Falkirk head into their clash with Celtic carrying more than just fatigue — they’ve picked up a few injuries at the worst possible time.
Like Celtic, John McGlynn’s side were pushed to the limit in last weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final, playing the full 120 minutes before eventually losing on penalties to Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline. It was a draining afternoon, and with only five league games left, there’s not much left to play for in terms of climbing the table.
Now, things have gone from tough to tougher.
Falkirk will be without Scott Bain, Filip Lissah and Liam Henderson for the trip to Celtic Park — three players McGlynn would usually have on his teamsheet without hesitation.
Speaking this week, the manager didn’t hide his frustration. He admitted the squad has taken a hit, with those injuries coming on top of existing concerns involving Louie Marsh and Ethan Williams. For a team already stretched, it’s far from ideal heading into one of the most demanding fixtures of the season.
Bain’s situation seems the most uncertain. He picked up an ankle issue, and while scans ruled out anything serious, there’s still some bruising that needs time to settle. There’s hope he could feature again before the season wraps up, but this weekend comes too soon.
Henderson’s dealing with a minor hamstring problem — not a long-term worry, but enough to keep him sidelined for now. As for Lissah, he’s been managing an ankle issue that showed up more clearly in a recent scan, and the decision has been made not to risk him.
In short, McGlynn is heading to Celtic Park without some of his most reliable players — never ideal, especially against a side that’s already had the better of this fixture.
Falkirk are still searching for their first win over Celtic this season, having come up short in all four meetings so far. Celtic have largely been in control, particularly in the games played in Glasgow.
That said, it hasn’t all been one-way traffic. Back in January, Falkirk pushed Celtic close at home, only to be edged out 1-0 — a game that owed plenty to some big saves from Kasper Schmeichel. Even on their last visit to Celtic Park, Falkirk created chances, though Celtic still came away with a 2-0 win.
This time around, with injuries piling up and legs still heavy from last weekend, the challenge looks even steeper.
