Falkirk 2-0 Celtic: Martin O'Neill's Hoops denied chance to go seven points clear in Scottish Premiership by brilliant Bairns
Report as Falkirk stun Celtic with 2-0 win; Ethan Ross gifted the opener and Scott Tanser doubled the lead before half time; Jacob Murrell had a third ruled out for handball; Celtic remain four points clear of title rivals Rangers having played a game more; Falkirk are up to fourth
Sunday 1 November 2026 15:16, UK
Falkirk claimed their first win against Celtic since 2007 as the champions missed another chance to extend their lead in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Martin O'Neill made three changes as he looked for a response after Celtic's midweek draw with Dundee United, but they were outclassed by the Bairns, who extended their winning run to four matches.
Ethan Ross was gifted the opening goal just three minutes into the game. Ryan Strain sent a cross into the box and Cameron Carter-Vickers sent the ball straight to him to fire into the net.
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Scott Bain was more than impressive against his former team, denying Camilo Duran and Hasseim Hassan before Falkirk stunned with their second, this time Scott Tanser beating Carter-Vickers before lashing the ball into the net.
The hosts had the ball in the net again after the break, but it was ruled out with VAR confirming the ball came off Jacob Murrell's arm before crossing the line.
Celtic piled on the pressure late on, but could not find a way past Bain as Falkirk moved up to fourth in the Premiership.
The Hoops remain four points clear of title rivals Rangers having played a game more.
More to follow...
The key moments from the Falkirk Stadium
3: GOAL FALKIRK! Ryan Strain sends a cross into the box, Cameron Carter-Vickers sends the ball straight to Ethan Ross instead of clearing the danger, and he makes no mistake.
12: OFF THE POST! Camilo Duran gets on the end of a long ball from Scales, but his shot smacks off the post.
21: SAVE! Falkirk threaten again. Jacob Murrell surges into the box, his shot comes off Carter-Vickers and Sam Johnstone saves.
29: SAVE! Celtic should be level! Hasseim Hassan's cross is met by Duran and he heads it straight at Scott Bain to palm away.
33: SAVE! Duran denied by Bain again! Callum McGregor with a lovely ball through to the striker, the Falkirk keeper gets low to block his shot.
38: GOAL FALKIRK! Scott Tanser collects the ball and eases past Carter-Vickers before firing into the bottom corner.
44: SAVE! Duran is again denied by Bain before he pushes the resultant corner clear.
50: GOAL FALKIRK! Celtic fail to deal with a long throw, Johnstone sends the ball into the path of Murrell. It does appear to hit his hand before crossing the line.
52: NO GOAL! VAR confirms handball as Murrell's third is ruled out.
60: CHANCE! Falkirk try to clear from a corner, it falls to McGregor and he fails to find the target.
67: DOUBLE SAVE! Brilliant from Bain. He pushes James Forrest's strike clear, then recovers to deny Benjamin Nygren on the rebound.
76: OVER! What a chance for Scales. He scored Celtic's equaliser in midweek, but he heads over the bar.
81: SAVE! Nygren curls in a free-kick. Bain gets his hand to it, although it looked like it was over.
82: SAVE! What a game Bain is having against his former club. This time, he denies Baur.
