Celtic put four past Falkirk to claim last eight League Cup berth
Celtic 4-1 Falkirk Maeda (25′) Johnston (54′) Murray (61′) Henderson (64′ 0g) Adams (67′) Celtic progressed to the Premier Sports Quarter Final Draw after a convincing four-goal victory against Falkirk. Maeda headed the champions into the lead after 25 minutes, before three more goals in a ruthless 10-minute second-half spell killed off the Bairns, who pulled one back through Keelan Adams which was nothing more than a consolation. Brendan Rodgers made six changes from Celtic’s 2-0 victory at Pittodrie on Sunday against a Falkirk team unbeaten in their group, who themselves made two changes from the disappointing 3-1 league defeat at Livingston last weekend. Celtic started brightly, establishing a high tempo for much of the opening period. James Forrest cushioned a Maeda cross into the path of Johnny Kenny, but the striker flashed wide for the opening chance of the game. Liam Henderson almost gifted Celtic the lead on 11 minutes when his attempted backpass caught out Scott Bain, but luckily trickled past the post to keep the scores level. Kieran Tierney was next to try his luck, but Bain was alert to turn his fizzing strike behind for a corner. Arne Engels crashed a free kick off the crossbar before Celtic eventually took the lead minutes later. Callum McGregor clipped a delicate ball to Tierney, the left back cushioned his header across goal for the onrushing Daizen Maeda to head home for a deserved opener. Falkirk rarely threatened Viljami Sinisalo in the Celtic goal but looked a threat on the counter. The Finnish goalkeeper was alert to tip Calvin Millar’s 20-yard strike past the post, and block Alfie Agyeman’s low strike. Forrest had a golden chance to double the lead, but he headed Luke McCowan’s back-post cross over the bar. Despite wave after wave of Celtic attacks, they were unable to add to Maeda’s heading finish. Celtic started the second half exactly how they ended the first – on the front foot. Forrest’s powerful strike was tipped behind by Bain, and the former teammates exchanged a wry smile as the goalkeeper came out on top again. A barrage of Engels corner kicks followed before the home side eventually doubled their lead. It was the unlikely source of right back Alistair Johnston who fired a left-footed strike into the bottom corner after Millar surrendered possession. The 3rd goal followed on the hour mark as Engels whipped another pinpoint corner kick, which Dane Murray glanced home, rounding off a dream day after signing a new three-year deal hours before. Celtic had the ball in the net again three minutes later. Yang burst down the left, and his cross was met by the knee of Falkirk defender Henderson. He could only watch helplessly as the ball trickled into the Falkirk net. It was a blistering ten-minute spell from Celtic, showcasing the attacking intent that secured a fourth straight Scottish Premiership title last season. The visitors did find consolation soon after, an arrowing Adams strike from the right-hand side of the box whistled past Sinisalo in goal. Celtic regained their composure soon after and they were unable to add to their lead, but Rodgers will be pleased with the comprehensive nature of their victory against the Championship winners.
Saints and Jambos have eyes on the prize
St Mirren welcome Hearts to the SMISA Stadium as both clubs look to set down a marker in their pursuit of Premier Sports Cup glory. The Premier Sports Cup second round makes it way to Paisley to where two familiar foes battle it out for the all-important spot in the next round in this all-Premiership affair. For both managers, the winners of the tie takes them a step closer to the silverware and Buddies boss Stephen Robinson, fresh from signing his new three-year deal, is feeling confident. “It’s a game we believe we can win,” he said. “I don’t go into any game thinking a draw or a 1-0 defeat is okay. I believe that mentality has changed in my time at the club. “I have a lot of respect for Hearts as a club and Derek as a manager who’s proven he’s a top manager. “We’ve shown against the top sides in the country that we are a competitive side. “Our chances of silverware are the cups we might not win the league every year, we certainly have a chance in the cup we need a luck, form and things to go your way.” Hearts, surprisingly, haven’t won this competition since 1962 so taking this one back to Tynecastle is long overdue. According to manager, Derek McInnes, winning trophies should be one of the main reasons for anyone joining the club. “I’ve said this to them a few times now, but there’s not one player that should have signed for Hearts without having that aspiration,” he said. “I hope, to win a trophy here. “A fundamental part of signing for a club like Hearts should be that you want to be successful and lift silverware. “Obviously, we’ve got to try to beat St Mirren, who over a period of time have shown they are a good side. “But if we can get through this one, we’re 90 minutes away from a semi-final. We go into the game with high expectations of ourselves.” Conor McMenamin and Liam Donnelly are the only names who will be missing from the St Mirren team sheet through injury. Craig Gordon, Jamie McCart, Finlay Pollock, Christian Borchgrevink and Kenneth Vargas are absentees for the Jambos while Adam Forrester could play after returning from St Johnstone less than a week after signing owing to the rules around co-operation agreements. The game kicks off at 3pm and is available to watch on the Premier Sports Player.
Rodgers ready for Bairns cup test
Brendan Rodgers has nothing but praise for Falkirk boss John McGlynn but insists there’s no way his Celtic team will take them lightly in their Premier Sports Cup tie. The cup holders enter the competition against last season’s Championship winners in a Friday night contest as the tournament heads into the knockout phase. And Rodgers showed his appreciation of the work done by his opposite in achieving back-to-back promotions to the top flight. “I’m so happy for him as a guy and his football,” he said. “I think what John has demonstrated in his time since he’s gone back into management is that talent and technique will always override power. “Unless you have the resources and the money to get power, technique and talent then it’s sometimes a difficult askespecially when you’re trying to play football “I look at his teams at Raith and I look at what he’s done at Falkirk in bringing them up. You see how they play and you see the attitude, the energy they have in the game and the technical qualities they have. “He deserves all the accolades he gets been absolutely fantastic and they’ve demonstrated that game idea and how they want to play. “They have an inherent belief in that football philosophy, which has allowed Falkirk to get promoted for the first time in years. “For us we don’t underestimate them. We’ll be ready for them and from the first whistle to be really aggressive in the game.” Bairns boss McGlynn says organisation is the key as they return to Celtic Park on League Cup business, almost a year after losing there 5-2 in the quarter finals in a game where they acquitted themselves well. “They’re always going to go and attack and attack and attack so with the intensity of the game and the tempo it can become relentless,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure that we are very well organised. We are going to have to be nice, bright and sharp with them without the ball. “The ball can come back into play very quickly at a certain part. Whether it’s a goal kick, a throw in, or you know, set play. They’re doing things quickly and they try to you catch out. “So, we cannot turn our back on anything. We’ve got to be so switched on. And if we can do that and have a good shape about us. If we can stay in the game then you know we can cause one or two problems. Friday’s tie between Celtic and Falkirk will be shown live on Premier Sports, kick off 7:45pm.
Robinson commits to Saints until 2028
St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson says he wants to keep pushing after penning a new three-deal with the club. The Northern Irishman, along with assistant Brian Kerr, have pledged their future to the club after leading them to three successive top six finishes – the only club outside of Rangers and Celtic to do so in the last three seasons. And he says this is just the beginning as he looks build on the success he’s achieved since joining the club in February 2022. “I’m glad the board have appreciated the hard work Brian and I have done over the last three years with three top six finishes,” he said. “I feel like we’re right at the start of another process. “There’s a lot of hard work to be done, but we’re all aiming to push it in the right direction. “We felt it was right to commit our future with another year to continue the project that we’re doing, aim for another top six finish and keep pushing the club on and off the pitch.” Chairman John Needham added: “We’re thrilled Stephen has extended his contract and committed his future at St Mirren for another year. “The progress we have made as a club over the past few years has been clear to see and Stephen and his coaching team have played a large part in that. “We want to keep building on the successes of the last three season and agreeing this new contract evidences our ambition as a club to continue that progression.” Stephen Robinson’s first game of his new deal will see him take on Hearts in the Premier Sports Cup this weekend as he aims to guide the Buddies on a cup run.
