Falkirk pick up first league win of season to check Hearts’ progress

Owen Eames fired Falkirk to their first William Premiership win of the season and ended Hearts’ nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

The on-loan Derby teenager capitalised on a mistake from Jambos captain Harry Milne in the 68th minute to earn the Bairns a 2-1 victory at Falkirk Stadium after James Wilson had cancelled out Ben Krauhaus’s early opener for the hosts.

While the Bairns savoured their first league win at the sixth attempt, it was a frustrating night for the off-colour Jambos, who were hoping to climb into second place after winning each of their previous six domestic matches.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn selected the same side that started the 1-1 draw at Dundee United.

Amid a spate of midfield injuries, Wouter Vrancken handed Yan Dhanda his first Hearts start in 16 months. Attackers Josh McPake and Wilson – both included in the Scotland squad earlier in the day – were among those restored after being rotated for Friday’s Premier Sports Cup win at Stenhousemuir.

Referee John Beaton – officiating his first Hearts match since contentiously awarding title rivals Celtic a crucial penalty against Motherwell in May – was baited by the Jambos support as he led the teams out the tunnel and he found himself reaching for his yellow card with just over two minutes on the clock to caution Falkirk midfielder Finley Barbrook for a foul on Dhanda.

The Bairns made the breakthrough in the eighth minute when captain Brad Spencer sprayed a pass out to the right, allowing Ryan Strain to ghost in behind the Hearts defence and cut the ball back for Krauhaus, who fired home from 10 yards out.

Hearts, having previously offered little in attack, drew level from their first chance of the match in the 22nd minute when McPake skinned Strain on the left of the penalty box and slid an inviting low delivery across goal for Wilson, who was perfectly placed for a close-range tap-in.

A little over a minute later, the same two players combined once more but Wilson blazed over from 15 yards out.

Falkirk had a great chance to restore their lead on the half hour when Eames got himself clear in the Hearts box but opted to square it instead of shooting and Stuart Findlay scrambled the ball behind.

Hearts sent on JJ Williams in place of Wilson for the start of the second half. The Bairns had another big opportunity four minutes after the break but Barbrook was denied by Beau Reus after Jacob Murrell teed him up in a central position 12 yards out.

At the other end, Williams and Calvin Miller both saw close-range efforts saved by Scott Bain, who was also included in the Scotland squad.

Eames and Murrell then spurned big chances for the hosts before they restored their lead in the 68th minute.

Milne played a risky pass from the left-back position towards centre-back Jamie McCart and it was intercepted by Eames, who drove forward and fired a low shot in off Reus’s right-hand post from just inside the box.