Celtic manager Martin O'Neill was left surprised by a supportive fan reaction following a midweek European defeat. His team then secured a 2-1 victory over Falkirk at Parkhead, with Camilo Duran scoring both goals for the hosts.
This win maintains Celtic's perfect start to the Premiership season, as they sit first with six points from two games. The club has scored six goals and conceded just one so far. Their next challenge is a home match against Aberdeen on September 2nd, a fixture you can view on our fixtures page.
How did the fans react after the LASK loss?
Martin O'Neill spent four days feeling down after Celtic's Champions League loss to LASK on Tuesday. The team played 120 minutes in that match, and the manager expected a subdued atmosphere. He was wrong. As the squad arrived at Parkhead for the Falkirk game, the home crowd cheered them. O'Neill told the Daily Record he found this unexpected. "As we got off the bus, the crowd actually cheered us, which was unexpected and something that we probably didn't deserve," the manager said.
Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers confirmed the boost this provided. "One hundred percent, that definitely helps us," he stated. "Even when coming off the bus arriving, there was a good little cheer." Carter-Vickers himself is rebuilding fitness after being sidelined for nine months, a situation shared by several players who had interrupted pre-seasons.
What happened in the match against Falkirk?
Celtic took on Falkirk just days after their European exertions. Camilo Duran opened the scoring, and Colby Donovan's own goal doubled the lead. Falkirk were never completely out of the contest, however. A blunder by goalkeeper Scott Bain let them back into the game, and Celtic missed several chances to kill the match. The visitors pressed hard in the final 10 to 15 minutes, keeping the result in doubt until the end.
The 2-1 win was harder than expected. O'Neill acknowledged his team was on the back foot late on. Physical fatigue from the midweek game was a factor for some players. The manager has broader concerns about squad fitness with a hectic schedule ahead, recalling that last season players like Kieran struggled to finish games. He had hoped the LASK match would help improve overall fitness levels.
What does this mean for Celtic's season?
Despite the narrow win, O'Neill believes the season has been pretty good overall, apart from one poor 45-minute spell. The positive fan support after a setback is seen as a key factor in moving forward. The manager also has an eye on European competition, revealing he has always wanted to manage Celta Vigo. Celtic will face the Spanish side in the Europa League, and O'Neill joked about wanting to learn Spanish to communicate better with his two-goal striker Camilo Duran.
The team must now prepare without the injured Alistair Johnston and Jota, whose status is tracked on our injuries page. Maintaining their league position, detailed on our standings page, will require managing the squad carefully through this busy period. The reaction from the Parkhead faithful suggests the supporters are firmly behind the team as they navigate this challenge.
