FALKIRK 1 ABERDEEN 0 Saturday 3rd January 2026 SPFL Premiership Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 7,710 Referee: John Beaton
The Dons’ first game of 2026 ended in defeat at Falkirk as they dropped to eighth place in the league.
There were five changes to the Aberdeen side that were beaten at Hibs on Tuesday night. In came Graeme Shinnie, Dylan Lobban, Topi Keskinen, Kevin Nisbet and Kenan Bilalovic, making his first Aberdeen start. Nicky Devlin, Alexander Jensen, Marko Lazetic and Kjartan Kjartansson were on the bench with Emmanuel Gyamfi missing from the matchday squad.
Falkirk lost 1-0 at Dundee last Saturday and made three changes to their side with Keelan Adams, Ethan Williams and Brian Graham replaced by Leon McCann, Barney Stewart and Dylan Tait.
It was an end to end start, Falkirk fashioning the first real chance in the third minute. Henderson was left free to head at goal from eight yards out, but he put the ball straight into Dimitar Mitov’s gloves.
Falkirk had a big chance two minutes later. Tait twice had efforts blocked by Jack Milne, Miller latching onto the loose ball and forcing a good save from Mitov before the offside flag went up.
The hosts were close again on nine, Miller bending a free-kick over the wall, Mitov down to his right to make a good save. From the resulting corner, Tait headed wide from a promising position. Spencer was next to try his luck, this time from distance, in the 12thminute, Mitov saving to his left.
Mitov was in action again on 24 minutes, Wilson cutting inside and firing at goal from the edge of the box after the Dons had given away possession again, the Aberdeen goalkeeper stretching to make the save.
The Dons finally had an opportunity after 27 minutes with a free-kick from 25 yards out that Jesper Karlsson flashed over the bar. A couple of minutes later, he collided with Aouchiche, who needed treatment, summing up Aberdeen’s afternoon so far. He tried to continue, but on 36, he made way for Sivert Heltne Nilsen.
After a scrappy period, the home side nearly ended the half on a high. Miller put in an arcing cross from their left, but Stewart couldn’t quite get a decisive touch on it at the near post and the Dons escaped.
Deep into added time, Nisbet had a glorious chance to open the scoring for Aberdeen. Mitov launched a free-kick the length of the pitch, Nisbet galloped away from the defender, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, his first-time effort from 15 yards was blazed over the bar.
HALF-TIME: FALKIRK 0 ABERDEEN 0
Dante Polvara replaced Bilalovic at the break.
Aberdeen were nearly in in the first minute of the half, Polvara curling the ball forward. Henderson missed his kick but as Keskinen looked to be through, Allan came across to clear. It was part of a much better opening to the half from the Dons, Shinnie’s persistence driving them on.
Polvara initiated another good move on 53, a clever pass releasing Keskinen down the right. He pulled the ball back to Armstrong, but Allan was across to make a superb block to deny him. Bain, who had taken a heavy fall a few minutes earlier, then required the application of the magic sponge to keep him going.
Lobban was in the referee’s book in the 58th minute for a late tackle on McCann. There was more punishment to come because from the free-kick, Falkirk were in front. Miller curled the ball to the edge of the six yard box where Lissah was completely unmarked to power in his header.
Heltne Nilsen was booked on the hour for a block on halfway. Ross replaced Yates on 62 for the hosts, then moments later, Miller pulled a shot just wide from the edge of the area. Straight up the other end, Nisbet was close to getting on the end of a Keskinen cross, Lissah defending brilliantly to clear.
The Bairns had two loud appeals for a penalty inside five seconds, firstly for hand ball, then again as Tait went to ground. Play continued and Keskinen travelled deep into the Falkirk half on the break before running into trouble. Karlsson was booked for dissent on 73 after giving away a free-kick for handling the ball.
Aberdeen made a double change in the 74th minute, Devlin and Lazetic replacing Lobban and Karlsson. The Bairns did likewise, with Williams and Graham on for Wilson and Stewart. Ross was carded for tripping Keskinen as he tried to launch a counter-attack. Aberdeen’s final change came with ten to go, Nicolas Milanovic coming on in place of Nisbet. Spencer was booked for pulling down Armstrong in the centre circle in the 82ndminute. In the 85th minute, Miller and Tait made way for Agyeman and Cartwright.
It was nearly a masterstroke, for almost immediately, Cartwright collected the ball in midfield and strode forward, hitting his shot against the base of the post with Mitov beaten. Fortunately for Aberdeen, Agyeman and Graham couldn’t finish off the rebound, Graham giving Mitov a comfortable save after delaying too long.
Armstrong was the fourth Aberdeen man booked, after fouling Lissah in the 87th minute.
Heading into five added minutes, from 25 yards, Agyeman forced Mitov into sharp action down to his right. Graham should have sealed it on 94, collecting a loose ball in midfield but with just the goalkeeper to beat, he thrashed his shot way over the bar from the edge of the area. It didn’t matter, Falkirk were home.
Falkirk: Bain, Lissah, Allan, Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Yeats (Ross 62), Wilson (Williams 75), Tait (Cartwright 85), Miller (Agyeman 85), Stewart (Graham 75).
Subs not used: Hogarth, Nesbitt, Adams, Donaldson.
Goal: Lissah (58)
Booked: Ross, Spencer
Aberdeen: Mitov, Lobban (Devlin 74), Knoester, Milne, Shinnie, Aouchiche (Heltne Nilsen 36), Armstrong, Keskinen, Bilalovic (Polvara 46), Karlsson (Lazetic 74), Nisbet (Milanovic 80).
Subs not used: Suman, Clarkson, Jensen, Kjartansson.
Booked: Lobban, Heltne Nilsen, Karlsson, Armstrong.
