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O’Neill unimpressed by Celtic display in 1-0 win over Falkirk
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill once again stressed for the pressing need for extra firepower after watching his team labour to a 1-0 win over Falkirk.
Benjamin Nygren's 44th-minute header landed the win to stay within six points of Premiership leaders Hearts but O'Neill was left unimpressed by the performance and said that he will "definitely" bring in new players during the winter transfer window.
A new No 9 remains Celtic's priority. Wide forward Daizen Maeda led the line but the attack was blunt at the Falkirk Stadium. A slew of names have been linked with Celtic this month - the latest being 26-year-old Croatian striker Franko Kovacevic, who plays for Celje in Slovenia.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill at full time after the 1-0 win over Falkirk at Falkirk Stadium. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS GroupO'Neill was asked directly if he has looked at Kovacevic. "I'm probably sure I have done," smiled O'Neill. "I've only looked at about four and a half thousand at this minute and that's not bad given I'm only in a week. You can tell that we definitely need to get a centre forward.
"Young Johnny Kenny has done really fine in the games but I think it's really harsh to put that kind of pressure on a young lad. We're looking for help. I'm not diverting to your thing, but I'm just not answering you!
"But you know, I am trying. I know I haven't done anything since yesterday but I am trying. We will definitely get people in."
O'Neill was frank in his assessment of the match. "We didn't play well in the game," he said. "We saw it through and we can play much, much better.
"It just seems strange in a contrast where we were so good on Saturday and tentative tonight and lost the ball in areas where we shouldn't have been doing it.
"Overall, I think Falkirk would have found themselves really unlucky to be behind at half-time in the game. I thought we pressed a bit better in the second half, but overall, we didn't play well in the game.
"I thought we seemed devoid of that real, real energy that is necessary. Obviously, I am delighted to have won the game because we will play better."
Celtic were indebted to their goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who made a match-winning save from Ethan Williams towards the end of the game with his foot. The stop ensured Celtic's sixth league clean sheet in a row under O'Neill across his two spells.
"Kasper makes a great save for us, a really, really great save, which he has been doing all his life, in all honesty," added O'Neill. "Particularly when his dad was here tonight. Great. So, there you are, emulating the father. Can't be bad."
Falkirk manager John McGlynn reacts to a missed chance during the 1-0 defeat by Celtic. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS GroupFalkirk manager John McGlynn believed his team merited more from the match.
“Never mind a Falkirk fan, any neutral would have said we deserved to take something from the game," lamented McGlynn. “I thought we were the better team in the first half and created some really good opportunities.
“We were gutted to go in a goal down. I can’t remember a game against Celtic where our goalkeeper was so quiet.
“Usually they are keeping the score down. I thought Schmeichel made an amazing save. I was waiting for the ball to hit the back of the net. He has been criticised of late but he earned the points for Celtic tonight.
“I am gutted for the boys but at the same time we can take a lot of confidence from the performance.”