan Muir

Ross County v Falkirk

12 March 2019 28	Ross County	2–1	Falkirk	Dingwall
19:45	Graham 12' Watson 22' Grivosti  85'	Report	McShane 87 pen.'	Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 3,148 Referee: Steven Kirkland

Falkirk v Partick Thistle

16 March 2019 29	Falkirk	1–1	Partick Thistle	Falkirk
15:00	McShane 87 pen.'	Report	McDonald 10'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,896 Referee: Mike Roncone

Inverness CT v Falkirk

30 March 2019 30	Inverness CT	0–0	Falkirk	Inverness
15:00		Report		Stadium: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2,817 Referee: Gavin Ross

Queen of the South v Falkirk

2 April 2019 31	Queen of the South	1–1	Falkirk	Dumfries
19:45	Dobbie 90+6 pen.'	Report	Keillor–Dunn 90+2 pen'  90+4'	Stadium: Palmerston Park Attendance: 1,508 Referee: Barry Cook

Falkirk v Alloa Athletic

6 April 2019 32	Falkirk	1–2	Alloa Athletic	Falkirk
15:00	Rudden 46'	Report	Zanatta 38' Kirkpatrick 86'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,170 Referee: Alan Newlands

Dunfermline Athletic v Falkirk

13 April 2019 33	Dunfermline Athletic	0–1	Falkirk	Dunfermline
15:00		Report	Keillor–Dunn 77'	Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 6,089 Referee: Willie Collum

Falkirk v Greenock Morton

20 April 2019 34	Falkirk	0–2	Greenock Morton	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Kiltie 47' Telfer 54'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 5,254 Referee: Colin Stewart

Dundee United v Falkirk

27 April 2019 35	Dundee United	2–0	Falkirk	Dundee
15:00	Bouhenna 15' McMullan 26'	Report		Stadium: Tannadice Park Attendance: 5,260 Referee: Steven Kirkland

Falkirk v Ross County

4 May 2019 36	Falkirk	3–2	Ross County	Falkirk
15:00	Rudden 27' McKenna 75' McGhee 77'	Report	Stewart 58' Vigurs 73'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 4,682 Referee: Steven McLean

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2018–19 Scottish League Cup § Group B

Group stage

Results

Falkirk v Montrose

14 July 2018 Group stage	Falkirk	0–1	Montrose	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Rennie 19'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 1,730 Referee: Graham Beaton

Falkirk v Forfar Athletic

17 July 2018 Group stage	Falkirk	2–0	Forfar Athletic	Falkirk
19:45	Lewis 54' Petravičius 82'	Report		Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 1,429 Referee: Steve Kirkland

St Johnstone v Falkirk

24 July 2018 Group stage	St Johnstone	1–0	Falkirk	Perth
19:45	Scougall 31'	Report		Stadium: McDiarmid Park Attendance: 2,379 Referee: Craig Thomson

East Fife v Falkirk

28 July 2018 Group stage	East Fife	1–2	Falkirk	Fife
15:00	Dowds 24'	Report	Mackin 49', 63'	Stadium: Bayview Stadium Attendance: 670 Referee: Colin Steven

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		STJ	FAL	MON	FOR	EFI
1	St Johnstone (Q)	4	3	1	0	0	5	1	+4	11	Qualification for the Second round		—	1–0	—	—	p0–0
2	Falkirk	4	2	0	0	2	4	3	+1	6			—	—	0–1	2–0	—
3	Montrose	4	2	0	0	2	3	4	−1	6			0–1	—	—	—	1–0
4	Forfar Athletic	4	1	1	0	2	5	7	−2	5			1–3	—	3–1	—	—
5	East Fife	4	0	0	2	2	2	4	−2	2			—	1–2	—	1–1p	—

Source: ^[4]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.^[5]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Scottish Challenge Cup

Main article: 2018–19 Scottish Challenge Cup

Rangers U21s v Falkirk

14 August 2018 First round	Rangers U21s	1–2	Falkirk	Stirling
19:30	Rudden 90'	Report	Lewis 4' Harrison 21'	Stadium: Forthbank Stadium Attendance: 636 Referee: Euan Anderson

Falkirk v Connah's Quay Nomads

8 September 2018 Second round	Falkirk	0–1	Connah's Quay Nomads	Falkirk
15:00		Report	Wilde 46'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 1,637 Referee: Daniel Middelton

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2018–19 Scottish Cup

Stenhousemuir v Falkirk

24 November 2018 Third round	Stenhousemuir	4–2	Falkirk	Stenhousemuir
19:30	McBrearty 12', 16' Dickson 59' McGuigan 85'	Report	Paton 5' McKee 42'	Stadium: Ochilview Park Attendance: 2,050 Referee: Alan Newlands

Player statistics

As of 4 May 2019 (UTC)^[6]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Championship		League Cup		Scottish Cup		Other
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ITA	Leo Fasan	18	0	13+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
2	DF	SCO	Lewis Kidd	20	0	12+4	0	2+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
3	DF	SCO	Jordan McGhee	38	4	32+1	4	3+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
5	DF	FRA	William Edjenguélé	12	1	12+0	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
6	MF	NIR	Paul Paton	35	2	27+2	1	3+0	0	1+0	1	2+0	0
7	MF	LTU	Deimantas Petravičius	35	4	26+2	3	4+0	1	1+0	0	1+1	0
8	MF	BUL	Nikolay Todorov	7	0	1+6	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
9	FW	ENG	Aaron Jarvis	12	0	4+8	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
10	MF	ENG	Davis Keillor-Dunn	11	3	7+4	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
11	MF	SCO	Ross MacLean	15	0	8+7	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
12	GK	SCO	David Mitchell	9	0	8+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
14	DF	ENG	Thomas Robson	26	0	16+5	0	2+0	0	1+0	0	2+0	0
16	MF	SCO	Ian McShane	16	3	16+0	3	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
18	DF	ENG	Patrick Brough	21	0	16+0	0	3+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
19	MF	SCO	Zak Rudden	31	12	29+2	12	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
20	FW	SCO	Kevin O'Hara	22	0	5+13	0	0+3	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
21	MF	GHA	Abdul Osman	15	2	15+0	0	0+0	2	0+0	0	0+0	0
23	DF	SCO	Paul Dixon	16	0	16+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
24	FW	NIR	Shayne Lavery	6	0	0+6	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
25	MF	SCO	Andy Irving	21	0	13+6	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
27	MF	ENG	Mark Waddington	14	1	8+6	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
28	DF	SCO	Ciaran McKenna	17	2	17+0	2	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
31	GK	SCO	Robbie Mutch	2	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
32	DF	SCO	Marky Munro	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
35	MF	SCO	Cieran Dunne	2	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
36	MF	SCO	Jason Jarvis	2	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
41	MF	SCO	Aidan Laverty	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
43	GK	ENG	Harry Burgoyne	15	0	15+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Players who left the club during the 2018–19 season
4	DF	SCO	Aaron Muirhead	23	2	16+1	1	3+0	0	1+0	1	2+0	0
5	DF	ENG	Tom Dallison	17	0	10+2	0	3+0	0	0+1	0	1+0	0
8	MF	SCO	Ruben Sammut	16	0	9+3	0	3+0	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
9	FW	ENG	Dennon Lewis	23	2	8+8	0	3+1	1	1+0	0	2+0	1
10	MF	WAL	Tom Owen-Evans	7	0	2+0	0	2+2	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
11	MF	GRE	Dimitris Froxylias	8	0	1+3	0	1+1	0	0+0	0	1+1	0
15	DF	ENG	Scott Harrison	20	3	14+1	2	3+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	1
16	FW	ENG	Dan Turner	4	0	0+0	0	2+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
16	DF	SLE	Mustapha Dumbuya	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
17	MF	GHA	Prince Buaben	7	0	7+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
21	FW	SCO	Dylan Mackin	8	2	1+2	0	3+1	2	0+0	0	0+1	0
22	MF	SCO	Joe McKee	12	3	9+1	2	0+0	0	1+0	1	1+0	0
23	MF	ENG	Rees Greenwood	5	1	0+3	1	0+1	0	0+0	0	0+1	0
24	FW	CAN	Marcus Haber	17	0	6+9	0	0+1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
26	MF	SCO	Mark Russell	4	0	2+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+1	0

Club statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
6	Partick Thistle	36	12	7	17	43	52	−9	43
7	Dunfermline Athletic	36	11	8	17	33	40	−7	41
8	Alloa Athletic	36	10	9	17	39	53	−14	39
9	Queen of the South (O)	36	9	11	16	41	48	−7	38	Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10	Falkirk (R)	36	9	11	16	37	49	−12	38	Relegation to League One

Source: SPFL
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).^[7]
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

Division summary

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
Ground	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	A	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H
Result	L	L	L	L	L	L	W	L	L	L	D	L	W	D	W	D	D	L	L	W	D	D	W	W	D	D	W	L	D	D	D	L	W	L	L	W
Position	9	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	9	10	10	10	10	9	9	10	8	8	9	8	8	8	8	9	8	10	9	10	10	10

Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2019. Source: ^[8]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Transfers

Main articles: List of Scottish football transfers summer 2018 and List of Scottish football transfers winter 2018-19

Players in Player From Fee Tom Dallison Brighton & Hove Albion Free[9] Patrick Brough Morecambe Free[10] Dennon Lewis Watford Free[11] Scott Harrison Hartlepool United Free[12] Leo Fasan Kilmarnock Free[13] Tom Owen-Evans Newport County Free[14] Deimantas Petravičius Motherwell Free[15] Dimitris Froxylias Dumbarton Free[16] Paul Paton Plymouth Argyle Free[17] Dylan Mackin Livingston Undisclosed[18] Rees Greenwood Gateshead Free[19] Mark Russell Greenock Morton Free[20] Prince Buaben Free Agent Free[21] Mustapha Dumbuya Free Agent Free[22] Paul Dixon Grimsby Town Free[23] Abdul Osman Free Agent Free[24] Ian McShane St Mirren Free[25] Ross MacLean Motherwell Free[26] Ciaran McKenna Duke Blue Devils Free[27] Nikolay Todorov Rieti Free[28]

Players out Player To Fee Craig Sibbald Livingston Free[29] Robbie Thomson Raith Rovers Free[30] Cameron Blues Livingston Free[31] Rory Loy Dumbarton Free[32] Tom Taiwo Hamilton Academical Free[33] Peter Grant Plymouth Argyle Free[34] Sean Welsh Inverness CT Free[35] Reis Peggie Alloa Athletic Free[36] Paul Watson Dundee United Free[37] Alex Harris York City Free[38] Dimitris Froxylias Released Free[39] Dylan Mackin Stirling Albion Free[40] Tom Owen-Evans Hereford Free[41] Tom Dallison Crawley Town Free[42] Prince Buaben Released Free[43] Mustapha Dumbuya Phoenix Rising Free[44] Aaron Muirhead Ayr United Free[45] Dennon Lewis Bromley Free[46] Mark Russell Finn Harps Free[47]

Loans in Player From Fee Ruben Sammut Chelsea Loan[48] Dan Turner Port Vale Loan[49] Marcus Haber Dundee Loan[50] Andy Irving Heart of Midlothian Loan[51] Zak Rudden Rangers Loan[52] Mark Waddington Stoke City Loan[53] Shayne Lavery Everton Loan[54] Davis Keillor-Dunn Ross County Loan[55] Harry Burgoyne Wolverhampton Wanderers Loan[56] William Edjenguélé Dundee United Loan[57] Aaron Jarvis Luton Town Loan[58]

Loans out Player To Fee Kevin O'Hara Stenhousemuir Loan[59] Scott Harrison Spennymoor Town Loan[60] Joe McKee Dundalk Loan[61]

See also

• List of Falkirk F.C. seasons