Forrest on fire as Hoops progress
James Forrest marked his first start for Celtic after more than five months out injured in style. The winger broke the deadlock in the Scottish Cup tie against Falkirk last night with a fine finish after the Bairns had taken the Hoops inside at half-time with the scoresheet blank. Further goals from Ryan Christie and Moi Elyounoussi put caretaker boss John Kennedy’s side on Easy Street and into the hat for today’s Fourth Round draw. It rounded off a day when all the Premiership teams involved avoided a giant-killing.
CELTIC 3
Forrest (56), Christie (58), Elyounoussi (78)
FALKIRK 0
Exactly what Eddie Howe’s Saturday Night takeaway from this tie was, only time will tell.
If as expected, the Englishman is announced as the new Celtic manager in the next few days then it is reasonable to imagine him giving comment on what will have been a taster of things to come.
Certainly, given he met with Hoops owner Dermot Desmond last week for job talks, it can be taken for granted Howe will have watched Premier Sports’ late feature and done so with a professional eye.
Even a passing interest in the Scottish game would have told him that Premiership second’s best at home to League One opposition – even that division’s leaders – should not be a fair fight.
Especially when the visitors were playing their fifth of nine games in the space of a month.
Falkirk made eight changes from last Tuesday’s draw with Dumbarton with manager David Mccracken cheerfully unapologetic about making such radical change ahead of a big Scottish cup tie.
John Kennedy, the Celtic caretaker boss, was even more relaxed ahead of the tie, playing questions about Howe’s imminent arrival with the softest of hands.
Celtic, he reminded the interviewer, were the Scottish Cup holders and wanted to successfully defend the trophy. To be sure of doing so, they needed to focus 100% on the tie.
Crucially, his cause here was boosted by the availability of James Forrest who made his first start since September.
The Scotland star chipped in with the opening goal, a contribution that will not have been missed by Howe. Forrest, side-lined for so long by the need to rehab after ankle surgery, was keen right from the off.
Played up front in a two with Leigh Griffiths, the 29-year-old was full of movement popping up first on the right, then the left and occasionally dropping deep to link up with Celtic’s midfield diamond.
He also forced two saves from Robbie Mutch inside the first quarter of an hour.
With Griffiths sliding a shot wide after being beautifully teed up by David Turnbull and Ryan Christie flashing a long range over, the holders’ intent was clear.
Griffiths appealed long and loud for a penalty after crumpling under a challenger from Falkirk’s Kai Fotheringham but referee John Beaton was not to be swayed and waved play on.
The let-off and collection of near things seemed to boost the Bairns, giving them encouragement that just perhaps this might be their night.
Celtic’s first chance worthy of mention after the break was a case in point. Akeel Francis’s emphatic flooring of David Turnbull gave them a set piece opportunity in great position, on the angle just outside the Falkirk penalty box.
Griffiths got loads of power on his effort but only succeeded it driving it straight into the defensive wall.
When the ball rebounded kindly for him, he took another mighty swipe at the ball only to see his second effort spin behind for a corner.
But then – just when things looked like they might get a bit hairy for Celtic – Forrest rode into the rescue.
Collecting a pass wide on the right of the Falkirk box, he jinked inside and unleashed a right foot shot in on goal.
It might have gone in anyway but when it struck the ducking head of Lewis Neilson to pick up a helpful deflection Mutch was left with no chance.
That was one nil, within the space of a couple of minutes it was two.
Christie, who had missed a fair few when the pressure was on, was the scorer with a low drive that beat the Falkirk keeper at his near post.
Kennedy took the chance to make use of his substitutes’ bench as the time ticked down and of the three men brought on it was Moi Elyounoussi who took the chance to shine with a lovely finish for Celtic’s third.