Merciless Falkirk extended their Scottish Premiership winning run to five games and replaced Hearts in third spot with a brilliant victory at Tynecastle.

John McGlynn's players were sensational from the start as they inflicted Hearts' first league defeat at Tynecastle since April 2025, a 26-game run.

Hearts looked sluggish and found themselves 4-0 down at the break.

Jacob Murrell's effort was saved by Beau Reus, though unfocused defending allowed Finley Barbrook to pounce for his first Falkirk goal.

Off the pitch, focus has been on Hearts' long injury list, but the huge concern on the pitch inside Tynecastle was the continuing defensive fragility following their midweek Conference League defeat by Thun in Switzerland.

Falkirk sliced through the hosts to score the second. Captain Brad Spencer exploited the gaps and a pinpoint pass set up Owen Eames to finish neatly.

Claudio Braga believed he had dragged Hearts back into the game with some individual brilliance, but referee Matthew McDermid ruled the goal out for handball after viewing the incident again.

Premiership player of the month Murrell netted his sixth goal of the season with an expert header from a superb Deniss Melniks cross, then defender Liam Henderson stepped up with a finish any forward would be proud of.

Falkirk compounded Hearts' misery a minute after the restart, with Murrell left unmarked to make it a double.

There was a belated response from Wouter Vrancken's side as substitute Sabri Guendouz stroked in his first goal in maroon and the French forward was later awarded a penalty that Braga converted.

But it was scant consolation as Hearts lost a league match at Tynecastle for the first time since a 1-0 defeat by Dundee 18 months ago.

More to follow.

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