Martin O’Neill’s return to the Celtic dugout after 20 years couldn’t have gone much better.
Celtic’s 4–0 victory over Falkirk not only brought a much-needed lift after a chaotic week but also saw the Hoops record an xG (expected goals) of 4.48, the highest total by any team in the Scottish Premiership this season.
4.48 – Celtic registered an xG total of 4.48 tonight against Falkirk, the most by a team in a Scottish Premiership match so far this season. O’Neill. pic.twitter.com/S7A1MwKVO1
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 29, 2025
That figure highlights just how dominant Celtic were under O’Neill’s guidance in his first match back in charge, with his side showing urgency, intent and attacking freedom that had been missing in recent weeks.
Fans went home happy with the scoreline and the performance.
A Johnny Kenny double, followed by goals from Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti, sealed a convincing win and closed the gap at the top of the table to six points.
Hearts drew to St Mirren on Wednesday night, dropping points for just the second time this season.
Beyond the goals, Celtic carved out chance after chance, registering their most fluid attacking display of the campaign, a clear sign of O’Neill’s immediate impact on a team that had looked short of confidence and creativity under Brendan Rodgers’ final weeks.
O’Neill, back in the dugout for the first time in two decades, now prepares to lead Celtic into Sunday’s League Cup semi-final against Rangers, with the mood around Parkhead transformed after one emphatic night.
