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Celticshow a rare cutting edge to end Falkirk'srun
The Herald (Glasgow)
May 1, 1995
BYLINE:Jim Reynolds
THERE has been little doubt that some of the best football we have seen in Scotland this season has come fromCeltic, who, on their better days, can provide exciting entertainment. Their better days, however, have been far too few and it is a fact that they languish somewhere south of where they would want to be at this stage.
At Brockville on Saturday, however, the Parkhead men showed a side of themselves which has been lacking for so long — steel. Seventeen draws in the league so far suggests that there has been a less-than-determined attitude along the way.
The chips were down againstFalkirk, who were on a run of five victories and had been unbeaten in their eight previous matches. Jim Jefferies had taken the club, which at the start of the season had been widely tipped as likely to go down, into the race for a UEFA Cup place andCelticsimply had to win to retain their own interest in finishing second in the table.A hard, bumpy pitch was not ideal for silky football, but neither was the situation.
This was a good, old-fashioned battle andCelticrose to the occasion.
Of course, the best chance forCelticto qualify for Europe will come at Hampden on May 27 when they take on Airdrie in the final of the Tennents Scottish Cup, but it would be unwise for any of the players or supporters to take that as a foregone conclusion.
Remember first division Raith Rovers in the Coca-Cola Cup final at Ibrox back in November.Celtichad the class that day and gave the Fifers the runaround for so long. Raith Rovers had the steel, and at the end of the day that quality mattered most. Everyone knows where the trophy is sitting today.
Now, when it comes down to steel and determination, hard graft and a willingness to sweat, I don't think there is a side in any division in the country who can match Airdrie. They have proved time and again that when they apply themselves, which is most weeks, they can compete with anyone. You can bank on it that they will apply themselves on cup final day and all the classCelticmay display will in no way intimidate them.
That is a one of the reasons Parkhead manager Tommy Burns was well pleased with the efforts at Brockville. He knew it would be a slog of a match, and for that reason he left out little Brian McLaughlin. This tight arena was no place for artistry. Those who went out to play were asked to dig deep and they did so — both sets of players.
Burns said: "My players showed a great attitude in the way they competed and I'm delighted. We knew the type of match it would be.Falkirkare a big, strong side, but we matched them for determination and maybe that has been lacking in some of our away matches this season.
"We went into the game having lost two matches and if we hadn't got a result here, the pressure would have started to build up."
Celticgot off to a great start after just five minutes. Andy Walker, who was later rather fortunate to escape punishment after an incident involving John Hughes, sent in a low drive which Tony Parks could only push out and Phil O'Donnell was first to the rebound to score.
After that it was more like a cup tie than an end-of-the-season affair, and Maurice Johnston hadFalkirk'sbest chance in the first half when Pat Bonner had a great save from a 30-yard free kick from John Clark.
Falkirkdid equalise early in the second half when David Weir was pushed in the box and Brian Rice scored from the spot, but, with 11 minutes left,Celticgrabbed the winner. Boyd made a fine run into the box and when he cut the ball back, O'Donnell's shot looked like going wide until theCelticfull back stuck out a foot to steer it past Parks — his first goal for the club for three years.
So endedFalkirk'sbrave run which had taken them out of danger and to the brink of Europe, but manager Jim Jefferies is convinced the run should have continued.
"I'm delighted with the determination we showed," he said, "but they got the breaks and we didn't. For example, Maurice himself probably doesn't know how that shot of his went over the bar.
"We dominated for long spells and after we scored with the penalty I thought if there was going to be a winner it would be us — we certainly didn't deserve to lose.
"As far as Europe is concerned, the results went against us today, but the situation can change every week and we will just have to get our heads back up for next Saturday's match against Partick Thistle at Firhill."