O'Neill Returns for Bhoys & Bairns Battle
~~~~~~~~~~ Official TC Match Preview ~~~~~~~~~~​

August: The Bhoys celebrate during the 4-1 win against Falkirk in their League Cup showdown


Celtic Park, Glasgow
Wednesday, 29 October 2025
19.45 GMT

The Hoops' are back in League action tomorrow evening under the somewhat surprising guidance of former manager, Martin O'Neill, when they host 6th placed Falkirk at Celtic Park.

This follows the announcement late Monday evening, confirming the resignation of Brendan Rodgers with immediate effect. While the timing came as a shock, it was not a total surprise, given the stagnation that has set in under his stewardship.

There is no getting away from the fact that the team has not been firing for some time now, with predictable tactics and ponderous football proving ineffective this season, but in truth evidence of this can be found that stretches back throughout the emtirity of 2025 and beyond.

The Hoops are coming into this game desperately needing to put the loss to both Dundee and Hearts behind them, as they look to get their Premiership defence back on track.

It is a position that Celtic has not been in often in recent times, finding themselves having to chase the League leaders, whom they trail by 8 points at this stage. And given the fixtures to come, Celtic MUST pick up all 3 points against Dundee tomorrow evening.

With Hearts having now stolen a march on the Hoops, and with Celtic in League Cup Semi-Final action this weekend, it is very possible that the gap could be in double digits this time next week, albeit with the Bhoys having a game in hand.

Which brings us back to why it is absolutely essential that Celtic secure a win by any means against Falkrik, as they really cannot afford to drop any further behind at this stage.

Answers are needed, and while O'Neill is taking charge on an interum basis until a new manager can be appointed, hopefully the experienced former Hoops boss, aided by Shaun Maloney, is able to help to find them fast!


2000-2005: Martin O'Neill led the Bhoys to 3 Premiership titles, 3 Scottish Cups & 2 League Cups

While Celtic are undoubtedly a club in something of a self-inflicted crisis just now, the same cannot be said of the visitors, under the management of John McGlynn.

The Falkirk boss has impressed many observers, as his side have secured consecutive promotions over the past two seasons. And so far this campaign the Bairns have settled in reasonably well into life in the Premiership, and are coming into this game after back-to-back successes against Motherwell and Dundee.

These sides have already met once this season, in the League Cup, when the Hoops ran out comfortable 4-1 victors, back in August.

The pressure will be immediately on the 73y.o. O'Neill, to get the Bhoys going again. In the summer of 2000, he famously proclaimed that he would be looking to bring success back to Parkhead. Over the 5 seasons that followed, he lead them to 3 Premiership titles, 3 Scottish Cups, 2 League Cups, as well as guiding them all the way to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville.

25 Years later and the Irishman has again answered the call, and just like back then, immediate success is what is needed asap to help get the team back on track and take a first step in helping all those with a vested interest in the club to get united behind the Bhoys.

Stats & Facts​

• Celtic are undefeated in the past 14 meetings (W12 D2) between these sides across all competitions since March 2007.

• The Bhoys have scored just 3 1st half League goals so far this season - the only team who have scored fewer, is Falkirk (1).

• However, only Hearts (15) have scored more 2nd half goals than Falkirk (11).

O'Neill will be relying on Liam Scales as one of the most experienced defenders at the Club

Team News

Martin O'Neill has little time to assess the squad ahead of this game, so it will be interesting to see what changes, if any, are likely to be made to the team ahead of this game. Obviously, there will be the continued absence of the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers (achilles), Jota (knee), Kalechi Iheanacho & Alistair Johnston (both with hamstring trouble) through injury.

Given that the Hoops are coming into this game on the back of the 3-1 defeat by Hearts, it is possible that O'Neill may prefer to use Auston Trusty in defence ahead of Dane Murray, while it remains to be seen if Daizen Maeda, who has resumed training, is deemed fit for this match.

As for the visitors, John McGlynn is once again expected to be without Aidan Nesbitt, Coll Donaldson, Ethan Ross, Finn Yeats and Jamie Sneddon, all through various ongoing injury concerns.

Given that the Bairns are coming into this game after back to back League wins, McGlynn is almost certain to make minimal, if any, changes to the starting line-up. ​

Referee: Ryan Lee

This will be just the 5th Premiership match that Lee has been appointed to since making his debut earlier this year, and just the first involving Celtic in any competition.

Celtic's Overall Record
M:0 W:0 D:0 L:0

VAR: Grant Irvine



~~~~ Head to Head ~~~~

Overall
P:166 W:107 D:31 L:28​

Last 5 Meetings
W W W W W

~~~~ 2025/26 Form ~~~~

All Comps
L W L W L ~ W W D L D

SPFL
L L W D W ~ W W D L D​