Strach: we need to find goal touch

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan admitted his side are going through a difficult period in front of goal after slipping to a third straight defeat at Falkirk.

Steven Thomson’s 16th-minute header sealed the points for the Bairns in the Bank of Scotland Premier League clash, to end their eight-game losing run.

The compelling match saw Celtic defender Stephen McManus and Falkirk forward Carl Finnigan sent off in the first half, and Strachan’s side’s lead at the top of the SPL is down to 13 points.

They have now lost consecutively to AC Milan, Rangers and Falkirk and failed to score in any of the games. Strachan’s side appear to be stumbling towards title glory and the manager admits they need to rediscover their goal touch after Craig Beattie missed an early penalty at Westfield.

He said: “It was an eventful game. We made chance, got balls in the box, committed defenders but we’re not taking our chances.

“Even from the penalty spot, if you’re not scoring then you know you’re going through a wee tricky period. It was a weird game. We came here months back, didn’t play half as well and won the game 1-0.

“We did everything we possibly could to score a goal, getting the ball into dangerous areas. We’ve had worse periods in playing football this year in terms of playing and making chances, but this is the worst period in terms of picking up points. I don’t think it’s title jitters. You get bad periods. I don’t sense any anxiousness.”

Strachan, who felt his team had three to five other penalty claims, questioned the conscience of Finnigan after the incident with McManus which saw the pair ordered off. The two squared up angrily, with Finnigan adjudged to have swung an elbow before appearing to be pushed to the floor by McManus.

Strachan added: “I think the sending off is the second time it has happened against Falkirk this season.

“I remember Anthony Stokes went down like he was pole-axed against Lenny (Neil Lennon) this year, and it was clearly seen that didn’t happen at all. I think the same thing happened again.”

FALKIRK: Schmeichel, Ross, Barr, Milne, Holden, Thomson, Cregg, O’Donnell, Latapy (Moutinho 76), Finnigan, Gow.

CELTIC: Boruc, Wilson (Gravesen 76), Pressley, McManus, Naylor, Hartley, Lennon, Nakamura, Jarosik (McGeady 60), Miller (Zurawski 68), Beattie.

Referee: J Underhill.