The 2020–21 season was Falkirk's second season in League One following their relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2018–19 season. Falkirk also competed in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. On 2 October 2020, the SPFL confirmed that the Scottish Challenge Cup had been cancelled for the upcoming season.[1]
2020–21 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Gary Deans | ||
Manager | David McCracken & Lee Miller (Until 21 April) Gary Holt (Interim) | ||
Stadium | Falkirk Stadium | ||
League One | 5th | ||
Scottish Cup | Third round | ||
League Cup | Second round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Callumn Morrison (7) All: Callumn Morrison (10) | ||
| |||
Summary
editFalkirk began their season on 6 October in the League Cup group stage with the League One season beginning on 17 October.
On 11 January 2021, all football below the Scottish Championship was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On 29 January 2021, the suspension was extended until at least 14 February.[3]
In March 2021, the Scottish Government gave permission for the league to resume. On 16 March, clubs from League 1 and 2 voted to implement for a reduced 22-game season with a league split after 18 games.[4]
On 21 April 2021, both of Falkirk's co-managers David McCracken & Lee Miller were sacked following their defeat to Peterhead with sporting director and former manager Gary Holt being appointed in interim charge until the end of the season.[5]
Results and fixtures
editWin Draw Loss Postponed
Pre Season
edit19 September 2020 | Raith Rovers | 2–6 | Falkirk | Kirkcaldy |
15:00 | Coulson 10' Hendry 53 pen.' |
Report | Dowds 15' (57) Morrison 28 pen.' Connolly 66' Keena 85' Leitch 90' |
Stadium: Stark's Park |
22 September 2020 | Heart of Midlothian | 3–0 | Falkirk | Edinburgh |
Boyce 44' Walker 75' Wighton 82 pen.' |
Report | Stadium: Oriam |
26 September 2020 | Falkirk | 3–2 | Ayr United | Falkirk |
Keena | Report | McCowan 10' Hewitt 80' |
Stadium: Falkirk Stadium |
Scottish League One
edit17 October 2020 1 | Montrose | 1–3 | Falkirk | Montrose |
15:00 | Quinn 50' Steeves 85' |
Report | Francis 43' Morrison 85 pen.' Leitch 90+2' |
Stadium: Links Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier |
24 October 2020 2 | Falkirk | 1–1 | Forfar Athletic | Falkirk |
15:00 | Dowds 15' Mutch 64' |
Report | Allan 66 pen.' | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Steve Kirkland |
31 October 2020 3 | Falkirk | 2–0 | East Fife | Falkirk |
15:00 | Leitch 39' Francis 47' |
Report | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Graham Beaton |
7 November 2020 4 | Partick Thistle | 2–2 | Falkirk | Glasgow |
15:00 | Cardle 66' Graham 68' |
Report | Morrison 13' Telfer 88' |
Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Grant Irvine |
21 November 2020 5 | Falkirk | 1–0 | Cove Rangers | Falkirk |
15:00 | Morrison 49' | Report | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: David Dickinson |
24 November 2020 6 | Dumbarton | 0–3 | Falkirk | Dumbarton |
19:00 | Report | Morrison 16' Alston 33' Connolly 77' |
Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
5 December 2020 7 | Falkirk | 2–1 | Peterhead | Falkirk |
15:00 | Alston 25' Sammon 45+1' |
Report | Cameron 77' | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Peter Stuart |
12 December 2020 8 | Clyde | 0–3 | Falkirk | Cumbernauld |
15:00 | Report | Telfer 30' Mercer 55' Hall 59' |
Stadium: Broadwood Stadium Attendance: 0 |
20 December 2020 9 | Falkirk | 0–1 | Airdrieonians | Falkirk |
15:00 | Report | Connell 82' | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 |
26 December 2020 10 | Falkirk | 0–0 | Partick Thistle | Falkirk |
12:00 | Report | Rudden 64' | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Duncan Williams |
2 January 2021 11 | East Fife | 2–1 | Falkirk | Methil |
15:00 | Smith 20' Hamilton 69' |
Report | Morrison 47' | Stadium: Bayview Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Graham Beaton |
20 March 2021 12 | Falkirk | 2–0 | Montrose | Falkirk |
15:00 | Durnan 12' Morrison 90' |
Report | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Gavin Duncan |
27 March 2021 13 | Forfar Athletic | 0–2 | Falkirk | Forfar |
15:00 | Report | Telfer 25' Alston 48' |
Stadium: Station Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven Reid |
30 March 2021 14 | Falkirk | 1–1 | Dumbarton | Falkirk |
19:45 | Dowds 74' Durnan 81' |
Report | Omar 68' | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
6 April 2021 15 | Airdrieonians | 2–1 | Falkirk | Airdrie |
19:00 | Roy 9' Carrick 81 pen.' |
Report | Telfer 35' | Stadium: Excelsior Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Colin Steven |
10 April 2021 16 | Falkirk | 2–1 | Clyde | Falkirk |
15:00 | Hall 9' Keena 68' |
Report | Jack 84' | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Napier |
17 April 2021 17 | Cove Rangers | 2–0 | Falkirk | Cove Bay |
12:00 | Megginson 12', 48' | Report | Stadium: Balmoral Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: David Dickinson |
20 April 2021 18 | Peterhead | 1–0 | Falkirk | Peterhead |
19:45 | Brown 81' | Report | Gomis 75' | Stadium: Balmoor Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Duncan Williams |
24 April 2021 19 | Falkirk | 2–2 | Cove Rangers | Falkirk |
15:00 | Morrison 19 pen.' Sammon 86' |
Report | McIntosh 36' Megginson 76' |
Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Gavin Duncan |
29 April 2021 20 | Partick Thistle | 5–0 | Falkirk | Glasgow |
19:00 | Rudden 30' Graham 32', 41', 59' Cardle 72' |
Report | Stadium: Firhill Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: David Dickinson |
1 May 2021 21 | Falkirk | 1–2 | Montrose | Falkirk |
15:00 | Sammon 5' | Report | Ballantyne 45' Milne 62' |
Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
4 May 2021 22 | Airdrieonians | 2–0 | Falkirk | Airdrie |
19:00 | Thomson 88' Turner 90+4' |
Report | Stadium: Excelsior Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Scott Lambie |
Scottish League Cup
editGroup stage
editResults
6 October 2020 1 | Falkirk | 3–0[A] | Kilmarnock | Falkirk |
19:45 | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium |
9 October 2020 2 | Dunfermline Athletic | 2–0 | Falkirk | Dunfermline |
19:45 | Murray 58', 65' | Report | Stadium: East End Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Grant Irvine |
13 October 2020 3 | Falkirk | 2–1 | Clyde | Falkirk |
19:45 | Keena 13' Morrison 47 pen.' |
Report | Goodwillie 17' | Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Lloyd Wilson |
10 November 2020 4 | Dumbarton | 0–4 | Falkirk | Dumbarton |
19:45 | Report | Morrison 12', 49' Sammon 73' Dowds 82' |
Stadium: Dumbarton Football Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Scott Lambie |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | DNF | FAL | KIL | CLY | DUM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dunfermline Athletic | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 12 | Qualification for the Second round | — | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | — | |
2 | Falkirk | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 9 | — | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | — | ||
3 | Kilmarnock | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 6 | 0–3 | — | — | — | 2–0 | ||
4 | Clyde | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 3 | — | — | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | ||
5 | Dumbarton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 0 | 0–1 | 0–4 | — | — | — |
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.[7]
Knockout stage
edit29 November 2020 Second round | Falkirk | 0–4 | Rangers | Falkirk |
17:00 | Report | Defoe 6' Bassey 30' Barišić 41' Tavernier 51' |
Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Bobby Madden |
Scottish Cup
edit23 March 2021 Second round | Arbroath | 1–2 | Falkirk | Arbroath |
15:00 | O'Brien 8' | Report | Telfer 42' Fotheringham 87' |
Stadium: Gayfield Park Attendance: 0 Referee: David Munro |
3 April 2021 Third round | Celtic | 3–0 | Falkirk | Glasgow |
15:00 | Forrest 56' Christie 58' Elyounoussi 79' |
Report | Stadium: Celtic Park Attendance: 0 Referee: John Beaton |
Player statistics
edit- As of 4 May 2021 (UTC)[8]
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | League One | League Cup | Scottish Cup | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
1 | GK | SCO | Robbie Mutch | 21 | 0 | 17+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
2 | DF | SCO | Scott Mercer | 19 | 1 | 15+1 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
3 | DF | SCO | Paul Dixon | 21 | 0 | 16+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
4 | DF | NIR | Ben Hall | 21 | 2 | 16+0 | 2 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
5 | DF | SCO | Mark Durnan | 15 | 1 | 11+1 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
6 | DF | SCO | Gary Miller | 19 | 0 | 14+3 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
8 | MF | SCO | Blair Alston | 24 | 3 | 20+1 | 3 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
9 | FW | IRL | Aidan Keena | 14 | 2 | 7+4 | 1 | 2+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 |
10 | FW | SCO | Anton Dowds | 23 | 3 | 10+7 | 2 | 2+2 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 |
11 | MF | SCO | Aidan Connolly | 6 | 1 | 2+3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
14 | MF | SEN | Morgaro Gomis | 23 | 0 | 16+2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
15 | DF | SCO | Lewis Neilson | 10 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
16 | FW | ENG | Akeel Francis | 22 | 2 | 4+13 | 2 | 1+2 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
17 | FW | SCO | Robbie Leitch | 27 | 2 | 10+11 | 2 | 3+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
18 | FW | IRL | Conor Sammon | 25 | 4 | 14+5 | 3 | 2+2 | 1 | 2+0 | 0 |
19 | DF | NIR | Euan Deveney | 7 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
20 | FW | SCO | Aidan Laverty | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
21 | MF | SCO | Charlie Telfer | 17 | 5 | 7+6 | 4 | 1+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
22 | DF | SCO | Blair Sneddon | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
24 | FW | SCO | Kai Fotheringham | 13 | 1 | 10+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 |
25 | GK | SCO | Jay Cantley | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
33 | DF | SCO | Sean Kelly | 16 | 0 | 11+3 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
38 | MF | SCO | Callumn Morrison | 25 | 10 | 19+2 | 7 | 4+0 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 |
72 | DF | NIR | Kyle McClelland | 8 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
Players who left the club during the 2020–21 season | |||||||||||
7 | MF | ENG | Josh Todd | 12 | 0 | 3+5 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
23 | GK | SCO | Peter Morrison | 7 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
30 | GK | SCO | Matthew Connolly | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
99 | FW | SCO | Lee Miller | 7 | 0 | 0+7 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
Team statistics
editLeague table
editPos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Partick Thistle (C, P) | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 40 | 18 | +22 | 40 | Promotion to the Championship |
2 | Airdrieonians | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 35 | 24 | +11 | 38 | Qualification for the Championship play-offs |
3 | Cove Rangers | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 18 | +10 | 36 | |
4 | Montrose | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 33 | |
5 | Falkirk | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 32 | |
6 | East Fife | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 33 | −3 | 33 | |
7 | Peterhead | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 29 | |
8 | Clyde | 22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 27 | 38 | −11 | 26 | |
9 | Dumbarton (O) | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 14 | 24 | −10 | 25 | Qualification for the League One play-offs |
10 | Forfar Athletic (R) | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 37 | −19 | 17 | Relegation to League Two |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).[9]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Division summary
editA = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Transfers
edit
Players inedit
|
Players outedit
|
See also
edit- Notes
References
edit- ^ "Scottish Challenge Cup cancelled for season 2020–21". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Scottish lower leagues & Scottish Cup suspended for three weeks". BBC Sport. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Cup, lower leagues and women's football remain suspended". BBC Sport. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Scottish League 1 & 2 clubs vote for 22-game season with split after 18 matches". BBC Sport. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "Club Statement". Falkirk FC. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
- ^ "Summary - League Cup Group E". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- ^ "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- ^ "Falkirk 2018/2019 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "The Rules of the Scottish Professional Football League" (PDF). SPFL. pp. 38–39. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Scottish Championship 2019/20". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "Sneddon Joins the Bairns". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Anton Dowds Joins the Club". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Aidan Keena Signs from Hartlepool". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Bairns Sign Callumn Morrison". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Blair is Back!". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Akeel Francis Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ "Matthew Connolly Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ "PJ Morrison Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
- ^ "Euan Deveney Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Sean Kelly Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Kyle McClelland Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ "Falkirk bring in Dundee United pair Lewis Neilson and Kai Fotheringham on loan". falkirkherald.co.uk. Falkirk Herald. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ "Falkirk bring in Dundee United pair Lewis Neilson and Kai Fotheringham on loan". falkirkherald.co.uk. Falkirk Herald. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ "Former Rangers star signs again for non-league side as they push for promotion". dailyrecord.co.uk. Dailry Record. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Denny Johnstone Signs for Dumbarton". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Dumbarton FC. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Michael Doyle becomes a Spider". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queens Park FC. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Former Falkirk duo make Championship moves, with another poised for Hearts". falkirkherald.co.uk. Falkirk Herald. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "New Signing – Louis Longridge". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queens Park FC. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "JOSH TODD JOINS AYR UNITED ON LOAN". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
- ^ "SPFL Statement". SPFL. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.