Premier Sports Cup: Holders Celtic host top-flight new boys Falkirk

BBC News

15 hours ago

Update:
Date: 19:54 BST
Title: Post
Content: Celtic 0-0 Falkirk
Seven minutes gone at Parkhead and we're yet to have a shot at either end.
Celtic are dominating possession but yet to carve Falkirk open.
Update:
Date: 19:50 BST
Title: Post
Content: Celtic 0-0 Falkirk
Lee MillerFormer Falkirk manager on BBC Scotland
Falkirk are going to be on the back foot and will have to defend a lot in this opening spell.
Update:
Date: 19:50 BST
Title: Post
Content: Celtic 0-0 Falkirk
Kieran Tierney fizzes a wonderful first-time ball across the face of goal, but there aren't any takers in green and white.
Update:
Date: 19:46 BST
Title: KICK-OFF
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Referee Lloyd Wilson peeps his whistle and away we go.
Update:
Date: 19:45 BST
Title: Post
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Lee MillerFormer Falkirk manager on BBC Scotland
It'll be an interesting contest.
I'm looking forward to seeing Ross MacIver and how he challenges the Celtic centre-halves.
It's two teams trying to play football. I think Celtic will come out bright but it'll be interesting to see how Falkirk deal with that early threat.
Update:
Date: 19:44 BST
Title: Post
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
The players are out at Parkhead.
Kick-off is just around the corner.
Update:
Date: 19:41 BST
Title: Celtic weaker or stronger?
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Charlie MulgrewFormer Celtic defender on Premier Sports
In the backline, Celtic are stronger, bringing in Tierney. They are stronger in midfield, bringing in Nygren.
But, in the front line, they are weaker. They have lost Kygo, they have lost Kuhn and, although they brought in Jota, he is out for nine months.
Update:
Date: 19:39 BST
Title: 'Performance level will increase as we go' - Rodgers
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: "For us it's a game we want to win no matter what day of the week it's on. We play games on different days of the week, it doesn't change anything.
"We've had a good pre-season, it's still very early on but we've controlled the games well. We could've scored more goals but we didn't.
"We will increase the performance level as we go but we can't forget the players have played well so far and we want to continue that mentality.
"I've played the same team with one game a week but with the two qualification games coming up I didn't want players that I could pick for those to come in without having played.
"We're at home and expect to perform well."
On Falkirk boss John McGlynn: "I take great pride in his success. He belongs in the game. We built up a good connection when he was here and we got on very well. I respect him.
"He's demonstrated that he wants talent and technique over power.
"We know it's going to be a tough game tonight and I look forward to that and seeing him too."
Update:
Date: 19:37 BST
Title: Tierney start a 'surprise'
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Charlie MulgrewFormer Celtic defender on Premier Sports
I'm surprised Kieran Tierney is starting.
Celtic are keen to build that muscle strength and maybe they just want to give him another 60 minutes.
Update:
Date: 19:33 BST
Title: 'Celtic stronger this time' - McGlynn
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Falkirk manager John McGlynn has been speaking to Premier Sports, determined to learn from the 5-2 defeat at Celtic Park last season.
"After the last time we were here, that's maybe why Celtic have kept their full-backs," he says.
"They changed it last time, but I feel they are a bit stronger than they were last time against us.
"We want to press on the outside and try to prevent crosses. We need to match that - that's the game plan.
"Last season, we were still in the match at 70 minutes and we hope to stay in it beyond that."
Update:
Date: 19:32 BST
Title: Post
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Let's get the pre-match thoughts of both managers, shall we?
Update:
Date: 19:28 BST
Title: 'Big chance for Kenny'
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Pat BonnerFormer Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound
I'm looking forward to seeing Johnny Kenny start.
He scored goals for Shamrock Rovers, Brendan obviously likes him, but he's got to go out on the pitch and do it.
Now is his chance to show the manager that they don't need to go back into the market for another striker.
Update:
Date: 19:24 BST
Title: Rodgers 'fairly confident' Maeda will stay at Celtic
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
There has been speculation leading up to this match about the future of Celtic forward Daizen Maeda, but manager Brendan Rodgers is "fairly confident" the Japan international will be a Celtic player come the end of the summer transfer window.
Large sections of the Parkhead side's support have become disgruntled at their club's transfer activity, with some fearing Maeda could leave.
The 27-year-old was Celtic's standout player last term, scoring 33 goals and providing 12 assists in 51 games.
When asked earlier this week if he is confident Maeda will remain at the club, Rodgers replied: "Yeah, yeah, yeah, fairly confident of that, as can be."
Maeda has two years remaining on his contract and Rodgers says talks are ongoing regarding a new deal, but the manager is unaware of any progress.
"There have been discussions going on in the background," the Celtic boss added. "I don't have any updates on it. I don't know of any developments."
Update:
Date: 19:22 BST
Title: Post
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
It's a balmy evening in Glasgow.
The temperature is still in the mid-20s - ideal conditions for two teams who like to get the ball down and play.
Update:
Date: 19:19 BST
Title: 'Bairns need balance'
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Tony DochertyFormer Dundee manager on BBC Sportsound
Falkirk will take reference from their last visit here. They need to be comfortable out of possession and be a threat going forward and it is difficult to get that balance.
Update:
Date: 19:16 BST
Title: Will Falkirk attack Celtic?
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
The last time Falkirk went to Celtic Park, the then-Championship side flew out of the blocks and went at Celtic.
Goals from Ross MacIver and Finn Yeats had John McGlynn's side 2-1 up at half-time, before a double apiece for Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn ensured Celtic avoided an upset.
Still, it was notable how McGlynn's front-foot play was able to cause problems against Scotland's dominant club side.
Will league setbacks at the start of this season lead to tweaks from McGlynn or will he stick to his approach and take the game to this much-changed Celtic side?
"For us, a reference was how well we did there last season," McGlynn said earlier this week. "We've got to take a bit of confidence and belief from that.
"We're always going to create chances with the type of team we are. We want to come out of Celtic Park with our heads held high and who knows? Maybe in the quarter-finals."
Ross MacIver will fancy a repeat of this goal tonight
Update:
Date: 19:13 BST
Title: Two changes for visitors
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
John McGlynn has been forced into a change on the wing after Ethan Ross picked up "quite a serious" ankle injury against Livingston.
Aidan Nesbitt drops to the bench as Henry Cartwright and Alfie Agyeman come into the team.
Keelan Adams continues at right-back for Falkirk
Update:
Date: 19:07 BST
Title: Sinisalo starts as Celtic change six
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Brendan Rodgers has made a raft of changes from his side's 2-0 win over Aberdeen last time out, perhaps with one eye on the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Kairat Almaty on Wednesday.
Viljami Sinisalo replaces Kasper Schmeichel in goal, Dane Murray and Auston Trusty form a new-look centre-back partnership, while Arne Engels and Luke McCowan come into midfield.
Up front, Johnny Kenny is preferred to Adam Idah, with James Forrest and Daizen Maeda continuing out wide.
Viljami Sinisalo starts in goal for Celtic
Update:
Date: 19:04 BST
Title: LINE-UPS from Celtic Park
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Celtic: Sinisalo, Johnston, Murray, Trusty, Tierney, McGregor, Engels, McCowan, Forrest, Maeda, Kenny.
Substitutes: Schmeichel, Scales, Nygren, Idah, Yang, Yamada, Bernardo, Hatate, Ralston.
Falkirk: Bain, Adams, Neilson, Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Tait, Miller, Cartwright, Agyeman, MacIver.
Substitutes: Hogarth, Oliver, Graham, Nesbitt, Allan, Mackie, Arfield, Walker, McCrone.
Update:
Date: 19:00 BST
Title: Good evening
Content: Celtic v Falkirk (19:45)
Celtic's defence of their Premier Sports Cup crown begins this evening as they welcome Falkirk to Parkhead in the first of eight second-round ties.
Brendan Rodgers' side have beaten St Mirren and Aberdeen to start their league season, while John McGlynn's Falkirk cruised through the group stages of this tournament before drawing against Dundee United and losing against Livingston in the Premiership.
Kick-off is 45 minutes away...