Preview: Falkirk vs Hibernian - prediction, team news, lineups

Falkirk and Hibernian come face-to-face at the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday for a matchday 36 meeting in the Scottish Premiership.

The hosts are fifth with 51 points from 35 league games, while the visitors are sixth in the standings with 49 points.

Match preview

Falkirk earned promotion back to the Scottish Premiership for the first time since 2009-10 when they lifted the Scottish Championship title last term, and the Bairns have gone on to enjoy a stunning first season back in the top-flight.

John McGlynn's side won 13, drew seven and lost 13 of their 33 pre-split fixtures, ensuring their place in the championship round of the post-split campaign with a comfortable sixth-placed finish.

The Bairns started their post-split campaign with a 3-1 loss to Celtic, but they bounced back with a 1-0 win against Motherwell, and they will be hoping to make it two straight league wins for the first time since February when they meet Hibernian.

A victory would also see McGlynn's men climb above Hibernian into fifth, while it could see them close the gap on fourth-placed Motherwell to just five points in the ongoing battle for European football.

Falkirk will fancy their chances of claiming all three points given Hibernian's form heading into Saturday's encounter, as Hibs have lost all of their last three matches and won just one of their last seven.

David Gray's side entered the post-split campaign trailing Motherwell by only three points in the race for European qualification, but losses to Hearts (2-1) and Celtic (2-1) have seen Hibs fall six points adrift from fourth spot.

Eager to close that gap, especially ahead of a final-day clash with Motherwell, Hibernian will be desperate to snap their losing streak by recording their first away victory since defeating Celtic 2-1 in February.

However, Hibernian's recent record at the Falkirk Stadium suggests they may struggle, as Hibs have lost two and drawn one of their last three away clashes with the Bairns, including a devastating 4-1 defeat in January.

Falkirk Scottish Premiership form:

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Falkirk form (all competitions):

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Hibernian Scottish Premiership form:

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Team News

Falkirk are dealing with injury issues to Louie Marsh (thigh), Liam Henderson (hamstring) and Scott Bain (ankle) heading into Saturday's encounter.

Henry Cartwright scored the winner in Falkirk's victory against Motherwell just one minute after replacing Dylan Tait in midfield, and McGlynn could make that switch from the start against Hibernian.

Meanwhile, Hibs are without Rudi Molotnikov (ankle), Munashe Garananga (hamstring) and Josh Mulligan (ankle) due to injury issues, while Jamie McGrath is suspended after being sent off last weekend.

Hibernian will, however, be boosted by the return of Raphael Sallinger and Felix Passlack, who were suspended from the defeat to Celtic after receiving red cards in the loss to rivals Hearts.

Falkirk possible starting lineup:

Hogarth; Lissah, Neilson, Allan, McCann; Spencer, Cartwright; Broggio, Yeats, Miller; Stewart

Hibernian possible starting lineup:

Sallinger; O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale; Passlack, Chaiwa, Newell, Cadden; Campbell; Elding, Boyle

We say: Falkirk 2-1 Hibernian

Falkirk have dominated recent clashes with Hibernian at the Falkirk Stadium, and with Hibs also enduring a three-game losing streak coming into Saturday's game, we expect the hosts to take all three points.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.