´You can´t dispute the character of the team´ – O´Neill hails Celtic after victory over Falkirk

Martin O’Neill praised Celtic’s character after the Hoops maintained the pressure on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts with a 3-1 victory over Falkirk.

With Hearts not playing until Sunday, Celtic took full advantage to move level on points with Derek McInnes’ side.

First-half goals from Daizen Maeda and Kieran Tierney put the hosts in control at Celtic Park, though Kyrell Wilson halved the visitors’ deficit 20 minutes from time.

Nevertheless, Celtic survived that scare and secured victory with seven minutes remaining, as Maeda’s second goal kept the Hoops firmly in what O’Neill described as a “three-horse race” for the title.

“We’ve got flaws like anybody else, but you can’t dispute the character of the team,” he told Sky Sports. “We have to battle for everything. There were times today when we pressed strongly, we were great.

“Naturally, I’ll pay attention [to Hearts and Rangers on Sunday], I’ve always done that. It’s a three-horse race.”

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Falkirk have now lost on 17 of their last 19 visits to Celtic in all competitions (D2), failing to beat them since a 2-0 victory in October 1994.

Nevertheless, head coach John McGlynn was pleased by the visitors’ mentality, despite their negative result.

“It was a big challenge today to see where the players were,” he said. “I’m very proud, it was very, very gutsy and brave, the performance. We didn’t sit back, we just tried to take it to Celtic as much as we could.

“I thought Celtic were bang at it in the first half. I haven’t seen them press as well as that in a long time.

“I thought, mentally, in the second half, many teams would be two goals down and lose by five or six. But the second half was 1-1, and I’m so proud of the players for the goal they scored and the way that they played.”