Falkirk manager John McGlynn and forward Jacob Murrell have won the SPFL Premiership manager and player of the month awards for October. The double recognition follows a flawless month where the Bairns won all four of their league matches, propelling them to fourth place in the table with 18 points from 12 games.
That winning sequence, which forms part of a wider four-game streak in the standings, included victories over Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and, most notably, a 2-0 triumph over Celtic on 1 November. The result against the champions was Falkirk's first over Celtic in 19 years, with goals from Ethan Ross and Scott Tanser sealing a historic day.
Murrell's key contributions
American striker Jacob Murrell, 22, was instrumental in the October surge. He scored a decisive brace in the 2-1 win at Easter Road against Hibs and also found the net against Dundee and Kilmarnock. Murrell is now Falkirk's top scorer this season with five goals in his ten Premiership appearances, underlining his importance to the team's attacking threat.
McGlynn's steady hand
For manager John McGlynn, it is his first time winning the monthly manager award. He told reporters he was delighted to receive it on behalf of his backroom staff and players. McGlynn said the squad had managed to move away from near the bottom of the table and that their confidence and momentum were building steadily.
He added that the challenge this season was to create a new team that could deliver even better results than the side that secured a top-six finish after promotion last term. The manager stated that things are working so far but stressed the team is not getting carried away. McGlynn also highlighted the collective effort, saying the award was a reflection of the hard work from everyone at the club, from the analysts to the medical team.
Falkirk's form has been a dramatic turnaround, with the recent 2-0 loss to Dundee on 10 October now a distant memory. The team has scored 15 goals this season while conceding 12, giving them a positive goal difference of three. They now sit ten points behind league leaders Celtic. The Bairns' defensive record has also improved, keeping three clean sheets during their four-match winning run in October.
The Bairns face another significant test this weekend as they travel to face third-placed Heart of Midlothian on Sunday, 8 November, looking to extend their winning run. McGlynn acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture at Tynecastle but said his team would go there with belief, aiming to continue their impressive form and climb higher in the Premiership standings.
The original report is at falkirkherald.co.uk
