There are afternoons when a goalkeeper decides the result before the ball is even kicked, and Scott Bain had one of them at Falkirk on Sunday. Celtic threw plenty at him, he stopped nearly all of it, and the Bairns won 2-0 for their first victory over the champions in 19 years. The timing could hardly have been better for a man who wants a Scotland place.
Nine saves and a wall of confidence
Bain made nine saves against his old club, several of them outstanding, and Falkirk kept a clean sheet for the third game in a row. That run now stands at 342 minutes without conceding. It was also a fourth straight win, enough to lift John McGlynn's team into fourth place in the Scottish Premiership.
It would be unfair to give the keeper all the credit, because every player in blue did their share defensively. But Bain was the reason Celtic left empty-handed. Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner called the performance absolutely unbelievable, and Bain himself said he felt it was one of those days when nothing was going to beat him.
The Scotland question
Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli names his squad this week for the final Nations League games, and Bain has an obvious case. He has four caps, enjoyed the previous camp and said afterwards he hopes to be involved again. Goalkeeping depth is not what it used to be for Scotland, and the established number one, Angus Gunn, was left on the bench for San Jose Earthquakes at the weekend after some criticism of his recent form.
Bain also brings something else, according to the BBC's reading of the situation: he is comfortable with the ball at his feet, which may suit the way Pocognoli wants the team to play. Nobody is suggesting Gunn has lost his place for good, but the competition for it has just become real.
A risk that is paying off
It is easy to forget that Bain left Celtic, where he was back-up, for a sizeable drop in salary because he wanted regular football. Days like this make the decision look sensible. He extended his Falkirk contract in January and is tied to the club until the summer of 2028, with the option of a further year. McGlynn has called him outstanding since he arrived, and he turns 35 this month, which for a goalkeeper is no age at all.
Whether the call from Scotland comes or not, Falkirk have the kind of goalkeeper that stops a good season turning into an anxious one.
Player context: Scott Bain, goalkeeper, Falkirk; four Scotland caps; turns 35 in November 2026; contract to summer 2028 with a one-year option. Falkirk 2-0 Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Sunday 1 November 2026: nine saves, third clean sheet in a row, 342 minutes unbeaten defensively. Scotland squad due Tuesday 3 November.
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