Strachan: nerves not a problem for Bhoys

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan insists his side are not being afflicted by nerves as they stumble towards retaining the SPL title.

Strachan watched Craig Beattie miss a seventh-minute penalty and then saw Celtic pass up a host of other chances in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Falkirk as Steven Thomson claimed the Bairns’ winner.

The Parkhead side have now lost three straight games after the Champions League last-16 exit to AC Milan in Italy and the home Old Firm defeat from arch rivals Rangers.

Celtic’s lead at the top of the table remains a formidable 13 points but they are still three wins from regaining their crown after a first league defeat to Falkirk in 13 years.

However, the Hoops boss insists there is no need for the club’s support to panic during troubled times and points to the positive play his side engineered at the weekend.

He said: “We’ve had bad periods in terms of how we’ve played but managed to get through. We’ve had worst periods of actually playing the game and making chances.

“I don’t sense any anxiousness in the team’s play. If you look at the play against Falkirk, it was all controlled football and doing what we wanted to do. The plans on how to play went exactly that way, but the finishing and decision-making gave us a problem.”

Meanwhile, Bairns manager John Hughes savoured a second victory over Celtic this season, after also knocking them out of the CIS Insurance Cup on penalties at Parkhead.

Hughes, an ex-Celtic player, added: “This season we’ve now beaten Celtic twice and Rangers. We’ve shown spirit every week.

“I’m pleased and proves the club is heading in the right direction. I was more of an optimist than a pessimist despite the run of results we’ve had.