CELTIC rose to the task to earn three precious points against an excellent and progressive Falkirk side at Parkhead yesterday.
The champions also leapt above Danny Rohl’s Ibrox outfit – albeit on goal difference – and kept leaders Hearts in sight, the Hoops six points adrift with 14 games to go and FORTY-TWO points still to play for.
A neat header from new Bhoy Tomáš Cvancara following an excellent left-wing delivery from Kieran Tierney got the ball rolling in the first-half.
And a typical strike from Benjamin Nygren ended an energetic bid from the visitors to get back into the contest in a spirited second-half.
Kasper Schmeichel also played his part with a superb full-length diving save from a Barney Stewart close-range header in only the ninth minute and it proved to be the springboard to get things moving at the other end of the pitch.
Celtic were also going into the match on the back of another exhausting Europa League encounter three days earlier after a 4-2 victory over FC Utrecht paved the way for a meeting with VfB Stuttgart in the knock-out stages later this month.
Martin O’Neill was more than satisfied with the latest effort from his squad and, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “I’m delighted because after the exertions of the other evening, wondering about levels of fitness and levels of energy.
“The sort of pressing we can do wasn’t really there and I wasn’t surprised at all.
“But we dug it out, we won and the second goal was a magnificent piece of football and it was a big win for us because Falkirk are a very decent team.
“Tomáš scored the header, but there’s lots more to him and I think he can improve immensely.
Images courtesy Celtic TV.
“He can be stronger at times when the ball’s being held up and he can learn from the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, for instance, but he’s got something there and I think he can only improve with us.”
Looking at the killer second goal – Nygren’s 15th strike of a prolific debut campaign – and Callum McGregor’s part in the build-up, O’Neill added: “The game was tight and it was in the balance, we were 1-0 in front, but we were defending at that stage.
“However, it was a great move. Callum was at the centre of it and he’s a top-quality player.”
Next up for the champions is a trip to Pittodrie to take on Aberdeen on Wednesday evening.
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