Camilo Duran sends ‘keep the faith’ message to Celtic support
Celtic huffed and puffed all afternoon but a combination of poor finishing and outstanding shot-stopping from former Celtic goalkeeper meant that Celtic left the Falkirk stadium empty handed for the first defeat in the town in almost two decades, when a young Kasper Schmeichel was in goals for the Bairns.
Carter-Vickers culpable for Falkirk opener
Cameron Carter-Vickers gifted the opener to John McGlynn’s side inside the first few minutes and Haissem Hasan’s failing to track back contributed greatly to the second Falkirk goal of the afternoon on an afternoon where Celtic could have scored six or seven but nothing seemed to come off despite the chances created.
Duran’s missed chances
Duran himself hit the post with one effort and directed a header straight at the Falkirk and Scotland goalkeeper. Either side and it was in. Duran afterwards accepted that these are ‘difficult moments’ but urged the Celtic support to ‘keep the faith’.
The Colombian striker stated:
“Difficult moments are also part of the journey. Today we have to endure, work in silence, and keep the faith.
“This is not the end, it’s just one more test.
“Everything will change because those who never stop fighting always find a way to get back up.”
“On another day, we could have scored about five,” Martin O’Neill
Martin O’Neill echoed these remarks and after facing the media following the 2-0 defeat he spoke to Celtic TV. The Celtic manager said: “It was really disappointing to lose the game, but we created a lot of chances.
“On another day, we could have scored about five. It didn’t happen. The goalkeeper made some really fantastic saves, and sometimes it goes like that.
“And I think that’s the point that I want to take out of it. It’s disappointing, of course, Celtic are not used to losing football matches, certainly not recently.”
Besiktas has seven points, Celtic has none
Next up for Celtic is a difficult Europa League contest against Istanbul outfit Besiktas – featuring former Celtic striker Oh – who currently sit in 8th spot in the standings with seven points after two wins and a draw in their first three matches.
Celtic in contrast have three defeats in a row against Ferencvaros, Benfica and Celta Vigo and sit second bottom of the table with zero points. Perhaps Celtic can ‘do a Falkirk’ on them and upset the odds to delight the home support, who will be there in numbers more in hope than expectation?
Let’s hope so.
