Miller on the spot as Celtic beat Falkirk
Calvin Miller scored the only goal of the game just before the hour mark from the penalty spot but the scoreline failed to reflect the gulf between the two teams.
Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Christie dropped into the starting XI while loan bhoys Calum Waters and Connor McManus were also drafted in.
Aidan McIlduff, pushed forward into left midfield role was causing Falkirk some problems but clear cut chances were rare.
Midway through the first half home keeper Lewis McMinn saved well from a curling shot by Regan Hendry but it was no surprise when the first half ended goal-less.
Two minutes after the restart Sam Wardrop came close to breaking the deadlock but the referee judged that glancing header from a corner hadn’t crossed the line.
Just before the hour mark Celtic took the lead after Miller was fouled preparing to shoot from 16 yards out. Amazingly referee Ronnie Strain refused to produce any card but Miller dusted himself down and sent a low shot into the net although McMinn got a hand to his effort.
That goal came in the middle of some great play from the hoops as they pushed forward down both flanks with Christie and Armstrong prominent in the centre of the park.
Theo Archibald replaced Waters just after the goal and put in some powerful runs down the left but around the penalty box Celtic found themselves crowded out.
CELTIC: Hazard; Wardrop, Kelleher, McCart, Waters (Archibald 60); McManus; Hendry, Armstrong, Christie, McIlduff (Higgins 79); Miller
SUBS: Doohan, Hill, Kerr, Lafferty, Payne.