Celtic Freeze Falkirk on Martin O’Neill’s Return

Celtic got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over Falkirk as Martin O’Neill returned to the Parkhead side’s dugout for the first time since 2005. A first half Johnny Kenny double followed by goals from summer signings Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti helped the defending champions cut the the gap on Hearts to six points, after the league leaders drew 2-2 away to St. Mirren. It was only the second time Martin O’Neill had came up against Falkirk in his career, with the other encounter in 2004 seeing Celtic score double the number scored tonight, in an 8-1 cup victory. There was fan protests outside Celtic Park’s main stand prior the match versus the club’s board, but once on-field matters commenced, Celtic looked in total control. Benjamin Nygren missed a one-on-one earlier in the first half, but the Swede’s second strike of the game half an hour in rebounded off the post and striker Johnny Kenny was first to react, firing home to score his second goal of the season. Falkirk’s best chance at getting back into the game was just a moment after the opener. Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi’s strike took a slight deflection from the edge of the box, but it was well held by Kasper Schmeichel. But just ten minutes after his first, there would be a second for Kenny. Anthony Ralston looped a ball in from deep, and Nygren again made it easy for the Irish international as his headed pass was nodded into the Falkirk goal by Celtic’s number 24 to put them two goals ahead going into the break. Tired of being provider, Nygren got his own name on the scoresheet. Marcelo Sarrachi’s tame volley was pushed out by former Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain, but only went as far as Celtic’s top scorer who bagged his fifth league goal of the campaign having been at heart of the other two goals previously. The home side made it four with 18 minutes to play. Substitute Luke McCowan from deep in his own half spotted the run of Sebastian Tounekti, who beat a sliding Liam Henderson to the ball and scored his first goal at Celtic Park since joining from Swedish side Hammarby on deadline day. Martin O’Neill marks his first managerial gig in six years with a result, with him and Shaun Maloney in the hot seat until the Celtic hierarchy find Brendan Rodgers’ replacement after the Northern Irishman’s shock resignation on Monday night. The result is Celtic’s first win in three league contests, having lost to Dundee and Hearts consecutively before tonight. The Hoops face Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday, before travelling to FC Midytlland of Denmark for Thursday evening Europa League action. As for Falkirk, tonight marks their first defeat in four having not tasted defeat since the back end of September. They host a Kilmarnock side on Saturday who fell to a 1-0 home defeat tonight to Aberdeen. CELTIC: Schmeichel 5, Ralston 5, Trusty 6, Scales 6, Sarrachi 7, Nygren 6 (McCowan 66′ 4), Engels 5, McGregor 6 (Hatate 76′ 1), Forrest 7 (Balikwisha 61′ 2), Kenny 8 (Maeda 66′ 3), Tounekti 7 (Osmand 76′ 2) FALKIRK: Bain 3, Adams 6, Allan 4, Henderson 4, Lissah 4 (Hart 62′ 2), Miller 5 (Agyeman 62′ 2), Tait 4, Arfield 4, Spencer 5 (Cartwright 68′ 1), Ross 4 (Williams 46′ 4), Samuel-Ogunsuyi 4 (Graham 62′ 2)