Celtic manager Martin O'Neill made a triumphant return to the Parkhead dugout, leading his team to a convincing 4-0 victory over Falkirk. The veteran boss was back in charge after a 20-year absence and looked to get the Hoops back on track after a tumultuous few days.
O'Neill opted for an experienced lineup, with three changes in defense and James Forrest making his first start of the season. Celtic started brightly but struggled to create clear-cut chances against Falkirk's goalkeeper Scott Bain.
However, the breakthrough came when Benjamin Nygren's strike bounced off the post and Johnny Kenny fired in the rebound, opening the scoring. Kenny then doubled Celtic's lead with a headed goal, before Nygren netted his second and Tounekti slotted in from close range to seal the win.
The victory was a much-needed boost for O'Neill's team ahead of a crucial League Cup semi-final against Rangers on Sunday. O'Neill expressed his delight at the win, saying: "I'm delighted to have won the game. I don't think I've been as nervous since I did the 11-plus! We played some great stuff, too, and the goal was obviously very important for us. It's a restoration of confidence."
Celtic's next opponents, Rangers, will be looking to bounce back from their own recent defeats. Meanwhile, Falkirk are now six points behind leaders Hearts, after losing to Celtic.
The win marked a significant turning point in O'Neill's tenure as interim boss and came at a time when the club's fans were protesting against the boardroom. Major shareholder Dermot Desmond made a rare appearance at Parkhead before the match, while fans continued their demonstrations in support of Rodgers' replacement.
O'Neill's return to Celtic was seen as a welcome boost for the team, but he warned that it wasn't season-defining: "It's not going to define our season, that one. When they're at that level, we're not at that level, unfortunately."
The victory marked an important step in O'Neill's journey as interim boss and will be seen as a significant milestone for the club. However, the road ahead remains challenging for Celtic, who face a tough schedule in the coming weeks.
The win has put Celtic back on track after two back-to-back defeats but, ultimately, it is too early to say if this result was just a one-off.
O'Neill opted for an experienced lineup, with three changes in defense and James Forrest making his first start of the season. Celtic started brightly but struggled to create clear-cut chances against Falkirk's goalkeeper Scott Bain.
However, the breakthrough came when Benjamin Nygren's strike bounced off the post and Johnny Kenny fired in the rebound, opening the scoring. Kenny then doubled Celtic's lead with a headed goal, before Nygren netted his second and Tounekti slotted in from close range to seal the win.
The victory was a much-needed boost for O'Neill's team ahead of a crucial League Cup semi-final against Rangers on Sunday. O'Neill expressed his delight at the win, saying: "I'm delighted to have won the game. I don't think I've been as nervous since I did the 11-plus! We played some great stuff, too, and the goal was obviously very important for us. It's a restoration of confidence."
Celtic's next opponents, Rangers, will be looking to bounce back from their own recent defeats. Meanwhile, Falkirk are now six points behind leaders Hearts, after losing to Celtic.
The win marked a significant turning point in O'Neill's tenure as interim boss and came at a time when the club's fans were protesting against the boardroom. Major shareholder Dermot Desmond made a rare appearance at Parkhead before the match, while fans continued their demonstrations in support of Rodgers' replacement.
O'Neill's return to Celtic was seen as a welcome boost for the team, but he warned that it wasn't season-defining: "It's not going to define our season, that one. When they're at that level, we're not at that level, unfortunately."
The victory marked an important step in O'Neill's journey as interim boss and will be seen as a significant milestone for the club. However, the road ahead remains challenging for Celtic, who face a tough schedule in the coming weeks.
The win has put Celtic back on track after two back-to-back defeats but, ultimately, it is too early to say if this result was just a one-off.
O'Neill's triumphant return was definitely a shot in the arm for Celtic 
️! The 4-0 thrashing of Falkirk showed that the team can still perform at a high level when the right coach is at the helm 
. But, as O'Neill wisely said, it wasn't season-defining... yet 
. With Rangers up next and a tough schedule ahead, Celtic's road to recovery will be far from straightforward 
. Still, for now, this win has reignited some hope among the Hoops faithful 
.
. 20 years is a long time to be away from the dugout but i think he's got this 
so nice to see martin o'neill back at the helm 
james forrest finally gets a start 
and benjamin nygren's strike was pure class 
hope o'Neill can keep them calm and focused on the pitch 
he's like a legend! and now he's back and they won 4-0 lol that's crazy! but seriously, it feels like ages since they had a good run. and now with this win, they're gonna be back on track for the league cup against rangers 
anywayz, gotta keep fingers crossed for celtic's future. 20 yrs is a long time, so i'm sure he'll get 'em back on track 
I think O'Neill's return was a bit of a false dawn, you know? I mean, he gets the win and everyone's like "woo hoo!" But we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Have we seen any real changes or are they just patching things up until Rodgers gets back in charge? 
And what about those fans protesting against the boardroom? O'Neill says it's not season-defining, but isn't that just a cop-out? Shouldn't he be saying something more concrete? 
The road ahead is still super tough and I'm not convinced this win will keep Celtic on track for long. 
). Three changes in defense? Talk about a mid-season refresh! The Hoops are back on track, but don't get too excited yet... we're not there just yet 
. And can someone please tell me what's going on with these protests? I thought the boardroom drama was settled... guess not 
. Anyway, 4-0 win and all that jazz, let's just enjoy it for now 
and seeing James Forrest get his first start of the season is like a nice bonus 
. O'Neill's right, though, that this win isn't gonna define the season just yet 
. Still, it's a huge step in the right direction and I'm hyped for the rest of the season! 
so like Martin O'Neill makes a comeback @ Celtic and its such a huge deal!! 
they crushed Falkirk 4-0 and the fans are literally going wild!!! 
its like, their first win in ages and its exactly what they needed to boost morale. And yeah, its not just about O'Neill tho, its also about the fans who have been protesting against the boardroom stuff... 
u feel? like, major shareholder Dermot Desmond shows up and its all good vibes now lol.
, and 4-0 against Falkirk isn't bad for a comeback match 
and finally got the breakthrough they needed 
. Celtic still have a tough schedule ahead of them, and we can't underestimate Rangers this weekend 
. The boardroom drama is still going on, but at least the team's performance has given us something to be optimistic about 
, and hopefully he can keep that momentum going 
. Celtic fans are finally feeling like things might turn around 
️!
O'Neill did a great job with his lineup and it paid off in the end 
James Forrest's start couldn't have come at a better time for him 
.
The fans are still up in arms, but O'Neill seems to be doing what works for him, even if it's not exactly what they want to hear.