Falkirk 1-3 Celtic

582

Falkirk played some good football at Hampden this afternoon and looked competitive with the bottom half if the Scottish Premier League, but Celtic scored three, hit the woodwork three times and had a good goal incorrectly disallowed for offside, emphasising how comfortable a day’s work it was for the SPL, Scottish Cup and League Cup favourites.

James Forrest reached the goal line and cut back to Scott Brown, whose shot was deflected onto the post before rebounding to Gary Hooper who made no mistake.  The nearside linesman did nothing for the reputation of Scotland’s officials by raising his flag despite a second defender being inside the six yard box while the Celtic striker was 8 yards out.

Six minutes later Thomas Rogne got his head onto a Forrest corner but saw the effort rebound from the crossbar.  Falkirk maintained parity for 27 minutes before conceding cheaply.  Darren Dods, aware of Rogne’s potency at set pieces, hauled the Celtic defender to the ground inside the box from a Mulgrew corner.  Scott Brown converted the resultant penalty.

Stokes could have made Celtic comfortable six minutes from half time when he connected with Hooper’s cutback but his shot was blocked.  A minute later Falkirk were level.  Victor Wanyama misplaced a cross-field pass to Cha in the middle of the field, Emilio Izaguirre had pushed forward while no one dropped back to cover.

Cha and Wanyama both had chances to get tight on breaking Falkirk players but Higgingbotham feigned a shot and rolled the ball into the path of 17-year-old Jay Fulton, who finished clinically.

Within a minute of the break Rogne had a chance to put Celtic ahead again but mistimed his header before Gary Hooper set James Forrest through with Falkirk keeper McGovern to beat but the winger was denied.

Falkirk’s best chance to win the tie arrived six minutes after then break when Fulton drifted in unattended at Celtic’s left but his half-volley from 7 yards flew over.

Thomas Rogne hit the cross bar for the second time with a deflected shot after another Mulgrew corner.  A minute later Anthony Stokes put one foot in the final when he lifted a free kick over the Falkirk wall and into the side of the net.  It wasn’t the hardest struck free kick but he caught McGovern mid-jump on his line, so the keeper was slow to move to his right.

Falkirk pushed forward whenever they could and Duffy got the better of Joe Ledley to setup Alston but the substitute couldn’t convert.  12 minutes from the end Fraser Forster made an impressive double save after a corner.  He stopped the first from Darren Dods and then saved from Stuart Murdoch.

Ledley saw a shot from a Matthews cross deflected over before the Celtic full back cleared at the other end when Weatherston got behind Wanyama to cross.

Gary Hooper secured the win for Celtic when he collected outside the box after 85 minutes, turned his defender and headed for the bye-line.  His cross was converted by Stokes with Ledley waiting if needed.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

582 Comments

  1. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    Neil Lennon Abbot…

     

     

    Clonmacnoise…. I was there as a pup, with my da and granda, on the banks of the shannon… and McCarthy’s tower, a mystery

     

     

    anyway, there’s a rumblin abroad… innit great?

  2. row z

     

     

    I’m sure given the number of hun games and Orange walks that there are many members of the constabulary who are referred to as fenian b’s on such occasions?!

  3. kikinthenakas says:

     

    29 January, 2012 at 22:09

     

    ‘Tin hat on

     

     

    If independence does happen is it……..

     

     

    “The unions over why don’t you go home!”

     

     

     

     

    But they ARE home.

     

     

    That’s the point.

  4. Seven Fishes Four Steaks on

    Knoxy, superb stuff and great picture of the legend, with BBJ! I knew he was over here in Belfast today but to call to the RVH was just a measure of the man. Hope Oscar and you had a great day!

     

     

    SffS

  5. can someone cleverer than me answer this for me please

     

     

    if dobs sell jelly for say 5m — what would stop hmrc applying to courts to ringfence money?

     

     

    surely this would negate any reason for selling him?

     

     

    i think he will still be in glasgow on wednesday morning because then if they go into admin wee whyty is first in queue whereas if he leaves now the monies might not?

     

     

    is this a creditable argument or am i way off mark

  6. My dear,dear,dear,friend. Davythelotion

     

     

    Thanks, fur the Nod,pal..

     

     

    Ah Appreciate it…

     

     

    So..

     

     

    Ma.. Much Vaunted, much Exaggerated..And.. Much.. well.. TURGID..

     

     

    “Sense o’ Sense”…

     

     

    Has failed..me..

     

     

    Fur It Guided me.. WRANG!

     

     

    Drats!!

     

     

    Fur,noo ye tell me that YOU URNAE A NEWBIE!

     

     

    …efter awe!

     

     

    Jings.!. that pits a who different complexion oan the maitter..

     

     

    Man… Frankly, Ah wull hiv tae Go tae see Ma Mechanic, A.S.A.P.

     

    tae get My “Sense o’ Sense ” ,checked oot..

     

     

    Fur..

     

     

    Ah canny be walking aboot Las Vegas. especially ,when Ah visit the

     

    Tables..

     

     

    Wi’ A Half .Assed “Sense o’ Sense”

     

     

    Fur..!

     

     

    Ma Mammy done told me..

     

     

    “Son, it always makes Sense tae hiv your

     

    “Sense o’ Sense”,,, checked oot, wi a competent Mechanic..

     

    ‘at least.. Wance a Year,and there at Easter or There Abouts..

     

     

    Hey.. wait a Minute!.. Noo that Ah think aboot it..

     

     

    She wiz talking aboot somethin .. else..

     

     

    Anyway…

     

     

    Nice chattin’ ,pal.

     

     

    Kojo.

     

     

    yer pal fur ever and A day.

  7. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    P G

     

     

    I asked Ian abt this and he said. &uck aff ya fenian B%$£&*D. Moody or what? Husne been the same since wally slapt him.

  8. scotlands shame on

    just wondering if the usual board abusers who reference the “willo” window every transfer window have congratulated lawell for adding centre half, midfielder and target man to strengthen team at top of league.

     

    just wondering?

  9. I see Francis Andrews is running the line at the huns – dundee utd cup game a week today.

     

     

    Can I be the first to agree, in advance, with Dundee Unitied manager Peter Houston, that the game was ruined by the poor decision of the assistant referee which led to the rangers winner.

  10. I posted two videos of Pawel Brozeck.

     

     

    The first makes him look like another Henrick .

     

    The second like Peter Van Vossen.

     

     

    I have no opinion on the player i haven’t seen him kick a ball.

     

     

     

    My point was that You Tube, indeed any video ,is not a reliable way to judge a player.

     

     

    There is far too much jump down your throatery on here,unless you are a 100% pro Celtic sycophant.

     

     

    I should have known better.

     

     

    Goodbye Bhoys.

     

     

    TT

  11. Neil Lennon Abbot of Clonmacnois on

    up_over_goal, indeed, but it’s not going to be pretty! I strongly suggest that we all build a shelter in the garden, in case it goes nuclear. :-)

     

     

    JimmyQuinnsBits, glad you enjoyed it. My ancestor will be pleased, (just kidding – historical poetic licensing of grand proportions on my part). The reason for my lack of an ‘e’ is because that’s how it is written in my main reference source, hope you don’t mind.

  12. row z \o/ (O) Mississippi Burnin Nearer Home on

    Hamiltontim

     

     

    I think though we need to distinguish between a ‘real’ victim who will have been in a difficult situation and a couple of Polis shouted at whilst already arresting someone. It interferes with the stats ans warps the issue.

     

     

    I suspect that there are very few individuals abused directly for being protestant outside of the arrest scenario

  13. Good win today on a bad pitch. Performance a bit disjointed but we’re going back to Hampden, Falkirk aren’t.

     

     

    Don’t think Izzy was great today but his performance wasn’t Camaraesque.

     

     

    He was out of position at their goal because we gave the ball away from a position where we should have been launching an attack. Izzy took off up the left wing and then tried to get back as Wanyama and Cha made a mess of it.

     

    Our fullbacks being out of position at times is the downside to having them provide width when we attack.

     

     

    As usual some quality officiating today!

     

    Final point on Pressley. Clown. NL would be slaughtered for his comments.

     

    Wasn’t sure if it was a penalty, if it was only Celtic would have got it. Funny he didn’t mention the offside goal and handball a yard from the line.

  14. shimmies33

     

     

    It depends on whether they need money from the sale to pay the next 3 months’ wages or not.

  15. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    G64, Ernie,

     

     

    I know Im gonna regret gettin in the middle of this, but I was always an eejit, and you cant escape yer nature

     

     

    I respect the two of you, but its like the ould image… two bald men fightin over a comb. Independence? For what, its only a redrawin of boundaries, what are to be the changes for the better for you, me, and the grandweans?

     

     

    And Labour Ernie? Milliband? If you’ve not got a wee ironic smile readin that name, I’ve misread you.

  16. Paul67

     

    £1967 lol mate, reminds me of the time I got a carry out delivered & he asked for £16.90,not for this house :) was starving too.

     

    Hail Hail

  17. Tiny Tim, I ma sure you can wiki our new signings record. We are signing a POlish International striker. We are top of the league, in the League cup final, possibility of winning yet another Scottish Cup.

     

     

    I know that youtube is not a forensic examination of how good a footballer may be. If we were talking small Celtic supporters and their work performance, what would the video of Tinytim look like? Prolific? Never any mistakes? Would one of your enemies feel that they had to post an alternative?

     

     

    If the glass was scientifically half full I think you would state that it was a quarter full and that the glass had a leak.

     

     

    Things Are about to get very interesting ( you won’t believe it). Please try an enjoy yerself.

  18. Tiny Tim

     

     

    There is far too much jump down your throatery on here

     

     

    Not to mention getting upsetery, flouncy offery and slamitty doorsery.

  19. ernie lynch says:

     

     

    29 January, 2012 at 21:47

     

     

    Gordon64 says:

     

    29 January, 2012 at 21:42

     

    ‘Ernie

     

    No need to be sarcastic.

     

    Why ?

     

    Seriously i would like to know.’

     

     

    Because life in a separate Scotland would be nasty, intolerant, narrow minded and introverted.

     

     

     

    Are you a prophet?

  20. Paul67

     

     

    How do I explain to my wife my chuckle and grin……your £19.67 line is priceless

     

     

    still chuckling and grinning and wondering how to explain……………..

     

     

    BTW, she comes from Hearts family background…..which partially explains my uncertainty?!

  21. Rangers demand £10m.

     

    Drum up interest from 2 clubs willing to offer £5m some with add ons to £6m.

     

    Jelavic is told of interest from another club willing to play a lot less.

     

    Jelavic goes on strike.

     

    Jelavic goes to club he wants.

  22. shimmies33

     

     

    My guess is they won’t do anything until the FTT ruling on the big tax case is announced.

  23. up_over_goal says:

     

    29 January, 2012 at 22:03

     

    ItaliaBhoy

     

     

    “We live in the same country but in different worlds.

     

     

    The Catholic/Protestant community. No one I know thinks in those terms. Are you sure you aren’t confusing the rest of Scotland with Larkhall/Airdrie?”

     

     

    It was an Edinburgh jury…

  24. JimmyQuinnsBits says:

     

    29 January, 2012 at 22:20

     

     

     

    That’s not an argument for separation though is it?

     

     

    At least with Labour there are credible alternative leaders.

     

     

    The SNP are a one man band. Without Salmond what are they?

  25. Nuclear Bovril and a Half Munched Pie on

    Penalty winner extrodinaire away to Everton for £3.5M. Correct my mathematics but, minus the 20% Rapid Vienna are due that’s ..um…aah… a lot less than £10M.

     

     

    Tick tick tick…Boom.