Keeping up with Kelpies - A look at the Championship so far - Part 6: Falkirk

High flying Falkirk have been a club that has languished in the second tier. The Bairns have traditionally had one of Scottish football's larger followings, with only the big city clubs having higher attendances. Despite this, Falkirk have been stuck in the second tier for seven years. After last seasons Play-off final defeat to Kilmarnock, the pressure is really on Peter Houston this season to guide Falkirk back in to the Premiership this time.

Falkirk have started strongly this season and find themselves lying in third place, only four points off league leaders Queen of the South. Falkirk have made the boringly-named Falkirk Stadium into something of a fortress; winning all but one home match this season.

This success can be laid down to a solid defence, with The Bairns only conceding 7 goals in their opening 8 matches. However, up front they've only scored 11 goals, which makes them the joint 5th top scorers.

Lee Miller has really been their main outlet this season going forward, with three goals. The lack of a "20-goal-a-season" striker may pay dividend to their rivals at the seasons end.

Falkirk also seem to rely on the vast quantity of Premiership experience they have with ex-Dundee United captain John Rankin joining familiar top flight names such as Lee Miller, David McCracken, Mark Kerr and Tom Taiwo, to name a few. This combined with the young prospects like the aptly named Lewis Kidd and Luke Leahy has given Peter Houston a formidable side.

Next Five Matches:

• Falkirk vs Dunfermline - Sat 15th Oct - Championship
• Falkirk vs Raith - Sat 22nd Oct - Championship
• Dundee United vs Falkirk - Sat 29th Oct - Championship
• Falkirk vs Greenock Morton - Sat 5th Nov - Championship
• Hibernian vs Falkirk - Sat 12th Nov - Championship

Falkirk's solid defence will be their main asset as the race for the title continues. However, their inability to score and lack of versatility going forward could be their downfall.  As for my prediction for the end of the season, I believe that this team is an improvement on last season but the league as a whole has also improved, so I would say that bar any huge changes to the playing squad, the Bairns will finish fourth come the season end.