Celtic's narrow victory against Falkirk sparked a debate among fans: Who truly shone on the pitch? It wasn't a performance that'll be remembered for its artistry, but Martin O'Neill's Celtic managed to secure their second consecutive win. Benjamin Nygren's header proved to be the decisive moment, propelling the Bhoys back up to second place in the standings, though they trail Hearts by six points. This victory also signifies that O'Neill has accumulated more points than any other Celtic manager this season and maintains a perfect 100% win record in domestic matches this season.
O'Neill himself acknowledged that Celtic was somewhat fortunate to clinch the lead, as they were largely pinned back by Falkirk throughout the match. However, as the saying goes, 'a win is a win,' and after the final whistle, the 67 Hail Hail community took to TalkingPoints to nominate their Man of the Match.
- READ MORE: The real reason Martin O’Neill benched Reo Hatate for Celtic’s win at Falkirk
The player who has seemingly impressed the most since Martin O'Neill's return is... Liam Scales, who was named Celtic's Man of the Match against Falkirk.
To be honest, there weren't many standout performances on Wednesday night. Daizen Maeda appeared somewhat invisible up front, and Hyunjun Yang didn't quite recapture his recent form.
Kasper Schmeichel delivered some impressive saves, but it was Liam Scales who truly captured the attention of the Hoops faithful.
So, who truly deserved the Man of the Match accolade from that win?
One supporter shared their thoughts on the TalkingPoints discussion thread, stating, "Scales had himself a game in the back, was an absolute beast!"
Another fan wrote, "Liked what I saw from Scales."
A third added, "I was impressed with Scales. Looked back to his best."
Julian Araujo also received a mention, having demonstrated his competence since joining on loan for the season.
Liam Scales thrives in a back four.
Scales has consistently been one of Celtic's most reliable performers recently. However, like many of his teammates, he seemed to struggle under Wilfried Nancy's management. Playing in a back three didn't allow him to showcase his strengths, and he was eventually sidelined.
Since O'Neill's return, the Republic of Ireland international has seamlessly integrated back into the team, making an immediate impact. Two clean sheets in two games, something Celtic couldn't achieve under Nancy, and two wins from two matches, clearly demonstrate Scales' positive influence on the Hoops.
But here's where it gets controversial... Did Scales truly deserve the Man of the Match, or were there other players who were equally deserving, perhaps even more so? What are your thoughts on the team's performance under O'Neill so far? Share your opinions in the comments below!
