Falkirk 2-0 Celtic: Hoops miss chance to extend lead at the top

Celtic missed a chance to go seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table this afternoon, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Falkirk.

Falkirk took an early lead through Ethan Ross, who punished a mistake from the Celtic defence with just two minutes on the clock. Scott Tanser doubled the hosts’ lead before half-time, when he burst into the box before finishing into the bottom corner. Falkirk had the ball in the net for a third time early in the second half, but it was ruled out for handball.

The Bairns’ goalkeeper, Scott Bain, was impeccable in the Falkirk goal this afternoon as he kept out countless Celtic efforts to earn his side a fourth consecutive win, and third clean sheet on the spin.

As it happened

Martin O’Neill named four changes after Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Dundee United in the week, most notably replacing out-of-form summer signing Kasper Høgh with Haissem Hassan in the Hoops attack. Falkirk made just one change, with Tanser replacing Leon McCann at left-back.

It was Falkirk who took the lead after just two minutes, when Ross pounced on an error from Cameron Carter-Vickers and fired home. Ryan Strain was withdrawn in the aftermath of the goal, having suffered an injury; he was replaced by Jack McMillan.

Celtic came close to an equaliser 10 minutes later, when Camilo Durán struck the post before Hassan forced a fine save out of Bain in the Falkirk goal. Bain was called into action again on the half-hour mark, this time keeping out Durán’s left-footed effort.

A coming together between Hassan and Owen Eames led to a scuffle between the two, and both were shown a yellow card. Minutes later, Tanser doubled the hosts’ lead with a superb finish into the bottom corner.

The final act of the first half saw Mika Baur try to get one back for Celtic, but his shot was blocked, meaning Falkirk headed into the break with a 2-0 lead. James Forrest replaced Callum Osmand for the Hoops at half-time.

Falkirk appeared to start the second half in a similar vein to the first, as they netted a third just a few moments in. A long throw found Liam Henderson at the far post, but the goal was ruled out for handball following a VAR review.

Forrest and Callum McGregor both came close to getting their side back in the game shortly before the hour mark; Bain saved the first effort before McGregor flashed his effort high and wide.

Hassan was next to try and find the net for the Hoops, but fired over the bar. O’Neill then made a double change, introducing Høgh and Benjamin Nygren to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Durán. Falkirk also made a change, with Connor Allen replacing Tanser.

Two more superb saves followed from Bain, first to parry a low shot from Forrest and then reacting quickly to palm away Nygren’s strike on the rebound. Liam Scales was then shown a yellow card for a foul on Ross.

A triple change then came for the hosts, with Finley Barbrook, Eames and Ross replaced by Finn Yeats, Conor McLeod and CJ Fodrey for the final 15 minutes of regular time. Forrest forced Baines into yet another stop moments later, this time from the left side of the six-yard box.

Baur took on a speculative effort late in the day; it looked to be heading towards the top corner until Bain was there once again to turn it past the post. Celtic’s final substitutions saw Baur and Hassan make way for Sebastian Tounekti and Luke McCowan.

Celtic were unable to muster another real chance, confirming a huge win for Falkirk.