Falkirk ace Dylan Tait on John McGlynn factor and thriving as most fouled Scottish Premiership star
Falkirk ace Dylan Tait on most fouled Scottish Premiership player accolade and ‘best boss’ John McGlynn factor.
It’s the least surprising statistic in Scottish football. Well, it is if you are a Falkirk fan or have simply watched the Bairns on occasion this season. The most fouled player in the top flight? Dylan Tait.
The midfielder, 24, has been fouled a whopping 48 times across his 18 Scottish Premiership appearances. Tait’s ability to win a foul - and noise up his opponents in the process is in a class of its own. And with that, it is no surprise that the ex-Hibs prospect is a fans’ favourite.
It’s been a brilliant start to life in the top flight for Tait, who had a point to prove even more so most of his Falkirk team-mates, having been eventually allowed to leave the Easter Road side to join the Bairns on a permanent deal after being continually farmed out on loan. He didn’t get his Premiership chance at Hibs - and he has now grasped it under the stewardship of John McGlynn.
Falkirk ace Tait is thriving in Premiership
"My knees are pretty battered after most games to be fair.” Tait smirked after being asked about his most fouled status. "One of the boys was saying that the other day. I didn't see it myself, but it's a good stat if it is. I'll take that one. I'm really enjoying my football and as you said obviously winning fouls here and there! The boys are laughing at me for it because I try and get them in training as well. But the self-refereeing in training is rubbish! But honestly, I'm really enjoying it at the moment and I'm thriving.”
On his step up to the Premiership, he added: “When we spoke earlier in the season it was something I wanted to do and prove myself in this division. I think I've done quite well so far this season and I always had that self-belief in myself that I could play at this level. When I was at Hibs, I thought I could compete with that level of player having trained with them. Obviously now I am doing it with Falkirk and really enjoying it.
“On a personal note I'd like to score a few more goals between now and the end of the season, but as a team we want to just keep ticking one game at a time and trying to pick up three points in every game that we can. I just want more of the same. It’s been a different challenge and a really enjoyable one. Our target is to be mathematically safe in this league - that was our target at the start of the season and until that’s done, we aren’t looking elsewhere. I think until you are safe, you have to do that.”
Joining Falkirk - firstly on loan back in January 2024 from Hibs - reunited Tait with his former boss McGlynn. The pair worked together in Kirkcaldy at Raith Rovers with the veteran manager giving the midfielder his breakthrough in senior football. And that is something that Tait hasn’t forgotten. He got his big move to Hibs over five years ago after impressing in the Scottish Championship under McGlynn.
Tait: McGlynn is the key to why I am back to my best
And it is no surprise to Tait that he is serving up his best on-pitch performances under the tutelage of the 64-year-old - who is the best boss he’s worked under during his career so far.
"He's been amazing for me in my career, I've got so much to repay him for,” the midfielder beamed. “He's my favourite manager I've worked with so far, he's given me the opportunity and I just think for me as an individual he lets me go and express myself. He just lets me play and he also knows that I know how to work for him. He gave me my breakthrough at Raith when I was 16 and still to this day I'm working with him. He's really good and he's a top class manager. He still has a lot of the same traits to be honest with you from then.”
He’s got bite on the pitch, as previously mentioned, but Tait admits that he learned his lesson as a youngster not to get in McGlynn’s bad books. He doesn’t answer back. And he knows that it is worth it for his gaffer gives back to his players.
"When I was 16 he gave me a row after one of the reserve games,” he recalled. “And ever since then I've never really said anything back to him after that game! I think I learned my lesson young with the gaffer, and still to this day he sticks with me. I just answered him back. I don't know if he'll remember that but I do, that's why I don't say anything... he does command respect and I think that's probably why we've been so successful under him. Everybody buys into what he's doing and then off the pitch as well, he's a really good guy. He's a people person and you want to do well for him and succeed."