McGlynn hails greatest achievement as Falkirk seal top-six spot

John McGlynn increasingly seems to be a man with the Midas touch.

In a Scottish football season packed with remarkable stories, Falkirk's manager and his team are a standout story of success.

On their first top-flight campaign in 15 years, Saturday's 3-2 win at Motherwell secured a top-six finish for a team that won the Scottish Championship only a year ago.

Twelve months prior, they had just sealed promotion from the third tier.

It has been an astonishing ascent that should surprise nobody given the consistency and development Falkirk have shown under McGlynn's guidance.

"As much as we've been invincible [in League 1] and we've won the Championship, I think this is probably the biggest achievement, the greatest achievement," he told BBC Scotland as he reflected on this latest accomplishment.

"We've come into the top league. We have not tried to just go in and defend and scrape for a point here and there.

"We've been out to attack in every game, we've played attacking football, attractive attacking football and we've come out in a top-six position, which is incredible.

"It means everything, actually. The players have been so good the whole season, and they deserve to be there. Their performances have been so good, and I'm so proud of them."

There are many factors that all need to come together to enable a success story like this to emerge.

McGlynn's influence cannot be overstated. Without him, this would most likely never have happened.

He has won the past two PFA Scotland manager of the year awards and must surely be a contender again.

Behind the scenes, the club has found a common purpose that eluded them for years.

Crucially, there has been a core squad that has stayed together and been added to effectively along the journey from League 1.

Before Saturday, they were the only team to have beaten Motherwell at Fir Park this season. They have now done that twice to reach their latest heady height.

Goalkeeper Scott Bain is fresh from a seven-year wait for another Scotland cap, which he earned in the recent friendly defeat against Ivory Coast, becoming the first Falkirk player in nearly 20 years to represent the national team.

Calvin Miller, who signed for the club when they were in League 1, and striker Barney Stewart are being mentioned as potential call-ups for the World Cup squad, with both on the scoresheet on Saturday.

"He was indeed [outstanding]," McGlynn said of Miller, whom he first encountered as a youth player at Celtic. "I'm hoping his chances of going to the World Cup benefit from that.

"His performance was different class. He's at the top of his game, and I'm delighted to have him. He's got another year on his contract after this one, and hopefully he's strutting his stuff for us going forward."

Miller, who now has 17 goal contributions this term - seven goals and 10 assists - added: "I'm getting better and better like everyone in there.

"We've got a core group of boys that have been at this club now for the past three seasons and we're constantly proving people wrong, so it's nice to get that finish in the top six.

"I always knew I could play in the Premiership so that's one thing I wanted to get back to. Essentially coming here has revived my career again and it got me to where I want to be.

"I'm just enjoying every second of it and contributing goals and assists for the team. I'm playing my best football under the gaffer here."

With another landmark achieved, many might think Falkirk can now coast into the conclusion of the season and bask in the glory of their success.

Not so, it appears.

Fifth place in the Premiership could offer European football for next season, and Falkirk are within five points of Hibernian, who are in that position.

McGlynn's side also have a huge Scottish Cup semi-final to look forward to against rivals Dunfermline Athletic on 18 April - live on the BBC.

"Challenges just keep coming," the Falkirk boss said. "If you manage to do one, then you've got to get to the next one.

"We've got so much to play for, but the guys are not going to be on the beach. They're not going to be in holiday mode.

"We've got a big part to play in the last five games of the season. Obviously, we've got Rangers next week and we've got a semi-final of the Scottish Cup, which is huge for us.

"When it comes to these last five games, we've got a bit of a say in where the title will go. That will keep us motivated right to the end."