Former student Stewart claimed a first career hat-trick as David Gray's men suffered another brutal afternoon on the road
17:05, 24 Jan 2026
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Falkirk players celebrate after Barney Stewart scores to make it 3-1(Image: )
Brilliant Barney Stewart hit a first career hat trick - including a goal of the season contender - as Falkirk flattened hopeless Hibs.
The striker’s first goals since being recalled from his loan at Dunfermline at the beginning of the month - together with a late Grant Hanley own goal - saw the Bairns storm to a 4-1 win and move to within two points of fifth-placed Hibees.
And you’ll have to go a long way to find a better build up to the frontman’s second as he applied the finishing touch to a stunning move that flowed from one box to the other like Barcelona at their best.
For Hibs though this was another brutal afternoon with Rocky Bushiri’s header that reduced the area’s to 2-1 after the break scant consolation.
David Gray’ s side were short on the bench due to injury and illness. And they were woefully short on the park too.
Gray had urged his hurting Hibees to forget their Pars pain and focus on driving up the Premiership table. But they were faced with boos at full time after another painful afternoon.
Falkirk were better right from the off. Bushiri denied Calvin Miller with two blocks in quick succession after a poor clearance from Raphael Sallinger put Hibs in trouble.
But the Bairns surged ahead on 17 minutes. Miller had too much space when he took a ball from Finn Yeats on the left and whipped a low cross past Kenya Megwa into the heart of the six yard box where Stewart was quickest to react and tap home.
It looked tight for offside. But after a lengthy check the VAR team gave the green light. And Falkirk had their deserved lead.
Hibs had barely been in the home box. But on the half hour mark Grant Hanley pulled a superb save out of Scott Fox after getting his head to Jordan Obita’s free kick.
It was Falkirk who looked more likely to score again though and Keelan Adams bent wide after a silky run inside and Sallinger got down quickly to turn a fizzing Miller effort wide just before the break.
And they got the second they deserved on 44 minutes after a sensational passage of play.
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Barney Stewart scores to give Falkirk a 2-0 lead.(Image: )
The Bairns built from the back before breaking across the halfway where Miller turned on the afterburners to race past Grant Hanley and onto Stewart’s neat flick. The flying full back never broke stride as he burst into the box before cutting back for Stewart to bury from eight yards.
Hibs couldn’t have been as bad again in the second half. And they reduced arrears on 59 minutes after Dylan tait needlessly conceded a corner.
Obita swung in from the right and Rocky Bushiri was strongest to head home from five yards.
But at the other end Sallinger had to be at his best to top Miller free kick over before Stewart screwed a hat-trick chance wide.
And Stewart rapped up his treble - and the three points - on 83 minutes when he finished off another neat move which ended with sub Louie Marsh squaring from the left for the big striker to produce easiest of finishes.
But Falkirk still weren’t finished as Marsha;’s angle shot from the left deflected into the net off Hanley for the fourth.
Barney treble
No wonder Falkirk recalled Barney Stewart from his loan at Dunfermline at the start of the month. The striker took his tally for the season to 11 with a hat trick of close range finishes here after hitting eight for the Pars in the first half of the campaign. He linked play well not least for the sensational second goal and was a real handful for Hibs. But it was in the box where he came alive and twice was far too sharp for the visitor’s defence as he put the Bairns into an unassailable lead. Stewart was playing university football just over a year ago. But the 21-year-old has hasn’t looked back since graduating into the big time with the Bairns.
Barca Bairns
You’ll struggle to find a better team goal than Falkirk’s second ANYWHERE this season. Liam Henderson, Leon McCann and Dylan Tait worked a neat move from their own box before Stewart’s neat flick round the corner released Miller to race past Hanley and cut back for Stewart to bury. It was vintage Bairns under McGlynn and a sign of a team with their tails up and total belief in what they’re doing.
Plenty has been written about Falkirk’s attractive brand of football and there were plenty of pretty combinations on display again here despite the torrid weather. But the Bairns know how to battle as well. Whether it’s in the tackle or being first to loose balls they were better all over. This was Falkirk’s first top flight win over Hibs in 12. A massive result.
Josh not good enough
Hibs produced their worst 45 minutes of the season as they went in 2-0 down at the break. And they were lucky it wasn’t more. The power of Josh Mulligan was badly missing in the middle of the park where Gray’s side simply couldn’t get a grip on proceedings. Falkirk were quicker to every loose ball, far tidier in possession and bossed the vast majority of the game. Miguel Chaiwa took Mulligan’s spot in midfield but struggled to have any impact in his first start since the last meeting of the sides on December 6.
Hibs were slightly better after the break having changed from a 3/5/2 to 4/3/3. But there was too much left to do after the awful opening period. And the 4-1 scoreline hardly flattered the home side.
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Sub standard
Injury and illness meant Hibs couldn’t even fill their bench - with U19s captain Joe McGrath among the eight subs - and this woeful performance will have convinced Gray he desperately needs reinforcements with just 10 days left of the window. Hibs are the only top flight club yet to make a signing this month but that’s surely about to change.. Mulligan, Chris Cadden, Warren O’Hora and Josh Campbell missed out through injury while Thibault Klidje and Chris Cadden were ill. The starting XI still looked strong enough on paper. But the evidence over the 90-plus minutes was in stark contrast.
Sell out
The Bairns are absolutely loving life back in the top flight and why not? Another home game sold out against a non Old Firm side with 7671 in the stands. Credit to the travelling Hibees too after last week’s cup KO. But John McGlynn’s side have been a fantastic addition to the Premiership on and off the park. Their brand of football has been a delight and the second goal was worth the entry fee alone.