Falkirk Edge Livingston As Bartley Era Begins With Defeat

Marvin Bartley’s first night in charge of Livingston was always going to be a baptism of fire, but few could have predicted the drama that unfolded as his side fell 2-1 at home to Falkirk in a crucial Scottish Premiership midweek clash. The Set Fare Arena buzzed with anticipation as the former Lions captain and assistant manager took his place in the dugout, tasked with halting a winless streak that had stretched to a staggering 24 games under predecessor David Martindale. Yet, despite a spirited second-half surge, it was the Bairns who left Almondvale with all three points, strengthening their top-six ambitions while Livingston’s fight for survival became even more desperate.

The match, played on February 3, 2026, had all the makings of a pivotal encounter for two sides with very different aspirations. Falkirk, having slipped to defeat at Celtic the previous weekend, arrived with their confidence dented but still perched comfortably in the top half of the table. Livingston, rock bottom with just 11 points from 24 matches, were desperate for any sign that the tide might turn under new management. Bartley, who took over from Martindale just two days prior, was without the injured Aidan Denholm and Adam Montgomery, further complicating his debut lineup.

From the opening whistle, Falkirk seized the initiative. Just six minutes in, a moment of defensive hesitation from Livingston’s Daniel Finlayson allowed Louie Marsh to pounce, playing in Kyrell Wilson who made no mistake, firing a low shot across Jerome Prior and into the net. The visitors thought they had doubled their advantage moments later when Barney Stewart headed home from a Calvin Miller cross, but a VAR review found Stewart narrowly offside, denying Falkirk a second.

Still, the Bairns’ pressure would not be denied for long. On 25 minutes, Miller whipped in a corner from the right, Stewart rose to meet it, and Marsh was perfectly positioned at the back post to prod the ball over the line. At 2-0, Falkirk looked in total control, with Brad Spencer nearly scoring directly from a corner and Wilson coming close to a spectacular volley as the first half drew to a close.

Livingston, to their credit, did not fold. The home crowd, starved of wins since August and desperate for a spark, found hope just two minutes after the restart. A chaotic scramble in the Falkirk box saw the ball fall kindly for Connor McLennan, who poked it past Scott Bain to halve the deficit. The goal stood after a VAR check, despite protests from Falkirk players over an injury to Liam Henderson in the build-up. Suddenly, the momentum shifted and Bartley’s men began to believe.

For a spell, Livingston looked the more likely to score next. They moved the ball with intent, and substitute Stevie May, on for the injured McLennan, tested Bain with a stinging drive from the edge of the area. Ethan Ross curled an effort just wide, and Calvin Miller—so often a threat for Falkirk—nearly put the game out of reach, racing clear only to see his shot rebound off the post with Prior beaten.

As the minutes ticked away, the encounter became increasingly frantic. Livingston threw bodies forward in search of an equalizer, leaving gaps at the back that Falkirk nearly exploited on the counter. The Bairns, missing injured trio Ben Parkinson, Ethan Williams, and Gary Oliver, looked to Stewart—recently returned from a productive loan at Dunfermline, where he scored six in 11 league games—to provide the killer blow. Stewart, who had netted a hat-trick in January’s 4-1 win over Hibs, was lively throughout, but couldn’t add to his tally on this occasion.

Bartley’s debut was always going to be measured by the result, but there were positives to take from the performance. After conceding twice in the opening 25 minutes, his side showed grit and determination to get back into the contest. The introduction of May and Ross injected energy, and the home support responded with renewed optimism. Yet, as has so often been the case this season, Livingston’s efforts fell agonizingly short.

For Falkirk and manager John McGlynn, the victory was a welcome tonic after the disappointment at Celtic Park. The Bairns’ defensive organization and clinical finishing in the first half were hallmarks of a side intent on cementing their place among the Premiership’s elite. Sitting eight points clear of Aberdeen in the table, Falkirk’s top-six credentials look increasingly convincing. “We knew coming here would be tough, especially with Livingston desperate for points and a new manager in charge,” McGlynn admitted after the match. “But the lads showed great character and took their chances well.”

Livingston’s struggles, meanwhile, are well documented. The club’s last midweek league win came back in November 2022, and their woes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights now extend to 16 games without a victory (six draws, ten losses). Even more concerning is the fact that four of their meager 11 points this season have come against Falkirk, suggesting that results elsewhere have been even harder to come by. The home record against newly promoted sides had offered some hope—five wins in their last eight such fixtures—but that statistic provided little comfort on this occasion.

Chairman Calvin Ford has publicly backed Martindale, now sporting director, insisting he remains the right man to steer the club through turbulent times. “Should the club be relegated, Martindale has already shown he can lead them back from the Championship, as he did after the 2024 demotion,” Ford said earlier in the week. But with almost five months without a win, the pressure mounts with every passing match.

For Bartley, the challenge is clear: instill belief, tighten a leaky defense, and somehow spark a run of form that can lift Livingston out of the relegation mire. The signs of life in the second half will offer some encouragement, but the margin for error is shrinking fast. With key players still sidelined and confidence fragile, the new boss faces a daunting task in the weeks ahead.

As the final whistle blew, it was Falkirk’s traveling fans who celebrated, their team’s resilience and ruthlessness rewarded with three precious points. Livingston, meanwhile, must regroup quickly if they are to avoid the drop. The Bartley era has begun—with plenty of work still to do.