Murrell double sends Falkirk third with 5-2 victory at Hearts

Falkirk moved into third place in the Scottish Premiership with a 5-2 win over Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, extending their winning run to five matches. Jacob Murrell scored twice as John McGlynn’s team built a five-goal advantage before the hosts reduced the deficit.

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According to Hearts’ official match report, Finley Barbrook opened the scoring after four minutes, following up when goalkeeper Reus saved Murrell’s volley. Scott Bain then kept out Landry Kabore at the other end. Owen Eames doubled Falkirk’s lead in the 17th minute after Brad Spencer carried the ball forward and supplied the pass.

Murrell added the third with a header from Deniss Melniks’ delivery before Liam Henderson scored from a corner in first-half stoppage time. Henderson’s finish gave the visitors a 4-0 interval lead. Murrell struck again two minutes after the restart, meeting Eames’ pass with a first-time finish to make it five.

Hearts responded through substitute Sabri Guendouz in the 50th minute. Claudio Braga then converted a penalty with 15 minutes remaining after Lewis Neilson fouled Guendouz. Those goals cut the margin but left the home side three behind, with Falkirk having already done the decisive work before and immediately after half-time.

BBC Scotland reported that the result followed Falkirk’s victory over defending champions Celtic, giving them seven goals across those two matches. The recent run has transformed their league position: a month earlier, conceding an added-time goal against Dundee had left McGlynn’s side 11th and only one point above bottom place.

Murrell’s two goals took his league total to seven, making him the division’s joint-leading scorer, according to the BBC. The 22-year-old had also won the SPFL player of the month award for October. He, Barbrook and Eames arrived after the campaign began, among 17 new faces brought in during the summer.

McGlynn urged his players to retain perspective despite their rise, telling BBC Scotland that only 13 league matches had been played and much of the season remained. He led Falkirk to sixth place on their top-flight return last season after successive promotions. Henderson, Spencer and Ethan Ross were also with the club in League One.