Falkirk pip Livingston to return to Premiership after 15 years as Championship play-offs confirmed in dramatic final day

Scottish Sun

02-05-2025

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FALKIRK have completed sensational back-to-back promotions to return to the Premiership after 15 long years away.
Livingston were fighting for an immediate bounce back to the top flight on a dramatic final day of Championship action.
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John McGlynn has guided Falkirk to back-to-back promotions
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
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Ethan Ross was the hero with a brace in the victory over Hamilton
Credit: PA
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David Martindale's Livingston missed out on the final day
Credit: PA
John McGlynn guided the Bairns to an invincible League One-winning season last year, earning him the SPFL Manager of the Year award.
And Falkirk started this Championship season like a rocket too, seemingly in a two-way tussle for the title with Celtic legend Scott Brown and his Ayr United outfit.
But as Ayr fell away, Livingston emerged as the main contenders to return to the top flight at the first time of asking after their relegation under David Martindale last term.
A four-game winning streak for Livi, coupled with an incredible last-minute defeat for Falkirk against Partick Thistle last week, meant the teams were level on points going into the final game, with the Bairns top on goal difference.
And they got the job done at Falkirk Stadium, beating already-relegated Hamilton Accies, who yesterday saw their fate sealed as their 15-point deduction was upheld by the SFA.
That didn't stop the bottom side from providing an almighty scare though, as they took an early lead through Scott Robinson.
McGlynn's side have been resilient all season though, and after Ethan Ross scored in either half and Calvin Miller added a third the promotion party got underway.
Accies' points penalty meant the relegation scene was already set, with Airdrie consigned to the play-off.
But the promotion play-off places were still to be decided, as Thistle and Raith Rovers fought for the right to join Livingston and Ayr in the top four.
Thistle faced the daunting task of a visit to the Tony Macaroni Arena to play title-chasing Livi, whilst Raith travelled to already-safe Queen's Park.
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But the Glasgow side, led by interims Brian Graham and Mark Wilson, scored thanks to Macaulay Tait's own goal, so despite Raith's 5-1 win at Hampden, Thistle's 1-0 victory kept them in the top four and put them in a fourth straight play-off.
Elsewhere, Ayr beat Airdrie and Greenock Morton defeated Dunfermline.
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