Falkirk manager John McGlynn has identified the internal unrest at Hibernian as a key opportunity for his side ahead of their Premiership meeting this weekend. The Bairns travel to Easter Road on Saturday with the hosts dealing with fan protests and a significant sanction from the club.
Hibernian announced a three-match ban for their Block Seven Ultras supporter group on Thursday. The sanction covers the upcoming home match against Falkirk, a subsequent home game with Celtic, and an away trip to St Mirren. The club stated it had discussed the measure with the SPFL, describing it as a follow-up to a one-match ban issued earlier this season.
The decision follows a 2-1 defeat for Hibs at Dundee United last weekend, which was new manager Marink Reedijk's first game in charge. After that match at Tannadice, some Hibernian supporters clashed with police, leading to an ongoing investigation. The club says it will continue to work with supporters, Police Scotland, and Dundee United, with further action possible once the probe concludes.
Falkirk's opportunity
With Hibs sitting just one place and one point above them in 10th, McGlynn is clear about the chance this presents. "For a club like Falkirk, going away to Easter Road is one of the biggest games," the manager said. He wants his players to take full advantage of the disrupted atmosphere surrounding their opponents. Falkirk's recent form shows they have scored an average of 1.2 goals per game this season, but have conceded an average of 1.8 goals per game.
Falkirk's own form has been mixed, with a 2-1 home loss to Dundee last time out leaving them 11th in the table on six points. You can review the team's standings and fixtures for the full context of the league campaign. Their recent results show one win, two draws, and two defeats from their last five outings. The team has accumulated 12 yellow cards so far this season, a disciplinary record that will need to be managed in a high-stakes away fixture.
The fixture at Easter Road offers a direct chance to climb above a rival. With Hibernian's fanbase divided and their most vocal supporters barred, McGlynn will be demanding a focused performance from his squad to turn the situation into points. The manager emphasised the need for his team to capitalise on any uncertainty, stating the obvious tension around the home club could work in Falkirk's favour if they start the match strongly and silence the remaining home crowd.
The original report is at uk.sports.yahoo.com
