Falkirk beat Celtic 2-0 in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday 1 November. The result lifted Falkirk to fourth in the table, while Celtic remained four points clear at the top but had played a game more than second-placed Rangers.
Falkirk score twice before half-time
Ethan Ross scored in the third minute to put Falkirk ahead. Ryan Strain was injured while crossing for the opening goal, and Jack McMillan replaced him at right-back. In the 38th minute, Owen Eames set up Scott Tanser for Falkirk's second goal.
The goals both came before half-time.
The win was Falkirk's fourth consecutive victory and their first over Celtic since 2007.
Celtic create chances but do not score
Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to the starting line-up after injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was handed his first start in two months. Camilo Duran hit a post, and Jacob Murrell had a goal disallowed by VAR after the ball hit his hand.
Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and Haissem Hassan missed the target from inside the box. Martin O’Neill brought on James Forrest for Callum Osmand at half-time and later turned to Kasper Hogh and Benjamin Nygren. Bain also made a double save from Forrest and Nygren.
Bain makes 10 saves
The Daily Mail reported that Scott Bain made 10 saves. O’Neill said: "Yeah, naturally disappointing. I’m disappointed to have lost the game, first of all. But we had a lot of chances. A lot of chances. The goalkeeper was magnificent all afternoon. Yeah, but naturally we’ve lost the game, so it’s very disappointing."
O’Neill also said: "Of course, of course. They were very poor, from our viewpoint. The first one, we hadn’t cleared it, and the second one we’ve allowed somebody to just run through and pick a spot. But we had some really great chances, we just weren’t able to convert."
O’Neill on changes and the schedule
Celtic have suffered six defeats in 10 matches. O’Neill said: "You’re right, you can take that statistic, and you would be right about that. Absolutely, we have conceded some poor goals, and we haven’t kept a clean sheet for some time. And that’s the essence of a championship team. But we’re still at the top of the league, and we need to address it. And that’s the way out of it."
On Osmand's half-time withdrawal, O’Neill said: "Yeah, it was just a tactical tweak." He added: "He took a couple of knocks here, but I’m hoping that he’ll be OK."
O’Neill said Auston Trusty was away "I think with his father dying" and Oliver Sorensen had "a family bereavement as well too". Looking ahead, O’Neill said: "I think that’s exactly what we have to do because it’s the football club. It’s Celtic Football Club. We’re not used to losing a lot of games. We were in a much worse position this time last year in the league. So we really have to buckle down and try and win a game. Try and win a game in Europe for a start, which would help. Thursday is a big game and then the following Sunday is a massive match for us as well too before we go into the international break. So I agree with you entirely."
