Celtic got back to winning ways in emphatic fashion with a 4–0 victory over Falkirk at Celtic Park, a result that marked Martin O’Neill’s first game back in the dugout in 20 years and delivered a much-needed lift after a turbulent week off the pitch.
The Hoops, led on an interim basis by O’Neill and Shaun Maloney, looked rejuvenated from the first whistle, showing a sharper edge and greater attacking intent than in recent outings.
The win also closed the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to six points, as Celtic ended a run of back-to-back league defeats in style, whiel Hearts were held by St Mirren.
Celtic took control midway through the first half when Benjamin Nygren’s strike came off the post and Johnny Kenny was alert to fire in the rebound for 1–0.
Kenny grabbed his second goal soon after, reacting quickest to a Nygren knockdown to double the lead and give Celtic breathing room heading into half-time.
After the break, Celtic kept the pressure on. Nygren got the goal his performance deserved when he pounced on a rebound after Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain spilled the ball, making it 3–0.
Moments later, Sebastian Tounekti capped a fine team move by turning home from close range to round off the scoring.
🍀 Interim boss Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side secured a 4-0 win over Falkirk in his first game back in charge of the club since 2005 as they close the gap on Hearts to six points ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/7yZQ2HEaks
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 30, 2025
There were further positives for Celtic as Daizen Maeda made his return from injury, getting valuable minutes ahead of Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against Rangers.
The performance reflected a clear shift in approach under O’Neill. Quicker transitions, more direct attacking play and greater urgency across the park.
The result also saw Celtic register an xG of 4.48, the highest by any team in the Premiership this season.
