Martin O’Neill has made just one change to the Celtic side that beat Dundee United for tonight’s trip to Falkirk.
Ben Nygren comes off the bench to replace Reo Hatate as O’Neill sticks with the 4-3-3 formation that overpowered Jim Goodwin’s side on Saturday.
The victory over United was Celtic’s first win in three matches, O’Neill has the task of trying to undo the eight match Wilfried Nancy routine.
Saturday’s win gave the players and fans a welcome morale boost but Falkirk will present a very tough challenge tonight.
Celtic start the match in third place, with six SPFL defeats in 21 matches there is very little margin for error.
O’NEILL FACES TOUGH CHALLENGE
Falkirk come into the match in sixth place in the SPFL Premiership, comfortably clear of Aberdeen and Dundee United.
Back to back wins over the Dons and St Mirren have given them that berth with the threat of relegation as good as over.
So far they have faced Celtic twice, losing eight goals at Celtic Park.
Scott Bain has been their star man this season, working his way back into the Scotland squad since quitting Celtic Park.
Veteran striker Brian Graham has notched four goals in the top flight, good going after finishing last season as co-manager of Partick Thistle.
John Beaton referees tonight’s match with Grant Irvine on VAR duty.
Next up for the hoops is a Scottish Cup tie on Sunday away to Auchinleck Talbot, followed quickly by trips to Bologna and Hearts.
CELTIC: Schmeichel; Araujo, Trusty, Scales, Tierney: McGregor, Nygren, Engels, Yang, Maeda, Tounekti
SUBS: Sinisalo, McCowan, Kenny, Bernardo, Hatate, Murray, Forrest, Donovan, Ralston
“Scottish Premiership: Build-up with leaders Hearts & challengers Celtic both in action” BBC Scotland headline ? Champions Celtic and leading challenger’s Hearts acceptable but not that…
Yang hat trick my prediction for tonight
I don’t particularly like Falkirk as it seems to be polluted with Sevco Huns for some reason…
But their team will need respect for sure…
And I’m sure Martin will give them that…
Prediction = Falkirk 1 v Celtic 3 !
Fancy a proper win this evening & the sharts/wangers to capitulate over time when the “mighty Glasgow Celtic ” finally get going and sort this LG win…..
Great result despite the performance. Nygren a Pat McGinley, Craig Burley or Billy Stark type. Unspectacular but 10 goals in 14 league games so far could be a crucial contribution if we get a striker and mansge to win this league. Well done tonight Celtic.
Definitely take the result – But my goodness we were lucky, lucky as well as pishy pishy !
Falkirk have made great strides since Martin’s first game on return against them, when
Celtic won comfortably. Celtic FC were no slouches tonight. They put in the hard yards but passing was woeful at times. Julian Araugo has speed to burn, luckily for him; because he was put in danger of being beaten a couple of times by a fast wide man.
11 goals for Nygren this campaign.
Another manager sitting in another presser pleading for players
Whilst these f*ckers hide and collect salaries we can only dream about
I can no longer put into words how much I despise this board
Celtic were lucky to win. Or we only won because we have better players and a very experienced manager.
On another night Falkirk could have put three past us, easy. We only had two shots on target the whole game.