Falkirk beat Celtic 2-0 for first time since 2007 to open up Scottish title race

A sloppy start

Falkirk beat Celtic 2-0 at Falkirk Stadium on Sunday, 1 November, in the Scottish Premiership. Ethan Ross scored in the third minute after Cameron Carter-Vickers failed to deal with a cross from Ryan Strain. Strain injured himself while crossing and was replaced at right-back by Jack McMillan. Scott Tanser doubled the lead in the 38th minute, running onto an infield pass from Owen Eames, the 19-year-old on loan from Derby. The win was Falkirk's first over Celtic since 2007 and their fourth successive victory, which lifts them to fourth in the table.

Celtic remain four points clear at the top, but they have played one game more than second-placed Rangers. It was their sixth defeat in 10 matches in all competitions, and they have kept just one clean sheet in that run.

Chances missed and a busy goalkeeper

Celtic had 24 shots to Falkirk's six, nine of them on target against two, and they won 14 corners to none. Scott Bain made 10 saves, including three stops from Camilo Duran in the first half and a diving save to deny Haissem Hassan. Duran also struck a post, and a Murrell goal early in the second half was ruled out for handball at the 50th minute. Celtic were still in front on the ball, but their finishing let them down.

Celtic24

Falkirk6

Celtic

24

Falkirk

6

Data from the article text

Chris Sutton, speaking on Sky Sports, was blunt about the champions after the final whistle.

“They're deficient in every area of the team.”

Sutton added that he could not see a plan or a strategy in the current side. Former Falkirk manager Ian McCall pointed to age and injury, naming Carter-Vickers, Tierney, McGregor and Forrest as players who are no longer quite what they were.

Pressure on the champions

Martin O'Neill admitted his side had conceded poor goals and had not kept a clean sheet for some time. He said the players need to handle the weight of representing the club.

“You have to cope with the pressure to be a player here.”

O'Neill also said the Celtic squad still had players who had been big winners at the club, and he hoped they could pull the team through. Falkirk manager John McGlynn praised Bain and said he should be considered for Scotland. McGlynn said the goalkeeper had the game of his life.

What comes next

Celtic host Besiktas in the Europa League on Thursday, 5 November, and are still looking for their first point in the competition. They then face Kilmarnock on Sunday, 8 November, before the international break. Rangers and Hearts have games in hand, and a run of wins by either would bring them closer to Celtic at the top.