David McCracken trying to pull a stunt against Gerrard's Rangers

The Bairns chief and associate

Lee Miller

was about to stun everyone last season as their League One performance pushed

Heart of Midlothian F.C

. close in a William Hill Scottish Cup tie. 

Sean Claire's penalty in the second-half ultimately oversaw the Hearts to the last eight yet Falkirk felt they merited more after hitting the post three times. 

McCracken figures that facing Tynecastle manager Daniel Stendel was the hardest test for him up until this point in his novice career.

Be that as it may, he acknowledges that the game against

Gerrard

's unbeaten Gers is much more complicated and a whole new level. 

“We had the Hearts game last season where we felt we did pretty well but this would probably be my biggest test as a manager,”

said McCracken, whose team has lost just once in 10 excursions so far this season.

“Part of the Hearts game was the belief factor and the players need to have that and be on form to have any chance.

“We’ll need to show a completely different side to our game this weekend. In a lot of our games we’ve had good possession of the ball and a lot of chances.

“But on Sunday there will be big parts of the game where we need to give up possession and work hard on our shape defensively.

“You’re looking at trying to contain it in the first 20 minutes, don’t lose an early goal and build from there towards half-time.

“The longer the game goes then the better chance you have because they can get frustrated. But we don’t want to focus on defending for 90 minutes.

“In the early part of the season we weren’t happy with some of our defensive duties but that has got better and we’re looking more assured.

“There will be times we have the ball and we have to be brave and create chances.”

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