Falkirk manager John McGlynn has reacted to his team's 2-1 defeat away to Celtic, describing the opening goal conceded as a "nightmare" but taking encouragement from the second-half performance. The Bairns lost in Glasgow on Saturday after gifting Celtic two first-half goals before a late Jacob Murrell effort forced an own goal.
Speaking to the Falkirk Herald, McGlynn admitted his side made costly errors. "We gifted them a goal from a harmless ball," he said. "Scotty (Bain) has misjudged it. It was a nightmare - exactly what you don't want." Celtic's Camilo Duran scored twice before the break, capitalising on a goalkeeping mistake and a quick counter-attack. McGlynn said his players showed character to stay in the game and improve after half-time.
How did the new signings perform?
Two recent additions made their debuts from the bench and impressed the manager. Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Conor McLeod provided the assist for Falkirk's consolation goal with a precise through ball. McGlynn highlighted the winger's direct play and pace. "Conor made a huge impact," he beamed. "He showed some great pace and he played a lovely ball through for Jacob."
Striker Jacob Murrell, also making his first appearance, was the beneficiary, forcing Colby Donovan into an own goal with 18 minutes remaining. The manager noted the valuable experience gained by several players visiting Celtic Park for the first time. You can see how the new arrivals fit into the wider group on our squad page.
What is the latest on Brad Spencer?
Midfielder Brad Spencer returned to the starting lineup after serving a two-match suspension carried over from the previous campaign. The 30-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Dundee United, earned praise from his manager for his performance amid transfer speculation. "Brad was outstanding today off the back of that," McGlynn stated.
The Courier reported last week that Dundee United were preparing another bid for Spencer, with the player reportedly open to talks if a fee is agreed. Any deal would represent United's largest transfer outlay in over four years. Spencer's current contract situation is a key piece of squad planning as the season progresses.
Where does this leave Falkirk in the table?
The narrow defeat means Falkirk remain on three points from their opening three Premiership fixtures. Their campaign began with a win over St Mirren followed by a loss to Motherwell. The team's next match is a home fixture against Hearts on September 14th, a game you can find on our fixtures schedule.
Despite the result, McGlynn found positives. "I can take real encouragement from how we played," he added. "Our players rose to the challenge and didn't buckle. They stayed in the game." He believes the gap to the champions is closing, though he expressed frustration that his side couldn't create more late chances to equalise. The team will look to build on the second-half display when they return to action. Falkirk currently sit in tenth position in the early standings.
What is the squad's injury status?
While no new injuries were reported from the Celtic match, managing player fitness is always a priority. The club provides updates on any player availability issues on the dedicated injuries page. Maintaining a fit squad will be vital as Falkirk faces a busy period of league and cup football throughout September and October. The next match at the Falkirk Stadium kicks off at 3pm on the 14th.
