Chris Sutton gave his immediate take on Celtic’s 3-1 win over Falkirk, zeroing in on two moments that could prove decisive as the season heads for its finish.
On commentary duty, Sutton watched Celtic start with real authority before things got a bit uncomfortable after the break. It wasn’t a routine win. Falkirk found a foothold, and for a stretch, Celtic were forced to deal with pressure of their own making.
Still, the result is what counts. Celtic now sit level on points with Hearts and a point ahead of Rangers, even if both rivals have games in hand. It keeps things tight and leaves little margin for error.
Daizen Maeda was the difference. His relentless pressing forced the opener, and he never stopped asking questions of Falkirk’s back line. He capped it off with a second late on, drifting into the right spot after a strong move down the flank. It was exactly the kind of contribution Celtic need from him right now.
There was another moment that caught the eye late in the game. The return of Alistair Johnston from injury brought a lift, not just to the team but to the atmosphere as well. Celtic have felt his absence, and having him back changes the look of that right side.
Sutton pointed to both after the final whistle.
Maeda’s influence goes beyond goals. His work off the ball sets the tempo. When he presses with intensity, the whole side follows, and it pushes Celtic further up the pitch. That was clear again here, especially in the build-up to the opening goal.
Johnston, meanwhile, adds balance. Anthony Ralston has done a job filling in, but Johnston brings pace and recovery that allow Celtic to hold their line higher and deal with transitions more comfortably.
It wasn’t flawless. Falkirk created chances and took one, which won’t go unnoticed heading into tougher fixtures.
But Celtic got the job done, stayed right in the race, and with key players returning while others hit form, the timing might just be working in their favour.
