Celtic will be a team under enormous pressure this afternoon knowing that at kick-off they are NINE points behind leaders Hearts as February gets underway…
🗣️ “Pierre Landry Kabore’s double helped Hearts sweep aside undisciplined nine-man Dundee United and move seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Kabore tapped home the opening goal on 11 minutes after superb work down the left flank from Harry Milne, and the… pic.twitter.com/0hdK0K9170
— Heart of Midlothian FC Goals (@HeartsGoals) February 1, 2026
Playing an in-form Falkirk at Parkhead will certainly be tough, but on the other hand it is a game that should suit Celtic, as history shows.
Today Celtic Park beckons on league duty for the first time in what seems an age, as we take on in-form Falkirk as we aim to cut the gap on leaders Hearts who comfortably beat nine man Dundee United 3-0 at Tannadice last night to create that astonishing nine point gap between them and the champions. No-one would have seen that coming back in the summer.
With current second place theRangers kicking off just an hour before us, it’s vital we earn all three points, especially with a tough trip to Pittodrie looming midweek. Celtic essentially have to have a perfect February domestically and there’s the added complication of the Europa League play-off matches against a top Bundesliga side in VfB Stuttgart.
Benjamin Nygren of Celtic celebrates with Kieran Tierney after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Bairns will prove a tough nut to crack, as we found out just recently after escaping with a slender one nil victory at The Falkirk stadium, a game in which John McGlynn’s side impressed, and really should have taken something from the game. Benjamin Nygren’s goal was enough to secure the three points and Celtic need to get another result against the Bairns this afternoon
As impressive as Falkirk have been, a 4-1 thrashing of Hibs last week further increasing their confidence as they prepare to head to the East End of Glasgow, the style of football they play could well suit us to a tee, especially in the home comforts of Celtic Park.
Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Celtic FC and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park on January 29, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Past experience tells us just that, with our last two fixtures at Celtic Park this campaign against John McGlynn’s side ending in comprehensive victory for the hoops.
Firstly under Brendan Rodgers in the Premier Sports Cup we cruised to a 4-1 win over the Bairns thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda, Alistair Johnston, Dane Murray and a Liam Henderson own goal.
Then in Martin O’Neill’s first game back in temporary charge (first time around) we thumped The Bairns 4-0 (going on 7 or 8) thanks to a Johnny Kenny brace, and solitary strikes from Benjamin Nygren (as usual) and Sebastian Tounekti.
Martin O’Neill and John McGlynn shake hands at the final whistle. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
You could even count last seasons 5-2 hammering of McGlynn’s side in the League Cup, although they were a Championship club at the time, but they still played with the same philosophy.
So instead of worrying about a tough game, let’s look at the positives. Yes we may be a little leg weary after our Europa exploits on Thursday night, but we can look forward to this game with some added confidence. Past experience tells us just that.
Yes the pressure is on but who better than Martin O’Neill to address that? Talking of Martin, when he came back after the hapless Michael Nicholson inspired Wilfried Nancy disaster came to an end, he talked about getting a meeting with the Green Brigade and everyone affected by the ban to see if he could broker a resolve.
Falkirk manager John McGlynn during the Premier Sports Cup Quarter Final between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
John McGlynn spoke ahead of today’s game about how the lack of a Green Brigade presence at Celtic Park today will help his side. Celtic needs every advantage going and prolonging this ban is just more self harm from Nicholson and his boardroom chums.
‘There is no Green Brigade and that helps.’
Falkirk manager John McGlynn wants to take advantage of a toxic atmosphere ahead of Sunday’s match against Celtic.
Sponsored by BeMe your Ai twin for your business. https://t.co/0VeTtSn4Ce pic.twitter.com/ObjT69Naav
— PLZ Soccer (@PLZSoccer) January 31, 2026
Meanwhile the transfer window closes tomorrow and Celtic, with £75m in the bank, have yet to spend a penny on transfer fees. The Celtic Fans Collective will meet on Tuesday evening in Glasgow to discuss the situation at the club and next steps.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Sale Ends TODAY!…
It’s the last day of our hugely popular the Half Price January sale at Celtic Star Books. Every book ordered is now just £10 and p&p is only charged on the first book at £4.50. So ordering three books will cost a total of £34.50 and given you a £30 saving. Order at celticstarbooks.com/shop
All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…
These books now available at at HALF PRICE in our January sale – click on image to order…
Order from Celtic Star Books HERE!
Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?
Every game comes with pressure at our club. Even moreso this season, when we have been playing catch up football, for the best part of this season to date?
All of this, without having a settled squad in operation all season so far.
Yet we are still hanging in there, despite the amount of setbacks involved, mainly of our own making?
So from now on in, for the remainder of this season, it’s all about the stomach for the fight, involved for the remainder of this season imo?
Losing CCV, AJ and Jota for the season was always going to hurt ourselves. Continue to question just how much commitment Maeda, Hatate and Paulo have for ourselves now? Along with many others who can’t seem to find consistency levels within there performances, to date this season imo?
So with the stakes growing on a game by game basis at present, there is no hiding places available, despite the pressure levels involved?
Even if our players start showing the stomach for this title race, they still have to do so in a manner that involves the interference of the cheating mibs, which is already getting into full gear ahead at present also imo?