Celtic boss Martin O’Neill reveals support was ‘unexpected’ but welcome
The Hoops fans had a night to forget in Europe in their previous match.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill admitted they did not deserve the positive reception they received as they bounced back from their European disappointment with a 2-1 home win over Falkirk.
O’Neill was surprised to hear the support as the squad got off the coach and headed into Celtic Park ahead of the William Hill Premiership game.
A banner aimed at the board declared Celtic’s recent Champions League qualifying record a “world-class embarrassment” after O’Neill’s side squandered a four-goal aggregate lead in Austria during a 5-1 play-off defeat by LASK.
But, other than one chant of “sack the board” which was largely confined to the standing section, fans got behind their team throughout the game.
O’Neill said: “As we got off the bus, the crowd actually cheered us, which was unexpected and something that we probably didn’t deserve. I was really pleased.”
Luke McCowan received a loud and positive ovation when he came off the bench, after being the subject of widespread social media criticism over his performance in Linz.
“I don’t know where I was at that stage, my head had gone,” O’Neill said. “But that was nice, if that’s the case. Really nice.”
The atmosphere was helped by Camilo Duran’s fourth-minute goal, which came courtesy of Scott Bain’s mistake. The former Celtic goalkeeper spilled the ball into the Colombian’s path after racing to smother Cameron Carter-Vickers’ long ball.
Duran doubled the lead before the half-hour mark when he finished off Kieran Tierney’s low cross and Celtic had further first-half chances.
Falkirk improved after the break and pulled one back through Colby Donovan’s own goal after good work from debutants Connor McLeod and Jacob Murrell.
But Celtic went looking for a third and avoided a second collapse of the week.
O’Neill added: “It’s been a tough four days for all of us, and it was a big concern, just physically, the 120 minutes, the disappointment of losing and the psychological aspect.
“But it was a good response. We missed a lot of great chances to wrap the game up.”
O’Neill was without the ill Callum McGregor and injured Kasper Hogh, who could return from a groin problem to face Aberdeen on Wednesday. Kieran Tierney went off with a fitness issue and Callum Osmand was pictured leaving Celtic Park on crutches.
Reo Hatate was also missing from the squad. When asked if that was because of a potential transfer, O’Neill said: “It’s a good point. But Reo wasn’t fit to play. He had strained himself in training and ruled himself out of contention.”
Duran was handed the centre-forward role amid Hogh’s absence.
“He was brilliant because he is brilliant,” O’Neill said. “He’s a really good player. I’m going to try and learn some proper Spanish so I can have a conversation with him.”
Falkirk manager John McGlynn bemoaned his team’s “nightmarish” start.
He added: “We’ve all been here, 2-0 down at Celtic Park at half-time and it ends up four, five or six. So huge credit to our players, loads and loads of encouragement to take from the second half.
“They didn’t buckle, they didn’t go under, they very much stayed in the game.”