Full Time: Falkirk 0-1 Celtic

Martin O’Neill’s second game back at the club began with Celtic on the front foot. Daizen Maeda had Celtic’s best chance of the early stages when a long aerial ball was lofted beyond the defence and the Japanese striker’s header landed on the roof of the net. At the other end, Falkirk rarely threatened but did enjoy steady possession in spells.

On 17 minutes, Falkirk came very close to taking the lead as a delightful cross arced its way to former Celt Calvin Miller, but he and teammate Yeats got in each other’s way to prevent a simple header finding the net. Action then became frought and Trusty was caught knapping at the back, under close attention from the home forwards; fortunately he escaped costing Celtic a goal when he was dispossessed just outside the penalty box.

News elsewhere filtered through at this juncture and it told of Hearts being reduced to 10 men in their clash with St Mirren. However, the Bhoys could barely be heartened by that news before they found themselves scrambling to clear the ball from their own area again, following a stramash that had ensued following a Falkirk free kick. Moments later, in the 23rd minute, the hosts unbelievably failed to get their noses in front. On that occasion it was Tate who flighted a long ball over the head of Tierney. Celtic’s full back got outpaced by Wilson and as he rounded Schmeichel in the Celtic goal, the home support began to cheer, only for the resultant shot to miss the target with the goal gaping.

It didn’t take long for Falkirk to come knocking again. This time Stuart missed a one on one with an effort that really should have nestled in the back of the net. There were further chances too, with the ball blazing across the face of Celtic’s goal a couple of times before the half hour mark. It was now total domination from the Bairns.

Inevitably, Celtic would come back into it and Maeda almost made the hosts rue their missed opportunities on the half hour mark, when his header from Arne Engels’ corner stung the gloves of the goalkeeper. It was directed goalwards from six yards, and was a great chance for the Hoops to have gone ahead – against the run of play.

Right on the stroke of half time, Celtic stole the lead. An Engels corner drifted to the back post and Benjamin Nygren headed home from five yards, with an effort that was guided low into the bottom corner.

It was more than Celtic deserved on the balance of play. Nevertheless, they went into the break a goal to the good, but with Martin O’Neill expecting better from his side in the second half.

The main change at the start of the second 45 was referee John Beaton being replaced due to a hamstring injury! However, there was a notable difference in the action on the field too as Falkirk lost all their momentum from the first half. Celtic took the initiative and a free kick was crossed to Maeda on 53 minutes, which was sure to be converted but somehow the Japan striker conspired to fluff his lines from two yards out.

The game was in the balance at 1-0 and with Celtic looking to make sure of things, Martin O’Neill introduced Luke McCowan and Reo Hatate in place of Yang and Tounetki in the 65th minute. That double switch prompted a change in positions for some players as Maeda was moved to wide left, with Nygren going up front. Another change looked to be in the offing with 20 minutes remaining, when Kieran Tierney hit the deck and the medical team were hurriedly beckoned onto the park. The Scottish defender suffered a head knock, but was thankfully able to continue. As Tierney returned to the field, news of Shankland giving the 10 men of Hearts a 1-0 lead over St Mirren came through – a reminder that the Hoops have little margin for error in case such information was required.

It took until 74 minutes for the next move of note to occur. It was then that Nygren picked up the ball on the right channel and played an incisive pass, but the ball was just intercepted when things looked dangerous. In reply, Falkirk almost immediately broke forward and poor defending allowed the home side a golden opportunity to draw level, but Kasper Schmeichel managed to save another 1 on 1 by coming out and spreading himself well. After a spell of nip and tuck football, the game really started to open up with those two flashpoints.

From a Falkirk perspective it was encouraging and frustrating in equal measure, for the neutral it was exciting, and for Celtic it was a case of being relieved to be in front but a sense of concern at how precarious the lead was.

The Celtic contingent of the stadium burst into a rousing rendition of the Soldier’s Song with five minutes remaining, with the home support responding with boos as the atmosphere ramped up for the finale. In the last few seconds of normal time, industrious play from Johnny Kenny (on as a substitute) enabled Hatate to be served up a sitter. However, like his compatriot this evening, the Japanese midfielder was unable to score and when his scuffed attempt saw the ball fall to Nygren, the return pass was far too heavy to give Hatate a second bite at the cherry.

Falkirk pushed and to draw level, which in truth they deserved to achieve. However, Celtic managed to cling on for a fortuitous 1-0 victory. It was another example of Celtic finding a way to win under Martin O’Neill.

Victory was essential as Hearts cemented their title credentials with a stunning 2-0 win over St Mirren, with a man sent off in the early stages.