Falkirk 0-2 Hearts: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Ladbrokes’ post-match review of Falkirk 0-2 Hearts in the Premiership on Saturday, 13 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Hearts secured a 2-0 victory over Falkirk in this Scottish Premiership clash. The visitors struck early when Cláudio Braga found the net in the 2nd minute, setting a dominant tone that Falkirk struggled to overturn. Despite some pressure from the home side, Hearts held firm, and Stephen Kingsley added a second in the 77th minute to seal the points. Coming off a mixed run with draws against Motherwell and Rangers, Falkirk’s inability to score continued their recent goal drought, highlighted by back-to-back losses.

The match saw both teams make tactical changes, with Falkirk introducing multiple substitutes around the 68th minute to chase the game, but it wasn’t enough to break down Hearts’ defence. Hearts, buoyed by their recent wins including a strong result against Celtic, managed the game well after their early lead, using substitutions late on to maintain control. This result extends Hearts’ positive form, while Falkirk will rue missed opportunities in a game where they couldn’t convert possession into goals.

Hearts edged possession with 53% compared to Falkirk’s 47%, allowing them to dictate much of the tempo, though Falkirk showed threat through 40 successful dribbles against Hearts’ 33, suggesting they were lively on the counter. The visitors dominated corners 7-3, creating more set-piece opportunities, and recorded one assist, underlining their clinical edge in attack. Both sides picked up two yellow cards each, reflecting a competitive but fair encounter without reds or injury-time drama, and no penalties were involved.

Each team used all five substitutions, with Falkirk making a triple change at 68 minutes where Brian Graham replaced Alfie Agyeman, Dylan Tait came on for Henry Cartwright, and E. Williams took over from Ethan Ross, followed by Scott Arfield for Calvin Miller at 76 minutes and Ryan Edwards for Filip Lissah at 82 minutes. Hearts adjusted later, bringing on Stephen Kingsley for Harry Milne at 74 minutes, then Elton Kabangu for Cláudio Braga and Blair Spittal for Alexandros Kyziridis at 81 minutes, Sabah Kerjota for Lawrence Shankland at 82 minutes, and Jamie McCart for Cammy Devlin at 87 minutes, which helped them see out the win.

The game burst into life early as Cláudio Braga scored for Hearts in the 2nd minute, giving them a lead they never relinquished. Disciplinary issues cropped up with yellow cards for Hearts’ Tómas Bent Magnússon at 28 minutes and Craig Halkett at 41 minutes, while Falkirk’s Filip Lissah was booked at 39 minutes. Falkirk tried to shift momentum with a triple substitution at 68 minutes, bringing on Brian Graham, Dylan Tait and E. Williams, but it didn’t yield a breakthrough.

Hearts extended their advantage when Stephen Kingsley, who had come on as a substitute for Harry Milne at 74 minutes, scored in the 77th minute with an assist from Oisin McEntee. Late yellow for Falkirk’s Sam Hart at 85 minutes added to their frustrations, and Hearts made further changes including Elton Kabangu for Cláudio Braga and Blair Spittal for Alexandros Kyziridis at 81 minutes, ensuring they controlled the closing stages without conceding.

Falkirk lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on a solid midfield base to contain Hearts’ attacks, though players like Filip Lissah in defence faced early pressure and picked up a yellow card. Substitutes such as Brian Graham and Dylan Tait were brought on to add energy in attack, aiming to exploit partnerships up front, but the setup couldn’t generate enough clear chances against a resolute opposition.

Hearts deployed a 4-2-3-1 shape, with Cláudio Braga making an immediate impact in the attacking third by scoring early, supported by midfielders like Cammy Devlin who helped maintain control until his late substitution. Stephen Kingsley came on as a substitute and formed a key partnership on the left, contributing a goal, while the formation allowed for effective transitions that kept Falkirk at bay.

Cláudio Braga earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match honours for his standout performance, netting the opening goal in the 2nd minute to set Hearts on their way to victory. While he didn’t register any assists or big chances created, his three key passes highlighted his influence in unlocking Falkirk’s defence early on. Starting the game and lasting until the 81st minute, Braga’s contributions were pivotal in a match where Hearts needed a strong start.

Recent Premiership matches:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Hearts (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Hibernian (A)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Motherwell (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Rangers (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Dundee United (A)

Recent Premiership matches:

• Win: 2-0 vs Falkirk (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Celtic (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Kilmarnock (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Motherwell (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Aberdeen (A)

Falkirk have just suffered a 0-2 home defeat to Hearts, extending their winless run to four league games after draws with Motherwell and Rangers, and losses to Hibernian. Sitting seventh on 21 points, they face a crucial trip to Kilmarnock on 20 December 2025 at 15:00, where the hosts are 11th on 12 points and in need of results to climb away from the bottom. A win could help Falkirk push towards the top half and build momentum after a tough spell.

Hearts have just claimed a 2-0 away win over Falkirk, building on their recent form with victories against Celtic and now this result, following draws with Kilmarnock and Motherwell. Top of the table on 38 points, they host Rangers on 21 December 2025 at 13:30, with the visitors fourth on 26 points and looking to close the gap. This fixture offers Hearts a chance to solidify their lead, but they’ll need to be sharp against a side capable of upsetting the frontrunners.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.