Young Guns and Old Gun-Slinger Do Damage for Celtic in 3-0 win. Hearts had gone back to the top of the league with an impressive 3-0 win against Dundee United. Celtic needed a win to stay neck and neck with the early season league leaders against a Falkirk side which, by all accounts, where trying to play football on the deck under Yogi.

The pre-match build-up was dominated by the news of Chris Sutton's late omission from the side due to injury. He joins Majic and Beattie on the treamtment table and suddenly we look a bit short of cover up front. Fortunately we still have our leading scorer Hartson and the inform Maloney up front. This gave Aidan McGeady his first start since the opening game against Motherwell. It was his chance to impress WGS after picking skelfs out of his bum for the last few months. And boy did he take it.

McGeady started the game well. In fact, the word 'focused' springs to mind. The step-over was still there but now it was being used to good effect rather than just show. He was very intelligent with his use of the ball, certainly in the first half, and he was our best player during the opening 45.

Celtic started brightly enough, McGeady coming down the right side and only good defending cutting out his cross. First chance fell to Maloney who drove the ball well over from a Telfer pull-back.

However, Celic were being a little sloppy with some looseness in the midfield allowing Falkirk to pressurise the defence. Indeed for the first 30 minutes, Petrov probably had his poorest performance in a Celtic top this season. Any time we looked like we could be caught out it was invariably from a mistake by Petrov or Nakamura. Only Lennon and McGeady were shining in the midfield. Lennon was his usual controlling self and McGeady was linking up well with Camara on the left and it looked like the goal would come from that area.

Hartson was having a torrid time up front - no thanks to some bad decisions from the referee. He did however find time to nutmeg a Falkirk defender and win a free-kick. Twinkle-Toes Hartson anyone? Nah, we'll stick to Big Bad John.

Maloney was also fairly anonymous for the first 35 minutes or so but this could be put down to poor service from the middle of the park.

Naka started to drift in from the right to try and influence the game more but wasn't having as good a time as he had against Dundee United the previous week. He looked a little of the pace.

Back to the game, Petrov had a tame effort saved by the keeper as did Nakamura. A Nakamura free kick was easily held by the keeper. A long McGeady corner was knocked back in by BBJ but there were no takers.

At this point Falkirk were starting to fly into the challenges but the ref didn't stamp on it quickly enoughand probably booked the wrong player in Duffy after a challenge on McGeady when there were a couple of more derserving players in Falkirk colours who should have got it. The ref was also quick to penalise Celtic at every oppurtunity especialyl when going up for headers.

Celtic's first patient build up should have resulted in Petrov going through but he elected for the dummy and the chance was gone.

McGeady started to move around in an attempt to create something but when the goal came it was from his normal position on the left. It was after the Duffy challenge that he took a quick free-kick to Camara who drove it in fast at the near post to Maloney who steered it into the back of the net. No sooner had we taken the lead when it was two-nil. Hartson won a header that the ref couldn't come up with a reason to award a free-kick against, Maloney got to it and squared it to McGeady who still had a bit of work to do - control it, stepped inside the defender and placed it nicely into the net. The game was now over and Celtic played out the half in comfort.

The second half had very little in the way of real spectacle. Falkirk rarely threatened and Celtic were
happy to play it safe. However a great moment arrived when John Hartson got his 100th goal for the club.

Suffering from a sense of injustice after some of the decisions in the first half the big man decided to take on the Falkirk defence by himself. First, turning and running at three defenders and managing to squeeze in a shot that did not trouble the keeper. When he did get his goal it came from a nice move involving Camara and McGeady again. Maloney had his effort well saved but the ball fell to Hartson who took it nicely on the volley. The big man wheeled away in delight but the biggest smile seemed to be on the face of Lennon who was obviously delighed for him and was the first one to jump into BBJ's arms to congratulate him. He acknowledged the fans and the fans gave him the adulation he deserves. Congratulations John Hartson from all at Belfast Shamrock!

BBJ continued to have a good game, going down the wing (Twinkle-Toes?) and was unlucky to see Maloney push his cross just past the post.

Falkirk did have a couple of moments, but Boruc was out quikcly when called upon and Camara made an excellent tackle in the box to prevent a shot. Cue chants of 'Mo Mo Super Mo' from the fhans at the Celtic end. What a turn around for the player who was mauled after the debacle in Bratislava.

WGS started to make the substitutions around the 75th and 82nd minute mark. Pearson on for Petrov and he took up a position in the middle of the park. He made a couple of good runs and might have had a goal from a Maloney cutback (on the back of further good work from BBJ) but he sclaffed his effort wide.

Wallace and Virgo came on for Maloney and Hartson respectively. Wallce tried hard but had no end product. This was the first time I had seen Virgo play and he went up front. If you thought Hartson had a fat ass you should see this boy. Mind you he did look a lot more mobile and showed some nice touches.

All in all, a good days work although some of the players looked slightly out of sorts which is worrying with the gamesagainst the Huns coming up. However we're back at the top of the league and the Huns are 12 points behind.

Great, Eh?

Ratings

Boruc  7 - another clean sheet and only one real save to make. Seems to have built up a good understanding with his defenders, especially Camara

Camara  8 - A hand in the frist goal, very good linking up with McGeady and a fine defensive game. Mo Mo Super Mo!

Bobo  7 - never troubled and even found time to have a run down the wing at one point.

McManus  8 - I had Petrov down as a future Club Captain last week. This guy should be his second in command! Easy game and showed some good distribution with head and foot.

Telfer  7 - Another good game. Always makes himself available.

Nakamura  5 - Most of his passes seemed to go back towards a defender. Poor, especially after last weeks showing.

Lennon   7 - Does he ever have a bad game?

Petrov  6 - After the high standards he has set himself this was an average game for him. Might have done himself out a few grand a week if he goes into pay negotiations after this :-)

McGeady  8 - played a part in all three goals. Might have got a 9 if he hadn't been dragged down in the mediocrity that was the second half.

Maloney  6 - I say he had a bad game. My father thought he was brilliant. Make up your own mind. I go for 6.

Hartson  7 - Got his 100th, worked hard all afternoon and got his reward despite the ref's best efforts.

Pearson  6 - some nice runs from the middle after coming on for Petrov.

Wallace  4 - tried but not enough time to make an impact.

Virgo  4 - deceptively quick for a big man and some nice touches.

MAN OF THE MATCH:- McGeady (welcome back son)