Celtic and Falkirk face off at Celtic Park on Wednesday night in what promises to be a crucial Scottish Premiership encounter.
Celtic vs Falkirk – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Wednesday, 29th October.
- Kick-off: 8:45pm BST.
- Venue: Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Celtic Team News
Celtic are navigating a significant injury crisis ahead of this fixture under new interim management. Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney have taken temporary charge following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation on Monday, with the club confirming the departure just 24 hours after their 3-1 defeat to Hearts.
The Hoops face a lengthy injury list that will test their squad depth. Cameron Carter-Vickers has been ruled out for three to five months with an Achilles injury sustained during the Europa League clash against Sturm Graz. This represents a major blow to Celtic’s defensive stability.
Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho both suffered hamstring injuries in the same Europa League fixture and are sidelined. Jota remains absent with a cruciate ligament injury that could keep him out until February.
Daizen Maeda is doubtful after recovering from a hamstring problem, though O’Neill may exercise caution before rushing the Japanese international back into action. The interim management team will need to make crucial decisions on team selection as they aim to steady the ship during this turbulent period.
Falkirk Team News
Falkirk have dealt with their own injury setback with the news that Lewis Neilson faces a potentially lengthy spell out. Manager John McGlynn described it as a “massive blow,” with the on-loan Hearts defender sustaining a serious ankle injury late in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Motherwell.
McGlynn revealed the extent of Falkirk’s defensive injury crisis, stating: “He will need to consult a specialist about his ankle, and the prognosis isn’t promising. I anticipate he will be out for a while, which is a significant setback since he has played every minute in every match”. The Bairns are now missing three centre-backs, with Coll Donaldson also unavailable since the season’s start.
Other long-term absentees include Aidan Nesbitt (foot), Ethan Ross (ankle), and Jamie Sneddon (hernia), while Leon McCann also remains out. Despite these setbacks, Billy Koumetio has returned to training, providing some positive news for the visitors.
Form
Celtic
Celtic’s form has been concerning in recent weeks, contributing to the dramatic managerial change. The Hoops have won just two of their last five competitive matches, both of which required comebacks after falling behind.
They secured victories against Motherwell (3-2) and Sturm Graz (2-1) but suffered defeats to Braga (0-2), Dundee (2-0), and Hearts (3-1). The defeat at Tynecastle on Sunday proved to be the final straw, leaving Celtic eight points adrift of league leaders Hearts after just nine matches.
Falkirk
Falkirk arrive at Celtic Park in excellent spirits after back-to-back victories that have lifted them into the top half of the table. The Bairns secured a 2-1 comeback win at Motherwell followed by another 2-1 triumph over Dundee at home, with Connor Allan scoring a late winner in the 89th minute.
John McGlynn’s side have shown remarkable resilience since their return to the top flight, losing just once in their last five matches. That defeat came against league leaders Hearts (3-0), but they’ve since bounced back impressively. They also held both Hibernian (2-2) and Rangers (1-1) to draws at home, demonstrating their ability to compete against bigger sides.
Predicted Lineups
Celtic: Schmeichel; Donovan, Murray, Scales, Tierney; McGregor, Hatate, Engels; Nygren, Kenny, Tounekti.
Falkirk: Bain; Adams, Allan, Henderson, Lissah; Spencer, Tait; Wilson, Williams, Miller; MacIver.
How to Watch Celtic vs Falkirk?
UK and Ireland fans will not be able to watch this match on traditional television channels. The game is available exclusively on Celtic TV with a pay-per-view stream costing £9.99, though live video is only available outside the UK and Ireland.
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