Keane on target as Celtic go 10 points clear

Celtic 2 Falkirk 1

The former Manchester United captain replaced skipper Neil Lennon in the starting line-up and he brought a poor game to life with a 34th minute strike. Steven McManus looked to have killed the game off with a goal on the stroke of half-time but even with Bobo Balde returning from the African Nations Cup, the defence went 12 games without a clean sheet.

Celtic were looking confident going to Ibrox on Sunday before Kenny Milne set up a nervous finale with an 82nd-minute strike.

Strachan made it clear tonight that their poor performance against Motherwell in the CIS Insurance Cup semi-final would not be tolerated, by naming a much-changed side.

The Scot brought Keane back and handed Dion Dublin his debut.

Paul Telfer was also recalled, after injury, along with Mark Wilson, with John Hartson, Stanislav Varga, Adam Virgo and Mo Camara dropping out.

Stilian Petrov was handed the captain’s armband in Lennon’s absence.

Shaun Maloney was dumped on the ground in the 33rd minute after a tackle by Jack Ross, which earned the defender a booking. Keane was on hand to score as Maloney’s free-kick bounced off a Falkirk man. The former Manchester United captain stepped up and drilled a right-footed shot into the net from 22 yards.

The ball seemed to take a deflection as it spun past Alan Ferguson but that did not dampen Keane’s celebrations.

McManus then made it two, just before the break, after controlling Maloney’s cross before firing home from close range.

Celtic looked hungry for more goals after the break and Shunsuke Nakamura sent a left-footed free-kick just past the upright from just outside the area.

Dublin then headed Nakamura’s cross just over the crossbar after Tiago Rodrigues had been harshly booked for a foul on the Japanese star.

Zurawski was screaming for a penalty in the 70th minute having appeared to be pulled down by Ross in the area from Keane’s pass.

Milne eventually punished Celtic for some slack defending by flicking a left-footed shot into the top corner of the net, from just inside the area.

McBreen could have snatched a point for Falkirk in the final minute, having been put clean through, but he pulled his shot wide.

CELTIC: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Nakamura (Thompson 89), Petrov, Keane, Maloney, Zurawski, Dublin.

FALKIRK: Ferguson, Cregg, Ross, Ireland, Milne, Lescinel (Moutinho 60), O’Donnell (Craig 78), Rodrigues, Thomson (Lima 85), McBreen, Gow.

Referee: I Brines.