Celtic have kept the pressure on Hearts after their midweek win.
Benjamin Nygren’s first-half header was enough to claim three points against Falkirk as the Hoops had to dig deep to win.
It wasn’t pretty and Martin O’Neill admitted that Celtic were second best on a cold night.
League leaders Hearts were in action too and were able to beat St Mirren, even with 10 men after a horror challenge saw them play with one player less for well over an hour.
Would Celtic have won that game under Wilfried Nancy?
Beni Baningime sent off against St Mirren
One of the real success stories in Hearts’ title-challenging side is midfielder Beni Baningime.
While Claudio Braga and Lawrence Shankland get the praise, it is Baningime in the middle of the park who has been running the show.
However, he lost his cool in a heated moment as a dreadful tackle on Roland Idowu in the 15th minute earned him his marching orders.
What was more surprising was that referee Kevin Clancy had initially given a yellow card before VAR upgraded it to a straight red.
Beni Baningime missing top of the table clash
Hearts’ loss could be Celtic’s advantage as Baningime will now be suspended for two games.
That includes the huge clash against the Hoops on Sunday 25 January and could be a great chance for the likes of Callum McGregor to dominate the middle of the park.
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Derek McInnes still has options like Cammy Devlin that will be available, but Celtic must see this as an advantage when they head to Tynecastle.
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