Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Salem’s Lot v Celtic

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The Celtic Star

·15 de janeiro de 2026

Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Salem’s Lot v Celtic

SANDMAN’S DEFINITIVE RATINGS: CELTIC @ SALEM’S LOT…

“If you dare to struggle, you dare to win. If you dare not struggle, then damn it, you don’t deserve to win.” – Fed Hampton

Kasper Schmeichel saves. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Kasper Schmeichel celebrates with Callum McGregor. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Vídeos OneFootball

THE FRIENDLY GHOST – 7/10 – Ha, ha, it’s Kasper! Just as you, me, and the entire Celtic nation were expecting the inevitable concession, out comes the Great Dane to foil at point-blank with the family dance routine as Da’ watches on. Given the conditions, a remarkable clean sheet for a tubby near-forty-something wage-thief; right, haters? Big grin on his face to the goal-side camera at full-time said it all – a priceless three points dug out of the January gloom.

Julian Araujo of Celtic during the Premier League match between Falkirk and Celtic at Falkirk Stadium on January 14, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

AZTECO – 7/10 – Very decent in testing parts; drug cartels might be one thing but Falkirk locals on dreich nights may make you long for shootouts (No, not penalties, kids…) on the backroads of Tamaulipas. He kept his nerve and heid prety well as the team struggled on the sticky-back plastic.

Kieran Tierney of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

KATIE – 5.5/10 – Rough on KT but he scrapped his way through. Almost run-ragged by a lively winger for most of the game, his quality saw him prevail, staying steadfast into the depths of the match, taking blows and cards but getting the job done.

Liam Scales of Celtic at Benjamin Nygren’s goal.. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Liam Scales of Celtic arrives at the Falkirk Stadium. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

OF JUSTICE – 7.5/10 MOTM – MOTM Again! The virgins must die! Well, not quite those extremes, but the pelters the Ginger Baresi has taken deserve some humble pie. Once more, with his defensive partner all at sea, Liam was decisive at the back and our most creative passer when he could step up. Which wasn’t often given the home side’s familiarity and adeptness on their own ‘turf’. And I use that word figuratively for the flaming atrocity underfoot. Like I remarked Saturday, Liam is a bhoy you need for domestic strife – was right on-point and sharp for the majority of proceedings, the defender we required for the conditions; just able to get the side through the turmoil by setting a calming, focussed example. And, boy, we needed that last night.

Auston Trusty of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Auston Trusty and Julian Araujo applaud the Celtic support. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

CRUSTY THE CLOWN – 4/10 – He hated that. Never managed to get his feet right, floundered around, unsure, ropey. Gone off the boil recently but thankfully bailed-out by others.

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Arne Engels of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

THE TERMINATOR – 5/10 – Willing to scrap to scrape us to a victory. From the first minute, Arne’s main hinderance in open play was his left boot. And his right one. He cut a clumsy figure, unable to get to proper grips with his touch or footing. He had plenty of company. But his saving grace was his delivery of dead balls; just get one right on the money and we’ve got a chance of snatching the points. And he did. And we did.

Callum McGregor of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

CALMAC – 5.5/10 – Good luck controlling the game on a park you can’t control the ball for more than a couple of touches. But the skipper persevered, performing his secondary main role very well – keeping his charges’ heads in the game and with that, our chances of winning it.

https://twitter.com/PremSportsTV/status/2011564854780240118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Benjamin Nygren of Celtic applauds the fans after the Scottish Premiership match between Falkirk and Celtic at Falkirk Stadium on January 14, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

Benjamin Nygren celebrates. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

NYLON – 6/10 – LMAO, you can’t keep a lucky bloke down. Whatever his faffing about like one of the three stooges on fentanyl, he retains that precious gift of scoring when least expected. Tonight he deflected in a deep corner with his receding hairline as he somehow managed to get on the end of it despite being gangbanged by a handful of brawny Falkirkians. Must now retain his place for comical Swedish goalscoring brilliance; the Temu King Of Kings.

https://twitter.com/PremSportsTV/status/2011537314988576794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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Yang of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

YING – 4.5/10 – Started well and would have made some impact if he could remember to take the ball with him when he scampers down the wing. But he disappeared a bit too quickly as the going got tough and they revelled in the acres of space he conceded.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match between Falkirk and Celtic at Falkirk Stadium on January 14, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

LORD KATSUMOTO – 5/10 – Well, you know Daizen gets a pass for effort and despite being the blunt end of a poor Celtic attacking force he did manage one fine header on target that troubled Bainey enough.

Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

TUTANKHAMUN – 5.5/10 – Another eventual fade, but showed a bit more of Saturday’s promise with some energetic, creative wing-play. But also showed he hasn’t forgotten the Mikey J habit of disappearing up his own backside instead of burning up the opposition.

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SUBS –

Reo Hatate of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

HAKUNA HATATE – 6/10 – A bit of composure goes a long way and Reo did bring that – as his manager intended – helping us get at least a little more authority in the closing stages.

Luke McCowan of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

HIGHLAND TOFFEE – 4.5/10 – Luke, it’s unfortunate that Luke doesn’t like these surfaces either, twice almost selling the jerseys with misplaced passes resulting in troublesome turnovers.

Johnny Kenny of Celtic. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

KENNY JOHNNY – N/A – MON had him fizzing last time round and there’s indications he might respond to his returning boss again. Thought he did pretty well for his time, bringing a bit more presence to the forward line.

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Martin O’Neill and John McGlynn shake hands at the final whistle. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

FATHER MARTIN AND SAMWISE GANGEE – 7.5/10 – Hard night at the office, fellas? A teeth-grinding exercise for MON and SOM. No feet up cruise tonight, with both tag-teaming the team from the tight sidelines, demanding, encouraging, strategising as much as they could given the traitorous park and it’s deceptive polyurethane lushness.

https://twitter.com/BBCSportScot/status/2011576072186290224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

They’ll be delighted with the outcome if not the Wacky Races methods of obtaining it. Major kudos for keeping the players’ believing, as nothing seemed to run for us and Falkirk used their local knowledge to pin us back (aside from the regular local practice of pinning you down and letting lumbering village giant Humphrey practice ‘jiggy-jiggy’). So it becomes 2-for-2 ,in Yankee sportsfan parlance, for the returning saviours and the season does indeed remain saveable.

https://twitter.com/PremSportsTV/status/2011566145770238306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Substitute referee Sean Murdoch during the second half. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

MIBBERY – 6/10 – Flaming hell, they threw a curveball at us. So distraught was Johnny B at half-time by Negan’s sneaky opener that he couldn’t continue and named his Ludge apprentice to take charge of the second half and cause as much disruption as he could. Was a nice try, denying us obvious calls, booking a bloodied KT for ‘historical crimes against the Zombies’ and affording Falkirk a tea-break every time the ball went close to one of their Picasso-esque faces. A nice try indeed. But no cigar. Har-de-har.

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Celtic players applaud the travelling support. . Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

OVERALL – 5.5/10 – Well that was both rotten and brilliant. Didn’t I used to think that Falkirk pitch was okay? Surely not. It’s an embarrassment to Scottish football, like the others. I’m loathe to condemn the players for poor performances because the old argument about it being ‘the same for both sides’ is always thrown up. But it’s not really. They train and play on it multiple times over anyone else. It’s the levelling effect, and we struggled to stay level, managing to somehow sneak a clean-sheet win, thanks to our keeper, and also their winger invoking the hybrid demonic spirits of Sebo and van Vossen to do the impossible from four yards, making more of a mess of it than William Wallace managed nearby.

Kasper Schmeichel applauds the travelling support. . Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

So the very tricky trip to darkest Sleepy Hollow in deepest January played out with, mercifully, no brave Hoops losing their heads to the horseman. And somehow carving out a precious three-pointer even though we never managed to string three passes. Some games, it doesn’t really matter how you play, just that you win. Tonight was the archetype. It was poor and it was perfect; demoralising for contenders, an invigorating victory for a squad that’s already seen too many knife-edges like this evening turn into death by a thousand cuts this season.

Martin O’Neill watches on. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

We didn’t get the break of the ball, the rub of the green; we didn’t really start or look like we’d dominate at any point; or even stay in the game at all if they scored. We didn’t do any of the good things we’re capable of, or reach the heights we can.

And yet, we won. That’s what Champions do. And…

We move on.

Go Away Now

Sandman

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Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill at post-match media conference. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Martin O’Neill spoke to the media following Celtic’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Falkirk last night. Here is everything that a proper Celtic manager boss had to say…

Q: Martin, how do you sum up that game, that performance from your team?

Martin O’Neill: “We didn’t play well in the game. We saw it through, and we can play much, much better. Just seems strange in contrast to where we were so good on Saturday and tentative tonight, 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.”

Q: Before looking at the positives, because it is a win on the road and a difficult place to come, why do you think that is, given how good Saturday was?

Martin O’Neill: “You know what, I just thought, certainly in the first half, it seemed, and sometimes you get an impression that it might not have been near, but we were second best, and I thought that 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.”

Falkirk Stadium.

Q: What did you say to the players after the full-time whistle? Did you say that it has got to better or did you say, look, let’s put it behind it, it is another three points we have got to get?

Martin O’Neill: “Well, I will have a look at it again anyway. Obviously, there are loads of things that you can improve on, but the most important thing, I have said this often enough, is obviously winning, tonight particularly. Hearts have won as well too, and our margin of error is very, very small really. We dropped a lot of points where winning tonight was the most important thing. We can play much better and we will. Having said this, there are some really decent performances. Kasper makes a great save for us, really, really great save, which he has been doing all his life, in all honesty, and particularly when his dad was here. So, there you are, emulating the father, can’t be bad.”

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Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill at post-match media conference. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: Is it this kind of performance, Martin, when you talk about needing recruits and needing fresh blood, is this kind of exhibit A?

Martin O’Neill: “I think that is a good point, yes, it is. You know, I am trying. I know I have not done anything since yesterday, but I am trying, and we will definitely get people in.”

https://twitter.com/ClydeSSB/status/2011570129583091974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Q: Just in terms of the mood at the moment, as you mentioned, you have brought things back as two wins, two clean sheets, despite the performance. Is it a case of just having to churn them out and keep going until that recruitment arrives?

Martin O’Neill: “I think that is absolutely right, yes, we will have to do that. It is nice, Saturday was nice to play in the manner in which we did and it was great, particularly the first game back in this new spell of mine. Is it the second spell or is it the 43rd? I don’t know. But tonight, yes, and I think, I mean the circumstances are totally different. We are playing on an artificial surface, no problem with that. I have no problem because they played pretty well on the artificial surface or scored four goals against Livingston a couple of weeks ago, so that shouldn’t really be a problem, and that is the same for everyone. But just things were different, and you have to adjust, you have to adapt, you have to do all of these things. That is the nature of the game for the players. They have to dig in, and for that there I am obviously eternally grateful.”

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill at post-match media conference. Falkirk v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Falkirk Stadium, 14 January 2026. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Q: There is a player in Slovenia, Franco Kovacevic, who has been linked Celtic tonight, a striker. Is he someone you would have a look at?

Martin O’Neill: “I think that I would, I am probably sure I have done, I have only looked at about four and a half thousand at this minute, and that is not bad since I am only in a week! So, yes, we definitely, you can tell a mile away, we need to get a centre forward. I mean, for instance, young Johnny Kenny has done really fine in the games. I think that is really harsh, to put that sort of pressure on a young lad, he has only just arrived at the football club. So, we are looking for help. I am not diverting to your thing, I am just not answering you!”

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