CELTIC’S one-goal victory over Falkirk merely emphasised Martin O’Neill’s urgent requirement of firepower in his frontline.
A header from Benjamin Nygren – his twelfth strike of the season – from an Arne Engels left-wing corner-kick just before half-time got the job done to keep the champions six points behind leaders Hearts.
Former Hoops keeper Scott Bain was rarely troubled and his only save of note was from a Daizen Maeda header following another set-play from the Belgian midfielder from the same flank.
Otherwise, the Scotland international eased through 95 minutes while his counterpart, Kasper Schmeichel, ended the contest sharing the Man of the Match award with Nygren.
JOB DONE…Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic fans after the 1-0 win at Falkirk.
An attack-leader is a clear priority and a list of hitmen have been linked with the Hoops this month – including Croatian Franko Kovacevic, of Slovenian side Celje.
Asked if he has looked at the 26-year-old forward, O’Neill answered: “I’m probably sure I have done. I’ve only looked at about FOUR AND A HALF THOUSAND at this minute and that’s not bad given I’m only in a week.
“You can tell that we definitely need to get a centre-forward.
“Young Johnny Kenny has done really fine in the games, but I think it’s really harsh to put that kind of pressure on a young lad. We’re looking for help.
“I’m not diverting to your thing, but I’m just not answering you!
“But you know, I am trying. I know I haven’t done anything since yesterday, but I am trying. We will definitely get people in.”
Summing up a game where Celtic struggled to impose themselves on their opponents, O’Neill, speaking to The Scotsman, continued: “We didn’t play well. We saw it through and we can play much, much better.
“It just seems strange in a contrast where we were so good on Saturday and tentative on this occasion and lost the ball in areas where we shouldn’t have been doing it.
BEST FOOT FORWARD…Kasper Schmeichel thwarts Falkirk’s Ethan Williams.
“Overall, I think Falkirk would have found themselves really unlucky to be behind at half-time in the game. I thought we pressed a bit better in the second-half, but, overall, we didn’t play well.
“I thought we seemed devoid of that real, real energy that is necessary. Obviously, I am delighted to have won the game because we will play better.”
O’Neill also applauded Schmeichel, who made a breathtaking save from Ethan Williams near the end with the Parkhead men clinging on.
The interim boss added: “Kasper makes a great save for us, a really, really great save, which he has been doing all his life, in all honesty.
“Particularly when his dad was here. Great. So, there you are, emulating the father. Can’t be bad.”
IT’S THE BENJI AND KASPER SHOW
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