Half 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 a header that was guided low into the bottom corner.

It is more than Celtic deserve on the balance of play. Nevertheless, Celtic go into the break a goal to the good. Martin O’Neill will expect better from his team in the second half.