John McGlynn details how Hearts injury crisis played into Falkirk plan after Bairns hit 'dreamland' in Gorgie
The former Hearts manager now in the Falkirk dugout has reacted to the shock scoreline at Tynecastle.
John McGlynn admits Falkirk were able to pounce on smelling blood at Hearts after stunning the Jambos 5-2 at Tynecastle.
Amid a relentless schedule and mounting injury concerns, former first-team gaffer McGlynn returned to Gorgie with his impressive Bairns side in a menacing mood, scoring five without reply. They were four up at the break against a Hearts team who had not lost in the Premiership at home for over 18 months but Falkirk leapfrogging them into third emphatically ended that streak.
McGlynn knew counterpart Wouter Vrancken did not have injury issues to seek with 11 players missing the match, and that number is now 12, after Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s muscle problem. That had the Falkirk leader believing his side could get at those in maroon.
John McGlynn on Hearts 2-5 Falkirk
He said: “I've never been 5-0 up here before. First half we were outstanding. A great start to the game for us to get the goal so early. It was well documented about the Hearts injuries, and coming off the back of a game on Thursday night, it was always going to be difficult for them. We had to smell blood and we had to go for it. That's exactly what happened. The goals and our play were outstanding in the first half.
“We won every duel and we won everything all over the park. We got ourselves 4-0 up at half-time, which is dreamland. At 3pm, we never expected to be 4-0 up at half-time, and certainly not 5-0 up a few minutes into the second half, That was another really good goal in transition. A lot of goals in transition but it's a big part of the game. We were very clinical as well.
“Delighted, obviously. Hearts changed formation and made substitutions at half-time. That caused us some problems and it meant that Hearts had a lot at the ball and dominated the second period. We're taking 5-2 every day of the week, make no mistake about it. It jumps us up into third place in the league. Winning five on the trot has not been done since 1995, I'm led to believe. 31 years ago, Jim Jefferies' team, so I'm delighted for everyone involved at the football club that we've managed to equal that record.”
How did Falkirk manage to score five vs Hearts?
Falkirk’s second came as a Hearts set-play broke down and allowed the Bairns to create a two versus one scenario that Owen Eames converted. It was similar to Thun’s second goal during last Thursday’s 3-1 Conference League loss in Switzerland and McGlynn became aware it was a possible route his side could go down.
He added: “We broke out from a Hearts set play, which actually happened on Thursday night as well. Owen had a long time to think about after Brad Spencer played him in. These are the ones that you miss when you've got so much time to think about them, but thankfully, it went in. Couldn't be happier for the players, for the fans that have come along. Probably been a long time since they've come here and won so emphatically as that.”