Celtic players applaud the travelling support. . Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
OVERALL – 5.5/10 – Well that was both rotten and brilliant. Didn’t I used to think that Falkirk pitch was okay? Surely not. It’s an embarrassment to Scottish football, like the others. I’m loathe to condemn the players for poor performances because the old argument about it being ‘the same for both sides’ is always thrown up. But it’s not really. They train and play on it multiple times over anyone else. It’s the levelling effect, and we struggled to stay level, managing to somehow sneak a clean-sheet win, thanks to our keeper, and also their winger invoking the hybrid demonic spirits of Sebo and van Vossen to do the impossible from four yards, making more of a mess of it than William Wallace managed nearby.
Kasper Schmeichel applauds the travelling support. . Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
So the very tricky trip to darkest Sleepy Hollow in deepest January played out with, mercifully, no brave Hoops losing their heads to the horseman. And somehow carving out a precious three-pointer even though we never managed to string three passes. Some games, it doesn’t really matter how you play, just that you win. Tonight was the archetype. It was poor and it was perfect; demoralising for contenders, an invigorating victory for a squad that’s already seen too many knife-edges like this evening turn into death by a thousand cuts this season.
Martin O’Neill watches on. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
We didn’t get the break of the ball, the rub of the green; we didn’t really start or look like we’d dominate at any point; or even stay in the game at all if they scored. We didn’t do any of the good things we’re capable of, or reach the heights we can.
And yet, we won. That’s what Champions do. And…
We move on.
Go Away Now
Sandman
I disagree with all your appraisals with the exception of :- Schmeical and Scales . It’s a sad fact that a team like Celtic are second best in every department , to Falkirk .
Falkirk , under the tutorage of John McLynne have better , fitter , more skillful players than a club like Celtic . The only difference is that the Falkirk players are paid a fraction of what our ” Duds” are paid .
The Falkirk players were first to every ball and at times you would have thought it was :- Manchester City or Barcelona v’s Celtic . This is how far we have regressed in the last few years ; so the BOARD and BR. should be held to account for Celtic’s monumental decline . We need serious changes at board level and throughout the whole club when Martin O’Neil leaves . What has happened when we have an Academy which hasn’t produced a decent player in years ? What is going on ; when , so called Professional players , cannot beat opponents ,cannot shoot, cannot play a final ball , cannot score penalties nor score from free-kicks ? Our club , despite its wealth is run like an amateur out-fit . Can nobody , at the club see that :- McGregor , Teirney and Hetate are past their sell-buy date ; Engals is over-rated and a waste of money ; Neigren (despite his goals) ; McCowan , Yang and Kenny are simply not ” Celtic Class “. It pains me to critiise Celtic players but the reset button needs to be pressed . Martin O’Neill will be a miracle worker if he manages to win anything with these players .I hope , I am very , very wrong .