Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Aberdeen - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - July 31, 2022 Celtic players in a huddle before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Martin O’Neill has made four changes to the Celtic side that lost to Hearts for tonight’s match with Falkirk.
It is the first match for the O’Neill and Shaun Maloney management team following the sudden resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday night.
There are three changes in defence with Colby Donovan and Dane Murray dropping to the bench with Tony Ralston and Austin Trusty starting. Saracchi starts at left-back with Kieran Tierney not in the squad.
Reo Hatate drops out of the midfield allowing Ben Nygren to revert to a more orthodox role with James Forrest starting on the right wing.
STRIKER OPTIONS
Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmond are among the subs, despite coming off the bench at Tynecastle there is no place in the squad for Shin Yamada.
Falkirk come into the match sitting in sixth place in the SPFL, a healthy return to the top flight after back-to-back promotions.
Three wins, three draws and three defeats in good going for John McGlynn’s side who beat Dundee 2-1 at the weekend.
After tonight’s match Celtic’s attention turns to the League Cup after wins over Falkirk and Partick Thistle.
A Glasgow Derby at Hampden on Sunday will shape how the O’Neill and Maloney partnership is viewed.
Following that there is a tricky looking Europa League trip to face Midtjylland on Thursday before a visit from Kilmarnock followed by the welcome breather of the November international break.
CELTIC: Schmeichel; Ralston, Trusty, Sclaes, Saracchi; McGregor, Engels, Nygren; Forrest, Kenny, Tounekti
SUBS: Sinisalo, Balikwisha, McCowan, Osmand, Bernardo, Maeda, Hatate, Murray, Donovan
We love you celtic!
Really nice to see a pretty easy victory tonight against the horrendous backdrop off the pitch.
I don’t know how the pre-match protests went but I back them to the ‘hilt’ whilst considering the players too. Not too easy to get this right.
The board clearly knows, as do we, that they’ve fukked up big style so our supporters should keep together and keep our ‘boots on their throats’ until they’re hunted out of Paradise.
I’d suggest a major protest (by CFC) at (and prior to) the AGM and I’d be prepared to travel the coupla hundred miles up to CP to show solidarity. This is a golden opportunity to enforce the change we need at CP now and to establish a base going forward so that we NEVER have to deal with shit like this again. EVER!
Serrachi showed up well tonight…
Delighted for Johnny Kenny as well…
Pleeeeeeeeeze Celtic – Do it on Sunday for us fans that have been through Hell of late !