Martin O'Neill pushed back after Celtic's 2-0 loss at Falkirk in Falkirk vs Celtic, saying the focus should be on the chances his side missed, not the changes he made. The defeat came after first-half goals from Ethan Ross and Scott Tanser, and it left Celtic having missed a chance to move seven points clear at the top of the Premiership.

O'Neill's defence of the changes

O'Neill was firm about the rotation questions. "Why would you not change the team? We have an abundance of games, we're playing European football, we're trying to hold the Scottish flag up at the end of it all," he said. He also pointed to the schedule, saying Celtic had gone "Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday" for a considerable period.

He made the same point again when talking about the squad balance, saying: "You have to cope with the pressure to be a player." On the team sheet, he dropped Kasper Høgh to start Haissem Hassan, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cameron Carter-Vickers came into the XI.

The pressure on Celtic's new arrivals

The broader message was not just about one defeat. O'Neill said training can only tell him so much, because "the only place to find where players fit is out there." He was clear that Celtic's new arrivals still have to prove they can deal with the standards at the club.

The result also fits into a run that is starting to look awkward rather than temporary. Celtic have now lost six of their last 10 in all competitions, and they have lost two of their last five matches. The league position is still strong, with Celtic top on 28 points from 12 matches, but the margin for errors is getting thinner.

Scott Bain had a major hand in the result for Falkirk, making nine saves and producing a 9.41 rating in the win. Falkirk sit fourth in the Premiership on 18 points from 12 matches, so this was not a routine away day for Celtic.

O'Neill has another big night coming on Thursday against Besiktas's European opponents, then another major game the following Sunday before the international break.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →