Preview: Falkirk vs. Ayr United - prediction, team news, lineups

Falkirk and Ayr United will be looking to earn a surprise place in the Scottish FA Cup semi-finals when they square off on Monday evening.

While the visitors occupy third spot in the Scottish Championship, the home side are second in Scottish League One, ensuring that a minnow will reach the last four.

Match preview

Earlier this week, Falkirk saw an 11-match unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end as they lost out away at Dunfermline.

The result was particularly damaging as it allowed the leaders to move eight points clear at the top of the third-tier standings, but John McGlynn will want to forget about league matters ahead of what is a massive game for the club.

En route to the quarter-finals, it cannot be disputed that the Bairns have had some luck with the draw, playing Wick Academy, Alloa Athletic and Darvel.

However, each victory has come away from their home ground and 13 goals have been netted in the process, the strikes being shared around the team with Gary Oliver top-scoring with three.

On the league front, Falkirk have posted five consecutive wins on familiar territory, and they will be backing themselves to upset their higher-league opponents.

From Ayr's perspective, they have endured a marginally tougher route to the last eight, although they too have avoided playing a top-flight team.

Pollok, Cove Rangers and Elgin City have been dispatched, the latter by a 4-1 scoreline after extra time after Ayr had equalised in the final minutes of normal time.

Lee Bullen's side have been inconsistent in the league, however, with just three victories coming from their last 10 encounters in the second tier.

Although they still hold third place in the standings, there is now an eight-point gap to leaders Queen's Park.