Celtic kicked off their post-split fixture schedule with a huge win over Falkirk on Saturday evening at Parkhead.
Despite Martin O’Neill’s decades in the dugout, including that legendary, trophy-laden first era in Glasgow, this gripping three-way title race against Hearts and Rangers is an entirely different beast, and not even a manager of the Irishman’s vast experience has ever truly witnessed.
Celtic beat Falkirk 3-1, thanks to a Daizen Maeda brace, to put the pressure on their title rivals, who play on Sunday, as O’Neill gave the Japan star his flowers for being ‘phenomenal’, as he told Sky Sports Football (25/04/26).
“The result was the most important thing,” said O’Neill. “I thought Daizen Maeda was phenomenal today.”
Who was your star player against Falkirk?
Martin O’Neill gives Daizen Maeda his flowers after Celtic win opening post-split game
Everyone is aware that Maeda hasn’t been at his best this season, and he might just leave Celtic in the summer.
But does he have one final dance in him?
This is the perfect start, and O’Neill rightfully stated that his all-action forward was ‘tremendous in every aspect’ against a Falkirk side wounded from losing last week’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline Athletic.
“The result was the most important thing,” said O’Neill. “I thought Daizen Maeda was phenomenal today.
“We felt that if there was going to be some sort of reaction from last week, and I talking about Falkirk here (losing Scottish Cup semi-final). Well, they didn’t show. They pressed us all day long.
“It was a difficult game for us, but we got through. I am delighted with the result and delighted with quite a number of performances.
“I thought he was tremendous in every aspect. First of all, he got the goals. A goal out of nothing to begin with. Then that goal he scores to make it 3-1.
“A big moment because, at that stage, you would say Falkirk were pressing and could have had a wee chance to equalise before that, and then it all turns, so Maeda’s performance was absolutely terrific.”
O’Neill’s refusal to change pays off
Many wanted Iheanacho to start against Falkirk after his brace in the Scottish Cup semi-final last week, but O’Neill held his nerve and opted against listening to the outside noise.
Maeda played down the middle, and once again, his relentless pressing played a massive part in Celtic’s opening two goals.
It further proves O’Neill’s brilliance and why his experience in these moments, compared to Derek McInnes and Danny Rohl, could prove to be significant in Celtic lifting the Premiership title.
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