Midfield battle crucial as Celtic set for tough challenge at Falkirk
Falkirk today will be a tough contest for Celtic, we clearly have to show an improvement on Wednesday night that’s a given…
Celtic face a tricky trip to Falkirk this lunchtime, one that’s sure to test the mettle of this current Celtic side who have the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
Falkirk looking for fourth straight win
John McGlynn’s Bairns are now starting to enjoy yet another impressive campaign in the Scottish top flight, despite enduring a difficult start and currently occupy sixth place after winning their last three fixtures.
Celtic secured narrow win at Falkirk at start of 2026
Last season we faced the Bairns on five occasions, with four of them in the home confides of Celtic Park, with the Hoops winning them all reasonably comfortably, but the solitary time we played at the Falkirk Stadium would prove to be a close encounter with Martin O’Neill’s side lucky to come away with a slender 1-0 win back at the beginning of this year.
Benjamin Nygren scored the winner on a night we seriously rode our luck, and in the end earned three points that proved incredibly valuable at the end of the season.
Plastic surface is always a challenge
Falkirk are a well organised side, and also play some nice football, a bit like Dundee United in midweek so it’s going to be a huge test for the champions on the Bairns’ plastic pitch.
It will be difficult that we can be sure of, but we are more than capable of winning the game, and have the players capable of being the difference on the day. John McGlynn’s side will be looking to make it four wins in a row and like Jim Goodwin in midweek the Falkirk manager will be well aware of the Celtic weakness in the middle of the park and will be looking to exploit that this afternoon.
Camilo Duran and Mika Baur impressing for Celtic
Guys like Camilo Duran and the impressing with every game Mika Baur will be key to the champions getting a positive result, although doubts remain over the stability of our defence with Auston Trusty still absent due to personal issues, and Cameron Carter Vickers unlikely to be risked on the plastic surface.
One things for sure, we will need to see a major improvement on Wednesday night’s display, that’s a given.
My predicted Celtic team (4-3-3)
I reckon hat Martin O’Neill is likely to go with the following starting XI today at the Falkirk Stadium…
Johstone; Donovan, Murray, Scales, Tierney; McGregor (c), Baur, Nygren; Hassan, Hogh and Duran.
Let’s win in Celtic and open up a seven points gap.
COYBIG!
