Martin Oâ€Neill celebrated his Celtic homecoming with a thumping 4-0 win over Falkirk at Parkhead. The 73-year-old former manager was installed along with the former Celtic player Shaun Maloney as the interim management team after the stunning resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday night.
Celtic fans continued their protest against Dermot Desmond, the clubâ€s major shareholder, and the board outside the stadium before the game due, in part, to a perceived poor summer transfer window. Desmond sat in the directors†box and watched his fellow Irishman Johnny Kenny fire Celtic into the lead after half an hour and then head in a second 10 minutes later, before goals from Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti in the second half increased the fun factor.
Celtic moved six points behind Premiership leaders Hearts, who drew 2-2 at St Mirren, and remain five ahead of Rangers who won 1-0 at Hibernian. The Hoops meet the Light Blues in Sundayâ€s Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden, where Oâ€Neill managed his last game for Celtic in his first spell – the 2005 Scottish Cup final win over Dundee United. The Parkhead fans, while still disgruntled with the clubâ€s hierarchy, will go into the game more assured by Oâ€Neillâ€s impact on a side who looked closer to their best form. Oâ€Neill, who was Celtic manager between 2000 and 2005, was given a rousing reception.
“I know the confidenceâ€s been a bit low,†he said afterwards. “Thatâ€s the most natural thing in the world, even the very, very best sides if youâ€re not getting a result. Players then stop doing things that they almost like naturally would do. Thereâ€s some of the lads in the dressing room that would have no idea who I was but theyâ€re only about 10 years old – and some of the other lads, I said we have quite a number of winners in the dressing room. Thatâ€s really important.
“But there was great performances all around this evening and just to win. So, yeah, they becalmed my dreadful insecurity problems. Naturally, delighted to win the game. But there wasnâ€t a thought about anything else.â€
Hearts saw their lead at the top cut to six points as they were held to a 2-2 draw by St Mirren in Paisley. The home side twice led through Dan Nlundulu and Miguel Freckleton, only for Hearts to reply with goals from Lawrence Shankland and Cláudio Braga.
St Mirren also had a second effort from Freckleton ruled out by the video assistant referee, as did Hearts late on after Pierre Landry Kaboré netted. It is just the second time Derek McInnesâ€s side have dropped points in the league, while the draw ends a sequence of three straight defeats for St Mirren ahead of their League Cup semi-final against Motherwell on Saturday.
Th new Rangers manager, Danny Röhl, maintained his perfect start in league after Jack Butlandâ€s late penalty save helped secure a 1-0 victory at Hibernian. The goalkeeper denied Jamie McGrath from the spot in the 87th minute as Daniloâ€s early goal proved decisive at Easter Road.
The Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland applauds the away fans at full time. Photograph: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
After a false start for Röhl away to Brann in the Europa League last Thursday, he has ignited his reign with league victories over Kilmarnock and Hibs – the first time the Ibrox side have enjoyed back-to-back wins since May. Rangers are now up to third.
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Stuart Armstrongâ€s first Aberdeen goal continued a mini-revival for Jimmy Thelin as the Dons moved up to 10th. The former Scotland international scored in the 18th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 win against Kilmarnockat Rugby Park, a third league victory in four matches.
The much-maligned Aberdeen backline then held firm despite sustained pressure to gain a confidence-boosting clean sheet. Aberdeen were joint-top of the table at this stage last year but their league form dropped away after the autumn and Thelin was under pressure after a dreadful start to this season. However, this gutsy effort gives the Swedish coach breathing space, moving them four points clear of bottom club Livingston.
Motherwell ensured they will head into their semi-final against St Mirren in high spirits after seeing off Dundee United 2-0 at Fir Park. Tawanda Maswanhiseâ€s opener just before the break and Elliot Wattâ€s superb strike with 13 minutes remaining earned the hosts a deserved win.
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