Falkirk 0 Celtic 1

Scottish Premierleague
Sunday, October 1 2006
Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk

FALKIRK… 0
CELTIC… 1
(McGeady 84)

AIDEN McGeady’s late strike was enough to seal the win for Celtic as the defending champions returned from their latest UEFA Champions League adventure with a hard-fought victory over Falkirk.

This away win, which was clinched by the winger’s decisive 84th minute effort, came just four days after Celtic’s midweek result against FC Copenhagen and with Gordon Strachan fielding an unchanged starting XI, he will be pleased with both the three points and the character shown by his players.

It was at times a difficult match for the visiting side, who were continually pushed by a Falkirk buoyed by their recent 1-0 win over Hibs and driven on by the thought that their opponents could perhaps be suffering from a European ‘hangover’.

With this in mind, John Hughes’ men made a busy start to the match, forcing a couple of early opportunities and setting a high tempo that they succeeded in maintaining throughout the opening half.

They had however failed to present much in the way of a genuine test for Artur Boruc and Celtic meanwhile had similarly failed to trouble the Polish keeper’s opposite number, Scott Higgins.

It was not in fact until the 17th minute that they did create what could described as a clear cut opportunity, with Shunsuke Nakamura firing high over after being teed up by a Maciej Zurawski lay-off.

But after this attempt Celtic offered little in the way of a ‘follow-up’ and Falkirk continued to create the better chances, even making one unjustified appeal for a penalty after Boruc had blocked a back-post header from Jack Ross.

Yet for all their efforts it was Celtic who came the closest to breaking the deadlock in this half, with Kenny Miller clipping the bar after bursting through the defence in the lead-up to half-time.

The score however remained all-square and after the interval both sides came close with early attempts, with McGeady firing wide from 19 yards and Gary Caldwell sliding-in to block a Stokes shot after a Falkirk counter.

In the wake of this opportunity, Celtic manager Strachan made two changes, bringing on Shaun Maloney and Evander Sno in a bid to add fresh legs to a tiring midfield and in the ensuing minutes and with the match growing increasingly heated, Zurawski almost found Miller in the six yard box.

Maloney in particular, who is continuing his return to full-fitness after injury, was immediately influential, switching flanks and combining well with McGeady and he soon found his fellow winger with a cross which was fired over from around eight yards out.

Then, as the match entered the final stages and with Gow having screwed a long-range shot wide for the home team, the Celtic Youth Academy graduates combined again, this time to devastating effect.

Maloney was again the provider, breaking beyond his man on the right and placing his pass perfectly between two Falkirk defenders and on to the toe of McGeady inside the box.

The Irish internationalist then had time to take a touch, turn and then hammer his low shot past Higgins and into the far corner of the goal and take all three points for Celtic.

The remaining minutes were not without their drama and Lee Naylor had Artur Boruc to thank after being dispossessed inside the box and the left-back was also fortunate to escape uninjured after apparently being stamped on by Cregg.

However, Celtic held on to earn a win that could be recognised as particularly valuable at the end of the season
MAN OF THE MATCH: Aiden McGeady

FALKIRK (3-5-2) Higgins; Ross, Barr, Milne (Scobbie 27); Moutinho (T McManus 72), Cregg, Latapy (Stewart 87), Thomson, Twaddle; Stokes, Gow.
Subs: Lambers, Dodd, McStay, Lima.

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura (Maloney 59), Gravesen (Sno 59), Lennon, McGeady; Zurawski, Miller (Beattie 75).
Subs: Marshall, O’Dea, Riordan, Jarosik.

Celtic didn't play particulary well today and were quite lucky to come away with the 3 points although McGeady put in an excellent effort and Miller looked brillant.

was a great win mcgeady played well but i heard tommy g and magic had stinkers

Yea Magic wasn't in the game and Gravesen was terrible McGeady took his goal well and generally played good lovely wee bit of skill inside the box left the Defender on his a**e.

Jury is still out on Gravesen and Magic is really off the boil. He doesn't offer too much off the ball either.

Good to take the three points though! Hopefully things will keep improving.

i heard Sno played really well Squire i think he came on the tommy g , magic has been pish this season just a lazt fecker he is but i hope in the coming weeks he gets back to his old self