Falkirk manager John McGlynn admitted that taking the Bairns into the top six of the William Hill Premiership would be his biggest achievement since joining the club, after they eased past Kilmarnock 5-1 to all-but secure a top-half finish.
In a breath-taking display of attacking football, Falkirk raced into a three-goal lead in the first 36 minutes, getting their noses in front inside the first minute through a Ethan Schilte-Brown own goal and adding two goals from set-pieces through Dylan Tait and Barney Stewart.
Greg Kiltie pulled a goal back for the shell-shocked visitors before half-time but Stewart grabbed his second from close range and Tait also lashed home to complete his own brace as the hosts wrapped up an emphatic victory.
McGlynn’s Falkirk move 12 points clear of seventh-placed Dundee United, who have five games remaining before the split.
The experienced boss has won both the Championship and League One titles in the past two seasons, but asked if securing a top-six finish in the Premiership would mark his greatest achievement with the Bairns, McGlynn said: “I think getting the top six ranks as the best.
“I think it would be a big achievement just staying in this league, so getting a sixth place – and we’re not there yet, but that’s where we are right now – I think it’s a big achievement.
“It would be absolutely huge, probably the biggest achievement of anything that we’ve done previously.
“The standard is much, much higher than where we’ve been and the guys have responded and reacted to it enormously, adapting to it early and recognising that they were good enough to be in the league.
“That belief and confidence is just growing and growing and growing, and to go on and do that type of performance today is awesome.”
Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann apologised to the travelling supporters as Killie unravelled in what he admitted was the worst display since he joined the club.
The Ayrshire side have improved since McCann came in earlier this year but this was a serious setback as they failed to recover from conceding in the opening seconds.
Kilmarnock remain 11th, now three points adrift of St Mirren after the Buddies secured a point away to Livingston on Saturday afternoon.
McCann said: “I can only apologise to the fans here today.
“We filled out our section and I’m so sorry to them that we have put on that type of performance. That’s not acceptable.
“We haven’t served up that type of performance in my time here.
“It’s very raw right now. I’m not going to get personal with any of the players.
“What I would say though is that we’ve collectively let the club down today. It’s the first time I’ve felt so disappointed by the performance.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to accept that the other team were better on the day – and Falkirk were.”
