Scottish Cup
2025-07-26 - Falkirk vs The Spartans
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Saturday 26th July 2025 - Kick Off 3pm
Preview
Three teams are chasing top spot in Group A of the Scottish League Cup Group Stage and only two points separate Falkirk in 1st place and The Spartans in 3rd. While these two teams face off on Saturday, Cove Rangers, the team separating Falkirk and The Spartans, will be travelling to Lesser Hampden to take on eliminated Queen's Park.
There is the potential for 9 points being enough for a team to secure a best Runners Up spot and so Falkirk may just need a positive result on Saturday to move through to the Second Round. However, that would leave them vulnerable and the newly elevated Scottish Premiership club are in control of their own destiny right now.
Win and Falkirk will win the Group and secure a spot in the Second Round... Lose, however, and Falkirk would most likely be eliminated and so there is a fine line to walk in this last Group game.
A draw is potentially on the side of the top flight club, but Falkirk will be playing to win and to secure first place without needing to worry about what is happening in the other tie in the Group. The 3-1 win over Queen's Park on Tuesday will have given Falkirk a boost and they can back that up against a League Two opponent.
In saying that, The Spartans need to be respected having upset Livingston away from home in the final Group game twelve months ago to secure a surprising spot in the League Cup Second Round. They have already upset Queen's Park at home in this section, although The Spartans were beaten in the sole away fixture at Cove Rangers and do still have a gap to bridge to Falkirk.
The defeat at Cove Rangers means The Spartans have lost their last 4 away games in all competitions going back to last season and they missed out on the League Two Play Off places. Two years ago, The Spartans were beaten 1-2 at home by Falkirk in the League Cup Group Stage and the latter have been promoted twice since that fixture was played.
Falkirk will be well aware that their survival bid in the Scottish Premiership will have to be founded on strong home form and the team have won 5 of their last 6 here in all competitions. They had to come from behind to beat Queen's Park on Tuesday, but it is a result that will have just maintained the momentum and confidence within the team.
Prediction
With just a week to go before the opening Scottish League fixtures, Falkirk should now be playing with a bit more freedom having shaken off some of the match rustiness.
Hosting this last Group game gives them a chance to head into next weekend with confidence and Falkirk should have too much for The Spartans.
You have to give the League Two team a lot of respect for the performances in the League Cup over the last twelve months, but The Spartans were beaten at Cove Rangers and have been struggling for away form either side of the off-season.
It may need a late goal to put a gloss on the scoreline, but Falkirk should have the qualities to do that and cover the shorter Asian Handicap line.
The Pick :
Falkirk 2-0 The Spartans
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Falkirk - 1.5 Asian Handicap at 1.62 with Bet365
