The real reason Martin O’Neill benched Reo Hatate for Celtic’s win at Falkirk

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Celtic’s win over Falkirk was a hard-fought one that keeps the Hoops within six points of Hearts.

Martin O’Neill watched Celtic beat Falkirk 1-0 in a game that was devoid of much action and excitement as the Hoops ground out a win.

At this stage of the season, the result is all that matters, especially as Hearts beat St Mirren when down to 10-men to keep ahead of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table.

Who deserves the man of the match from that win?

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However, O’Neill made one change from the Celtic team that beat Dundee United in the last fixture as Reo Hatate dropped to the bench.

And here, the Celtic manager explained why.

• READ MORE: Chris Sutton blasts Celtic board over Martin O’Neill recruitment crisis after Falkirk win

Martin O’Neill wants a ‘fight on for places’ at Celtic

Reo Hatate has not enjoyed the best form for Celtic this season but yet, the Japan midfielder still manages to hold his place in the starting line-up.

Not anymore as O’Neill issued a challenge to all of his Celtic players just before the Falkirk win.

When asked about his one change from the Dundee United win, O’Neill told BBC Radio Scotland, “Nothing in particular, really. I saw that Nygren come on as a sub. He’s been doing very, very well in training.

“He might have been unlucky not to start on Saturday as well, too. So, young Hatate played a lot of games, I think, from memory.

“I think he came on as a sub against Rangers, but maybe, maybe Wilfried might not have played him as often as I did before, but it’s just a change.

“We’ve got the players there, and I was going to mention rotation, I’m not so sure about that there, but at the end of the day, players are coming in, and hopefully there’s a fight on for places.”

Reo Hatate’s Celtic stats vs Falkirk

Hatate came on for Celtic as a 66th-minute substitute but didn’t really set the heather on fire.

Here are the Celtic midfielder’s stats according to Fotmob:

• Minutes: 24
• Rating: 6.5
• Touches: 19
• Accurate passes: 12/14 (86%)
• Shots: 1
• Chances created: 0
• Successful dribbles: 1/1 (100%)
• Passes into final third: 1
• Accurate crosses: 0/1 (0%)
• Accurate long balls: 1/1 (100%)
• Ground duels won: 2/2 (100%)

If Hatate wants to get his place back in the Celtic team he is going to have to work a lot harder, especially after Benjamin Nygren was Celtic’s Man of the Match.