Falkirk v Celtic Sportscene

A wide Docteur Ben Knight, but no slick pop as Sol take win their

match. -- a wet October night as Celtic win their match. United pay

the penalty as Falkirk grab more headlines. It is the League Cup

semi-final. Don't write off the underdogs.

Who will play Karl -- Kilmarnock in seven weeks with a chance to lift

this trophy? We will let you know in a couple of hours. The second

semi-final is of course between the SPL leaders Celtic and First

Division Falkirk. It is live on the BBC and later we will have

highlights of the first semi-final, with the Kilmarnock manager and the

Bolton manager. This is a spy mission for you. Are you expecting

Celtic in the final? It is Cup final. You don't know. Yesterday's

game went to extra time and it is difficult to say. Celtic should be

favourites but you do not know in the Cup. Looking at the Falkirk

team, they are organised and disciplined and I think they will

give a good game today. Falkirk was your first managerial job. Is there

a place in your heart? Very much so. They are a fantastic club. They

have had difficult years with finance and everything else. What

they have been doing recently, they have a tremendous set of kids, they

are growing and getting better. Today they will have to be at their

maximum. They will have to hope that Celtic is hoped the league of

their game at the bit, and that can happen. -- hope for Diouf their

game. Will pat -- Falkirk try to do what they did yesterday? It will be

interesting to see. United were fairly defensive, and we will talk

about it later. I was polite about it yesterday. I don't think Falkirk

did that. Because they are doing well in the league and scoring

quite a few goals, they will have more of ago. There are plenty in

the team that just love to attack. They score a lot of goals as well.

I expect that it will be an open game. Le of promising players at

Falkirk. It seems to be a great system. -- lots of promising

players. They are producing lots of talent. Yes, all the managers were

coach's first and foremost. You need to work with young players to

help them develop. You need to do that in terms of a business plan

for your club. You can generate cash for your club. It is a

positive outcome for the years to come. He is a fantastic lad and he

is driven to succeed and he has Alex Smith. That is a great

combination. They are not all young. Darren Dods lends a bit of

experience to the centre of the Falkirk defence. We are expecting

James Forrest at the head of a diamond behind Hooper. That will be

difficult for them to contain. have mixed opinions on that. I

think he might be more effective on the outside of the team because he

can get down the sides and things can happen for the front players.

He is definitely a threat. He has been fantastic this season. He is

doing really well. They talk about the young players at Falkirk and

rightly so. There are some good young players coming through.

have spoken to Alex Smith and Steven Pressley. The manager

certainly believes that the upset here is possible. There is no point

going to a game if you do not think it is possible. I think people in

First Division football may not be aware of Farid El Alagui, and he is

a goalscorer. The problem is that all the way through Celtic's team

there are guys that can score goals. That will make it a tough win for

Falkirk but I am looking forward to it. It is Celtic against Falkirk

for the right to play Kilmarnock on March 18th at Hampden Park in the

final. Billy Dodds and Liam McLeod of commentating. -- are

best sides in Scotland right now, even though there is one league

between them. Falkirk have only lost four of 29 games in

competition this season, including beating Dundee United and Rangers

in this competition. Celtic have turned a 15 point deficit into a

potential four point lead over Rangers. They produced 1- 1 point

with victory. -- they reduced that to one point. They have not been on

such a good run in the early four years. -- nearly four years. A

pleasant day compared to yesterday for the derby. It was freezing them

but not as bad today. Darren Dods leads the Falkirk team. He is 36,

nearly 37. It is the youthful Falkirk squad. Steven Pressley's

starting 11 features 17 year-old Jay Fulton, the son of Steve,

former Hearts defender. He scored in the Scottish Cup against

Dunfermline a couple of years back. Wallace is in defence with Farid El

Alagui, who is scoring in every game so far, up front. James

Forrest scored last week against St Mirren and twice against Hibernian.

Playing behind Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper. Many feel that is his

best position. He and Garry Hooper have scored 31 goals between them

during this campaign. 16 year-old Craig Sibbald is on the Falkirk

benches. He made his debut in July, the first graduate of the SNP

performance school. He scored against Aberdeen in the semis last

season. He has to make do with the substitute position. The referee

has been an official since 2005. He has the man they are all talking

about. Farid El Alagui up front, 21 goals already. I have already

mention the number that Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper have, as

they get us under way at the National Stadium. Neil Lennon will

be wary of the threat that Steven Pressley's Bairns will pose the

team. The Bairns have started on yesterday. They are such a small

and youthful squad. They are currently so passing the

expectations of even the most diehard supporters this season. --

Pressley, with his glittering career as a player, as Neil Lennon

had. Falkirk having plenty of possession in the early stages.

They will have to do that throughout. Scobie is one of the

more familiar figures for people that have not seen much of Falkirk

since they went down. How is this going to go, Billy Dodds? A bit

like yesterday. A positive start from Falkirk but they will have to

sit and soak a bit today. A bit of pressure to keep Celtic at bay.

They have pace with El Alagui scoring goals. He finished the game

against St Mirren with James been on since the end of October.

36 points out of the 36 in the league. Neil Lennon and Celtic have

the trouble in their sights. -- with the way that Falkirk have

started this game. They were in the right half of the pitch for long

periods. Getting it over the crossbar, he just cannot keep it

down. Certainly getting the ball forward. Higginbotham is trying to

get forward to support Farid El earlier in the campaign. It was an

Ledley went down. He scored in the final game against Rangers in

rhythm now. Joe Ledley coming in, getting forward up the pitch, down

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-- chip it across. So the first against Rangers earlier in the

competition. They were 2-0 down and they got it back to 2-2 with a few

minutes to go. Then that Mark Millar free kicks stunned the

holders. Billy Dodds was there. Goalkeeper mistake, you have to say,

but we can't take anything away it from Mark Millar. He will provide

the service for Al Allardyce. -- shows how much of a financial hit

they took when they went down to the First Division. Young boys, but

they have got experience. The academy has been working because

lots of people have come through. Jay Fulton on the right hand side,

for example. Plenty coming through That will give Falkirk hope,

without a doubt. without a doubt.

Higginbotham, is the one who I said gets forward. You can see here a

good space out in the front for El Alagui. He maybe should have tried

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Alagui. He maybe should have tried this season, hasn't he?.

He's off-side. The flag's gone up. That won't count. It's a great

touch from McGovern, you have to say. He curled it with that right

foot. An all-important touch.

You can see he's not off-side. He's on. That's a big let-off for

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Falkirk. Was it Duffie on that the ball quickly. Should have had

the opening goal, Liam. He's great to watch, Vladimir Lenin,

front at the semi-final. Should it have stood? It looks like it should

have done. It's not close. It's not inches.

It's half a yard to a yard. Playing alongside an explosive

finish. He's got that one really badly long. When you're the

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underdog you need things like that He did win the Scottish Cup at

Hearts. His other son, the older brother of Jay is a Falkirk player.

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tracking by Fulton as well. a head on it. Unlucky. On to the

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yesterday. They had to be patience and got there.

Millar. A former Celtic player. If he had the time he'd do it all day

long. Diagonal away to... As I said, that is the way for Duffie. Down

the right. He gets it across. Nothing gets across. A corner

are, how top a day you are, you'll get some of that.

they have plenty of options ahead of them.

It's Wanyama for Celtic. Stokes got that horribly wrong!

I can only thing and I have done it a few times myself, it is one where

you go to cross it. You see here, if it just touches the ball, here

you are, have that! He's not going to want to watch

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that again, is he? yellow.

Letting him know he's there. He los a bit of that -- loves a bit

of that, doesn't he? I think Brown will try and get him

back. You talk about Falkirk and that option and the extra man in

the middle of the pitch, they do it well. Pass it about. Celtic

struggling in there to match up numbers, maybe more of a threat.

Pushing at that mid-field trying to Must have been tight. Scobbie. I'd

Forster clawed it away. That was great play down the right hand side.

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He kind of drives across. I fancy 0 up against Aberdeen so recently.

once they don't get that early goal, they start going after a certain

stage in the game. I am sure Falkirk want that and Celtic

certainly don't. United's goalkeeper Cuthbert was fantastic.

Eight goals this season for James Forrest. Including one in pays the

right Frank, Cha Du-Ri. Especially going forward. -- right flank.

Charlie Mulgrew, one of the scorers and the Scottish Cup final against

Motherwell, taking the corner. Straight to the spot and a yellow-

card for Darren Dods. What it closely and we will see it again.

Or over him. -- all over him. The tall ones against one another. He

looked at that and he pointed straight to the spot. There you go.

In the blink of an eye, Celtic have an opportunity to go in front in

the semi-final and their skipper takes it. Brown! Falkirk had the

stuffing knocked out of them. In the blink of an eye, Scott Brown

converts. To give Scott Brown his due, he stepped up. Celtic have

missed a few penalties this season. It does not matter if the

goalkeeper goes the right way, he just does not save that. Good goal,

a good pace. Back-to-back goals, having scored last weekend. Last

week was his first of the season and he has got his second now. This

was why it was a penalty. Darren Dods on Thomas Rogne. From the most

experienced man, they are cheaper penalty. He can't have any

complaints. He was unlucky to be caught because it happens all over

the box. Every time there is a set piece, it happens. With the referee

five, 10 yards away from you, that was all wrong. When Darren Dods

looks back and sees it, he will let their heads go down. It was a

case of getting the formation and protecting it until extra-time and

penalties. Fraser Forster has not been tested so far in the match,

but they did look quite comfortable in the game. They were great for 26

minutes. Suddenly the skipper gives away a penalty like that. You can't

account for it for the manager, who will be extremely unhappy. Darren

Dods is a man among boys in that squad, but he did not cover himself

in glory. It could have been an awkward time for Celtic if they had

not got their noses in front, as with St Johnstone and then with

the way. I am all for blogging people and stopping goals, but you

cannot start grabbing them. If anyone tells you, if anyone has a

hold of you, you have every right to go down. He was grabbed all over

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against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Celtic should be in front because

of the goal that was chopped off anyway. But I think it has been a

pretty even match. Falkirk have had generally speaking have a great

understanding. Very rarely do you see Neil Lennon pick the same

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Murray Wallace think? As Celtic moved the ball about well, but to

be fair to Falkirk, they are around the area, sniffing around,

trying to find space in the Falkirk changed since Celtic scored, that

is for sure. Just trying to get the ball, tried to get the full Back's

forward. They are keeping it tight at the back, giving nothing away.

They are trying to use their man in midfield. Higginbotham and Mark

Millar are getting forward to had a mixed bag, the assistant

referee. He had a howler but that one was right. SPL highlights

tonight at 10 o'clock on BBC Two Scotland. You'll get the highlights

from the weekend as well. But if you have not seen it yet, the derby

at Hampden Park highlights will go for that. Scott Brown put him

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the season because of injury but he came back and has been an important

force for Celtic. The way they have turned things round, when you think

back to being 3-0 down against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the

autumn. They have turned things round in the SPL and Scott Brown

coming back has helped with that. Of course. Leading by example.

Celtic missed a few penalties the covering player for Falkirk.

Scott Brown again. Celtic fans don't like him. He's

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Decent shot in goal. Dods stands and they have.

Would you believe it. Falkirk have got themselves back on level terms.

The 17-year-old son of Steve has brought put Falkirk back into the

league cup semi-final. Absolute quality. Higginbotham

could have let it go, but what a pass! That gets in, spots Fulton

coming in. He has so much to do. How about that for composure?

Falkirk back in it. A moment he would have dreamt of,

big time - the biggest moment of his life so far.

Jay Fulton, equalising against Celtic at a crucial time.

Five minutes to go until half time. You can see what it means to his

manager. A double celebration, because his team are back into it.

He's put a 17-year-old into the start today. He's the man who has

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had the chance for a second Celtic goal.

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at some point. I take nothing away from Falkirk, pure quality - I am

sure - I mean it's come from the for Jay Fulton? He had to get

Trying to get himself back in. Maybe a little harsh on him. It was

Wanyama. Rogne so close to making decent contact with the ball as the

the stadium. Falkirk equal loizing through

youngster Jay Fulton. Here they -- equalising through younger Jay

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Here it may be a touch too much. You cannot take anything away from

the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper was brilliant - out quickly.

Topsyure I have stuff in Mount Florida.

Forrest holds on. fantastic first half to watch. Dods

conceded a penalalty. Brown converted this - this was the

incident, Dods hauling him to the deck. Straight to the point. Scot

Brown got it up the other end. Falkirk attacked. A great pass

through from the man of the match so far, Higginbotham, rolled calmly

to the net by 17-year-old Jay Fulton. That delighted his father

there - Steve. That means, at half time, at the National Stadium it is

theme developing here, remembering theme developing here, remembering

young Dean's goal yesterday. Yes. Falkirk have been fantastic.

Especially after they scored. When Celtic get position they are using

half a pitch to play on. When fall Falkirk get possession they are

playing in quarter of the pitch. Their build-up play has been good,

with incisive passing. At the top of that is Higginbotham, just

behind El Alagui. He's been fantastic. For me, he's been the

best play on the pitch so far. worried is Neil Lennon? I don't

think so much worry, he'll be concerned. 1-1, they were comfort

concerned. 1-1, they were comfort concerned. 1-1, they were comfort

without. Within that they have not had a lot of penetration. When they

got the goal, that was a penalty. I think it was and we'll see it later

on. The passing never improved. Falkirk, to their credit have

continued to pass, using a lot of triangles. They are prepared to

take the ball into tight areas. They have been a credit.

The goal, it was so well exsuited. They -- executed. They deserved it.

It is easy to feel sorry for yourself. They acted in a positive

manner. Kept to the game plan. That resulted in that. A great goal-

scoring chance. There's been a high-profile blip for Falkirk in

that first half. Other than that, it working to perfection? It's the

mid-field - it's that whole mid- field area where you expect a

smaller team not to have the belief at Hampden Park, on the big stage.

Higginbotham - he's been absolutely outstanding. Particularly - they

all want to get the ball, all happy to receive the ball, with players

around them I think there was a blip for five minutes. I think

Darren Dods would be the first to concede it was a moment of madness,

wasn't it, that allowed Celtic to get into the lead? Very much so.

The most experienced player. You see there's no excuse for it.

A clear penalty. The thing about that is we all want players to mark

tight corners, et cetera. He man handled from the outset.

That's a clear penalty. When you see that is averted from the six-

yard line, great composure, Stokes into the corner. From that point,

you think that will give Celtic the chance to push on and score more

chance to push on and score more goals. They have come back roaring

a lot of quality. They can be hard to spot for a referee, but not that

time. I didn't see it. That tells time. I didn't see it. That tells

you about me. One of the big characteristics of

the Falkirk time is they are all tall and good in the air. What he

might do is put Forrest at the front and maybe get something back

on the front and get slide throughs. What they are doing now is they are

getting into the box. That is where getting into the box. That is where

Falkirk are very strong. D They have to think about changing things.

What an equaliser - both in the way it was created and finished, but a

17-year-old, Jay Fulton. Celtic, not under pressure. Every

part of this - the weight of the pass here, he was going on about it

beforehand as well. It is fabulous. He doesn't panic. He's got time to

panic when the ball arrives at him. Passed, perfect, a stride, it is

what a composed finish. That is a finish of an international striker.

To have the composure and go on, 17 years of age, remember. Such

composure. His father is an outstanding player. I know the kids

well, because they are family friends. You can see the smile on

Stephen's face. Most would panic. Kids - that's exactly what they'd

do. On that stage to show that composure - I think it speaks

volumes for the way hay have been developed at the football club.

They have been a credit to the football club. Falkirk have played

so much top-quality football, great confidence. I am highly impressed

with them. From that goal he was in position, he received it on the

left side. He's let it come across his body. He has presence of mind.

He's done it all. Playing it quickly as well. This is a team

that people think are big underdogs. Higginbotham has this. Again, they

are comfortable on the ball. They did not have a lot of

penetration. They will take confidence from the fact they know

they can score. They are prepared I have been impressed with the

Falkirk team when they have been meet with that kind of ball. Celtic

are finding it difficult to pick them up. A clever pass. They could

be better in that situation. question remains, do Celtic need to

kill that area? I think they need to pass the ball quicker than they

are doing. They are getting loads of possession but there is no real

sense of urgency. If they pass it from side to side, then Falkirk

will be comfortable. I am not convinced they are defending well

against Celtic. What are you shouting about? I'd do a lot of

shouting! I think you might have some competition on the back of

today. If you were thinking of that signing. He was off the radar fall

while, but who knows? -- for a while. The way he is playing, I

think Celtic have to duplicate what they are doing and that somebody at

the top of the midfield. There are too many straight lines for me for

Celtic. Higginbotham is making things happen and the support runs

are getting connected. There was no penetration until Celtic scored.

They have got Weatherston on one side. In my opinion, at this moment

in time, Falkirk are favourites to win. They assistant referee is not

the centre of attention that he might have been if there had been

two more goals. This was blatantly the wrong decision. I can't

understand why they did not get this one right. It is a long way

from being offside, even after it hit the post. He is a good two

yards on there. If we got it forward from here, he is still on

side. That is a bad decision, to be fair. Don't forget that Celtic have

had very good chances. They have hit the crossbar. They have the one

on one with James Forrest as well. We have to keep in mind the kind of

team that Celtic are as well. Falkirk are still underdogs but

they have got a chance. This maybe explains why Darren Dods was

nervous about Thomas Rogne. He had hit the bar from a set piece

earlier on. He was marked down as a potential danger. You know where

your opponent is so he knows that he is a threat. That is a good

header. The most experienced player, do not put his team under pressure

as he did. He is tight there, so he is doing his job in essence, but to

concede the panel to the way that he did, that is hard to take for

the rest of the team mates. -- the penalty. Compare that with the gold

that young Jay Fulton scored. That is a young player that will

learn as he goes. Celtic have to move the ball as quickly as they

can. Then they will have more opportunities. Michael McGovern

becomes even more important to Falkirk than Jay Fulton. And yes. I

was talking to Steven Pressley and he was talking about bringing in

Darren Dods because he has so many young players and he needs more

experience. Sometimes a senior player that has to take so much

responsibility onto the pitch is worried about the younger lads, and

overlooks his own job, which he has done twice from corner kicks. That

can have an adverse effect as well, but his experience will help them

organise around him. United yesterday, their goalkeeper was

magnificent. Michael did a very good job when Forrest came through

on goal. Some drama as the teams came in at half-time. Steven

Pressley involved in an altercation. This was the prelude to an

altercation with the referee. We gather that he pushed Emilio

Izaguirre at the way to get to the referee when they were in the

tunnel area. Of the back of that he has been called into the referee

room to be spoken to. What is the upset about? We have to assume it

is the penalty, don't we? Surely when he sees it? As a manager, he

will see it. I know it happens every week, but it is a penalty.

There is no issue there. It is a clear penalty. They passed to be

that that he is taking issue with. I can't think of anything else. --

it has to be that. He is releasing his emotions. He will be sent to

the stands for the second half. much is a blow for that for the un

team used to having the manager next door? -- the young team.

if they have a quiet word then nobody sees it, but the cameras are

on, so that will be the cause of action that he takes. Steven

Pressley has just added to the problem because he has done it

publicly. It is a passionate game and we all get passionate. But you

have got to remember that you have to look after your team. For me

there is no argument about that penalty. Unless it is the offside

rule. If it was Neil Lennon complaining about the goal, I could

understand the offside goal that was clearly onside. Steve Fulton is

a proud father today and Dean Shiels's father was proud yesterday.

Are you speechless? He has followed up really well. He took his

instincts on board. He took it very well. He had four, five attempts at

goal yesterday, all opportunities, but what a relief that was for us.

He worked tremendously hard. You can see myself, absolutely relieved.

He is that as excited as you get? It was more relief than excited. I

did not think we would do it because of the way the game had

gone and I have seen it so many times when you have got domination

and you cannot get the goal. I had a real strong feeling that it would

go to penalties. Did you have a wee sherry? I am on antibiotics at the

minute. There is a bit of doubt now, when there wasn't after a bit, at

about who Kilmarnock will be facing? I still believe Celtic are

the favourites. I think that Neil Lennon will be demanding that they

pass and move the ball quicker. But Falkirk are in the game. It has

been good to see. Bad news for you, by the way. I think you are away to

Millwall, or Southampton. That is not something you wanted to know

about. They are all tough games. It is the FA Cup and we love it. We

will look to progress to the quarter-finals. Falkirk at Hampden

Park, the same requirement for them. Let's not forget that we are being

quite technical. It is a good game and really enjoyable. Very good

football being played by Falkirk. Celtic can play better and I

suspect they will play better. man that got it wrong in the first

half, Darren Dods, conceding that panel take, from which Scott Brown

scored. This is the man that very much got it right for the First

Division team. Jay Fulton with that equaliser which sets the SPL

leaders are big second half challenge. One all, halfway through

into the second half of the League Cup semi-finals. Back to Hampden

half-time. Emilio Izaguirre has been replaced. It is Sung-Yueng Ki.

I wonder how much that is down to the goal. Emilio Izaguirre, good to

be struggling for match figures? Maybe he has an injury. -- could he

with Jay Fulton. I think it must be an injury. He is a top-class player

and he could have done better in front of goal. Falkirk have not

been to the semi-final since 1947. Celtic last won in 2009. That was

after an extra-time victory over Rangers. That is El Alagui in the

thick of the action already. A problem with Victor Wanyama. He has

taken a saw one in that challenge. -- a painful one. We will look at

that in a moment. He is injured. Another blow for Celtic. Neil

Lennon has been adding to his squad in the last week or so, certainly

in a transfer window. He will be bringing in some new players. From

Nigeria, Sweden, we can't wait to see them. Victor Wanyama looks like

he is going to be OK. The drama continued during the half-time

interval. Steven Pressley is now in the stand. He could have gone to

the left-hand side, it is only a few yards away, and still got his

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message across. As you can see, audience the Falkirk now that

Steven Pressley is in at the stand. -- barking the orders now Steven

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Celtic was in 2007. Neil Lennon Falkirk to get out once more.

Fulton. The headlines were there for him. He's already got some

potentially. He'll make his dad double proud. He has to keep it

down. Brilliant again. Higginbotham, so confident. Stands up that cross.

The young lad will want the lovely cross.

A chance for Higginbotham to be on live television. He's taking

advantage of it. May well have some suitors after the performance he's

put in at the National Stadium so far. Remains 1-1 into the second

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Maybe he's not back in. Taking nothing away from Falkirk. You come

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Scobbie does well because he just must be on the back foot, knowing

away a corner though. Which will be Should have scored. Comes off the

crossbar. A handball.

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I think it was a yard away. It came Stokes. Celtic are -- superb from

Stokes. Celtic are back in front. That's a beauty. He's got it before.

Celtic started the second half well, but what an individual! Brilliant

from Anthony Stokes. Up, over reverse, pace, down in the cornern,

no chance for the hero. Another wild moment from Stokes. He's now

level with Hooper, 16 goals for the season. They are both goal machines

up front for Celtic. That is as good a free kick as you'll see. He

knows it. The boss is happy. Celtic are in

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doubt. McGovern has made a couple of

Celtic play on. They have the bit between their

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Falkirk have come from behind once. changing the gears. A bonus for him

is it's not a corner either. That change will be made just now. It

will be Fulton, the Falkirk goal scorer who will come off.

He will be replaced. How do you rate his performance

overall? He has done very well. You can see why, his dad will be proud.

The young lad can be performed of his performance. He has got himself

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third, that's for sure. Celtic will try and put this tie to bed.

They've had a couple of scares. This is Mulgrew with a free-kick.

It's good quality, delivery. It's a corner. The linesman on the far

side will give the line-kick there. Doesn't know what to do with his

goal's crucial. You can see it on every man setting up that defensive

wall. They don't want a third. Maybe they'll have another forward

or change their shape, as I said. Still in control, passing the ball

about. It's been a fair journey for Falkirk. Earlier than el tick did

already, they have beaten Albion Had that chance just before the

There was a shout for a penalty just before that.

Ledley gets himself in trouble. Duffie says "I'll have a bit of

that." Do you want a better chance than that? 16 yards out. Drags it

away. lost. Falkirk lost it for five at

10 minutes and then suddenly they it was not. They should have had

that. The Celtic with a few unfortunate decisions in this game.

Maybe made it a bit easier for them. between the Celtic midfield and

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is very much alive. Moving into the usual he has gone up and down the

flank. Adam Matthews has not started much in recent times. Neil

Lennon tends to change his side Izaguirre coming off, changing

things around. I still think that was an injury. But Neil Lennon is

Higginbotham gets a chance. Kieran Duffie has run well, as he has done

all game. Now the corner. We have a chip, and he got it wrong and he

shanked it through to the goalkeeper. You would not so that

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Hibernian with their second half season. Great place from Kieran

Duffie but he did not have the composure. He has got himself into

that position time and time again. Neil Lennon still asking questions

from his defence. Scott Brown knocked it wide. That is the

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performance director of the SFO on happy to play the ball up from

defence like that. They are really tidy. When it gets to El Alagui

they have to try and make it stick. mate of Steven Pressley and a

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Oldham and he is from Manchester. He went on loan to Accrington

for you on the BBC next Sunday. 12:15pm kick-off, Rangers against

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Dundee United, live on BBC One for the semi-final. It has been

good stuff. Is there twist in the tail? There was one towards the end

the penalty spot. Equalised by Jay Fulton. I think that he has caught

up Higginbotham. Yes, in the face. He has taken it fall in the face.

That looks like his foot is stuck to Higginbotham. It pulls his nose.

the orders to Steve Crawford, part of the Falkirk set up now. A man of

many clubs, like you, Billy Dodds. Celtic player last. Victor Wanyama

gets the crucial block, but Celtic think it was murder, left-hand side.

A good ball in. -- I think it was Stewart Murdoch on the left-hand

side. On target, a good block, double block. Good goal kick from

Fraser Forster. That is a danger that Celtic are under. With 12

winners to go, Falkirk are certainly not out. -- 12 minutes.

They have gone in front that they have not killed off the opposition

and they have got nervous in the final stages. That is what Falkirk

will be hoping for. Maybe the third goal would put them on Easy Street.

But anyone will tell you how ball owner from Adam Matthews. --

Alagui and Victor Wanyama involved. Is there sometimes too much of

that? I think you have got to look at it. You can't let them off it.

You have to have eyes in the back of your head to spot everything in

the final ten minutes. What is in Must have been a tight one again. A

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goalkeeper. I think the more he's playing t more confident he's

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moment or two. We are heading in to the final five

minutes. Kilmarnock are already in the final.

Celtic need to take care of first Stokes claims that one.

Blasted that one across. Stokes gets his second against his former

side and Celtic will be in the league cup final.

done it to seal the match, put ahead of Hooper in the scoring

stakes. I know they have a little rivalry going on about that. Lennon

there. He will be back here in March gpbst Kilmarnock.

-- against Kilmarnock, unless they've had to work for this one.

They have managed to rattle them towards the end of the first half.

They are bringing on Kris Commons store ve for Anthony Stokes, who

once upon upon, he's only 23, Anthony Stokes. When he was on loan

to Falkirk from Arsenal. He is replaced by Kris Commons. His debut

in this competition, against Aberdeen, this time last year. Now

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terrific. A lot of people would give it to

the winning team. Stokes has been good. They've had good players,

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Celtic. He's been the outstanding They could easily have had more

goals this afternoon. It has been bad luck, pretty much all bad luck,

bang on the ankle, by the look of things. He tried to help the ball

on and it was caught late. Looks to be a sore one.

Scott Brown. You've had a couple of them in your time.

Always a sore one to shake off. People will say, look at Anthony

Stokes' two goals. Higginbotham, all day long causing Celtic

problems. Great pieces of skill. He's Man of the Match, but has a

injury time. Falkirk have a league title to try

and win. They are five points behind Ross County and have played

two games more. It will take a collapse from the Highlanders going

into the closing stage of the season. They will have that final

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have high hopes for the remainder of this campaign. They want all the

trophies back to the Park Head boardroom at Celtic Park.

They have every chance of doing it. They have been relentless for the

past few months or so. There is the final whistle.

Celtic are into the Scottish community's league cup final. They

will play Falkirk. Stokes t hero for Celtic. The first

of his doubles was fantastic. A free-kick.

Neil Lennon guiding them into another domestic cup final. The

third in a row for Neil Lennon. Having reached the cup final last

season. Brown gave them the lead by Dods on

Rogne. That set the tone for Celtic at the time. Falkirk came back,

thanks to a Jay Fulton goal. That Stokes double made all the

semi-final. It finishes here, Celtic 3, Falkirk 1.

Congratulations. Two grade goals. How good does it feel? Great. It

was a difficult first half. I am just glad to be in the final.

you ever scored a better free kick? My be one or two! I am delighted to

win. -- maybe. What was the manager saying to you? Just say

congratulations. I am sure he is delighted by the result.

youngsters played some great football. Yes, they made it very

well. We did not take some chances in the first half and we probably

could have killed the game off. But we stuck in there and we got the

result. Kilmarnock in the final. Everybody is talking about the

trouble for Celtic. I am not going to speak about that. You know what

happened against Kilmarnock before, so we will put that on the back-

burner and concentrate on the next game. Well played, absolutely

brilliant, congratulations. Thank you. The Bolton and Kilmarnock

manages are with us in the studio. So that is who you are facing in a

couple of months. They work really hard today. It was a great advert

for Scottish football. The way that Falkirk tried to get it down and

move it. For a First Division team to come up against Celtic and play

with that courage, I was very impressed with Falkirk. And all

credit to them. They came out in the second half and gave them what

for an Celtic actually scored as a result of the free kick.

Higginbotham has got a lot of mentions today and he gave them

great balance as he attacked. go back to Langdon Park and here

from Higginbotham, man of the match. -- Hampden Park. Commiserations.

How do you feel after that? Disappointed with the loss because

we wanted to progress to the final and get the Cup. To come up against

the Old Firm and put on a display like we did, at times we were on

top, and we have shown good football. At times I had a lot of

possession. I thought we gave as good as we got. So many young

players in the Falkirk team. What do you take from an experience like

this? Some of us will probably never get this game again in our

careers. The gaffer said to us at the beginning of the game to savour

the moment and go out and express yourselves and I think we did that

today. You looked like you were enjoying yourself. Definitely. I

got man-of-the-match which proved that I played well. I have to keep

doing that. I hope we can play against them next year if we get

promoted. What was the mood in the dressing room when you got promoted

and you pulled that goal that? thought we could give them problems

in the second half but they got but other goal, which killed off the

game. They had lots of possession as well. I think our fans will be

proud of us. What is your objective for the rest of the season? They

league is our main priority of. -- the league is our main priority.

Then it is the Scottish Cup. are the man of the match.

Not a local lad, judging by the accent, but he is going places.

Falkirk will want to keep hold of her but I imagine he can move up

based on that. If he brings out that performance consistently, he

has lots of miles. He was terrific from start to finish. Even when he

was tired he had the composure to get on the ball, try and pass, move

it. He sees the passes, an intelligent player. They have not

finished. They have to push on in the league and try and catch the

next team. With players like that in the team they have every chance.

I think they have been terrific. There was nearly a chance at the

start of the second half for Falkirk. If they have got that, who

knows how the game would have panned out? But Celtic took their

goals very well, to their credit. Falkirk recovered from a daft

moment when they allowed Celtic to get ahead by conceding the penalty.

I don't think that Falkirk have read the script. Steven Pressley

will not agree with that! We will find out. That is not good marking.

It is rugby not football. Celtic will do what they have to do. They

have got class, going forward, and finishing. A lovely penalty kick

there. Celtic's finishing was probably the difference between the

two teams. You might have thought they would stop cruising but they

did not. No mistake from the penalty spot. It has been a weekend

for proud fathers. Dean Shiels did the business for Kilmarnock

yesterday and Steve Fulton was looking on at 17 year-old Jay

Fulton, scoring with amazing composure. This was great. As I

said at half-time. In a remarkable position. Great presence of mind.

Fantastic. His father should be very proud of him and rightly so,

at that age. What vision from Higginbotham. Higginbotham in the

past, you can be lucky and have a good game, but you don't get lucky

and do that sort of thing. That his talent. That was performance. That

is precision passing. Such a composed finish. Fantastic to see.

He will get a few more handshakes. Would it have been greedy if Jay

Fulton had scored again? There was some chance at the beginning of the

second half. Higginbotham again on composer. He stands on the ball, a

little trick. I think that puts Jay Fulton of. If he keeps his head

over the ball, then it would be too -1 Falkirk and then who knows? --

2-1. You have to take your chances. It is tough to do that on the side

of your foot but it was a great opportunity. He is in at the back

post trying to score. You'll never fault them trying to score goals

and being in the danger area. hit the crossbar twice, with the

help of a hand from Kieran Duffie. And there was a penalty claims

against Murray Wallace in the scrummage that followed. That is

certainly not intentional for May. It is hitting straight against him

from a very short distance. I think if things had gone another way,

Neil Lennon could have been very angry today. In my opinion, that is

not a penalty. That second one is not but they could be a claim of

the second one because the ball is deflected onto the bar. But

certainly not the second instance. This shows the angle well. That is

going in the net. You probably do give that add a penalty kick. -- as

a penalty kick. I don't think that his hand to ball. In the middle of

all that, I think Thomas Rogne had a good game. Everybody went for

Higginbotham as man-of-the-match, but he did well and he has

fulfilled that role that Celtic have struggled with for some time.

We were talking about El Alagui before the game but he did not get

much of a sniff. Two penalty claims but neither upheld, and then they

were 2-1 up after that free kick. Great effort from Anthony Stokes.

Can you fold Martin may govern? -- Michael McGovern? I don't think you

can fault him, he is a top-class goalkeeper. He jumps in the air and

delays for that millisecond. By the time he is down, the ball is

already moving and he might have been able to go over it. Having

said that, he had a terrific game and he made some good saves. Celtic

had some good chances. He is a young goalkeeper and there is a

learning curve. That team will learn from this and be better from

it. That goal scorer is important to Celtic. He is just natural. The

fact that he jumped up, on his way down as he struck it, that took the

emphasis out of his movement and he could not get across in time. It is

nit-picking a bit, but I think he has done well today, Michael. He

cannot do much with Anthony Stokes when he sniffs around that box.

After that free kick, he did very well to sniff that one out as well.

That was it. I think the script writer's plan was for Darren Dods

to score the equaliser that took the tie into extra-time. He tried

his best. It was a great opportunity. Some would say that I

did not see it coming. But it was very good goalkeeping. Good

goalkeeping from the big man. Maybe not always the best at coming out

and attacking the ball when it is in the air, but the size of him,

the greatness. Great double save at an important time. Bailey said that

Fraser Forster is growing into the job. I don't think that as Celtic

goalkeeper there is any hiding place. We have always said this,

but it is one thing to be a good player in a provincial club, but it

is another to play for Glasgow team. You need the ability but also the

mental strength. That is sometimes why players do not succeed because

they don't have the mental qualities to go along with their

other attributes. It is the huge honour to play for Celtic and

Rangers. Celtic threatened to score again. That would have been really

harsh on Falkirk. Terribly harsh. The defending gets a bit tight, but

a good understanding there. Acknowledgement that if you put it

between the centre-back and the goalkeeper, you know that your mate

Anthony Stokes will be there. He knew that area. Because Gary Hooper

knows that area and Anthony Stokes knows it, they do it for each other.

Great play. Anthony Stokes's desire to get in and score, because

sometimes it is difficult to hold on to what you have got at 2-1.

That is what they did, tried to kill the game, and so it proved.

He watched the second half in the stands. Steven Pressley is with

Jonathan. Commiserations, 3-1 defeat, but

such a young side with such promise. What is your overriding feeling

about the performance? I think their performance was terrific. We

came here with a real belief in our system of play and the way we go

about things. Over the 90 minutes, players can go away from here

exceptionally proud. We passed the ball brilliantly at times. Some

switches of play, passing between the lines, I was delighted. Great

passing. I thought we gave them one hell of a game. Your reaction when

that goal went in just before half- time said it all. What was the

atmosphere in the dressing-room at half-time? Was there a real sense

that you could do it? Yes. I think it was similar to the game against

Rangers and Falkirk Stadium. When you get there at half-time and you

are in the game, as we very much work, there is that sense of belief

that you can go on and do it. We started that game in the second

half very well. Celtic were under pressure. There was fluency to

their passing and I was really excited. Once again a controversial

decision changed the game. I have to ask you about what happened at

half-time. You ended up in the stand. Can you tell us what

penalty kick. I have not seen the penalty. I asked if it had been

given in the other box. That's a question to you. But, I am

disappointed. Very disappointed, because when you play against the

old firm, you definitely need factors like that to go for you.

Unfortunately today they didn't. You feel with referees the big

decisions go the big team's way? am not saying that. In reflection

of today's game, there was some big decisions made. I felt,

unfortunately for ourselves, they didn't go our way. What are the

object -- objectives for the rest of the season? Progressing. I look

at us from the July kick-off and the performances of my team now. I

can ask no more from these group of players. Have been progressive. We

set new targets for this season. We will continue to do that. All I ask

is progression. I have seen that in abundance. Thank you. You know him

well. Will he be embarrassed about his reaction to the penalty being

given? He is still obviously furious? Obviously he made

reference to that as well. I would have hoped if it had happened in

the box, I am sure the penalty would have been given. Darren Dods

is a good player. Had a very good career. It is inexcusable what he

did. Sometimes you have to give it up

and hope another team-mate will bail you out. I think to drag him

to the ground. He reflects on it and realises it is a penalty. He is

a young manager. He has passion and every desire to do well for Falkirk.

That will stand him in good steed. Sometimes that pain makes you

stronger. Is it worth mentioning the fact that everything else he

said you will absolutely agree with? Yes. He said he was well

between the -- passed it terrific. I would agree with every single

word. Celtic scored a very good goal. It was on-side. It is not

easy when they came back off the post, goalkeepers to have that

composure and slam it in the net, as he did.

Every motion of that - so I think he was a bit harsh there. As I say,

we all do that on the spur of the moment. You finish the game, your

team has performed admirally. Of course you will say some things out

of context. You are passionate. You care about the game. There's no

doubt he will go on to be a good manager. When the dust settles is

there much that satisfied managers, Falkirk did themselves justice in

what they put into the game. think Stephen will go away a very

proud man and how his team played, I thought they were exceptional.

They stuck at it and played really, really good football. And the

penalty, it would not have been given in Italy or Europe. It is

given here. Certainly, as Owen says the goal was never off-side. One

bounced the other. I could see he was disappointed for the boys

because they had done so much. Celtic, they have Higginbotham and

Stokes. Two top-class finers. They will always -- finishers. They will

always hurt you at some stage in the game. I thought they were going

to get another one near the end, which would have taken in a true

reflection of the game. Celtic had enough quality to win the game.

That is how it panned out. We will look at the first league cup semi-

final from yesterday. Air united against Kilmarnock.

thousands to make themselves heard He was picked out beautifully by

Dayton. Not sure if he was going for the goal here. Looked to be

heading to the back of the net, but for the intervention of the Ayr

He denies first of all James Dayton - a powerful effort, beaten away.

It looks like Harkins would score. He stuck the leg out to divert it

A moment of real class by Dean Shiels.

It has been matched by the save of few minutes he's had! First Shiels,

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then Pascali. Cuthbert!

He's kept out everything that has just a yard or so wide of the far

post. Malone was exposed here.

through comes for Kilmarnock. It's heartbreak for Ayr United. There's

joy for Dean Shiels -- for Shiels and Kilmarnock. It looked like it

would never come. Kevin Cuthbert could not keep them out forever.

Perhaps he should have gathered that one. Who can fault him for the

work he's put in this afternoon. touching distance of that trophy.

You want an early hold? I won't touch it. You had a blast at Ayr

United afterwards. The manager thought they were disrespectful.

That is what they put in the paper. Is that not what he said. It is not

a blast. It is how you say it. I said if they had come out with a

better game, I was disace pointed in the tactics. He is a super guy.

He does a good job with Ayr United. Do these pictures confirm - that it

was constant rear-guard action? When you are asked a question from

the Scottish media, it was in response to a question I was asked.

I was asked, did you feel Ayr could have come out and led more of a

festival? I said, I was disappointed in how they set it up.

You said they came looking for penalties, didn't you? Exactly. In

my opinion I did. -- they did. Look how many players

were inside the box there. Almost ten within a six-yard box. It holds

up your argument. That happened a great deal of times during the game.

For me when we played Celtic we came out. We are not Barcelona. We

are not massively, massively better than Ayr United. I feel, maybe in

hindsight, it could have come out. When they came out they had a

chance. In injury time at the end of the game they came out and had

another chance. We're not the world's greatest team. You know,

they have to come out and get advice. Fantastic for you to take

Kilmarnock into the final. The icing on the cake must be your son

scores the winning goal. He is a player. In the team he's another

player. But, yes, inside me I think, he's my son, it's great he has the

goal. There's no press didge there. It doesn't matter who scores at

that prejudice there. It doesn't matter who scores at that stage. I

was pleased for the supporters, for the chairman. Were you thanking

somebody upstairs there? Yes. The chairman is overlooked for the

work he does. He works really hard for the club. Every decision is in

the best interest of the club. I'm really pleased to work for

Kilmarnock. Celtic are through to play

Kilmarnock. Here's Neil Lennon. It was maybe not all plain-sailing,

but the victory, you must be delighted to get into that final?

They are never plain-sailing. I am delighted for the team. 3-1, people

might say that they deserved better. Looking from our point of view we

missed so many chances. We hit the bar twice. We hit the post. We

could have won the game more comfortably without playing at our

brilliant best. It is difficult semi-finals. In the best of

conditions we held up well today. I think it contributed for a good

game. One thing I will say about semi-finals here, is sometimes it

leaves a good atmosphere, such a big atmosphere. You have maybe

20,000 people missing, it lacks that bit of snap to the game.

stand behind you. Sometimes you cut a frustrated figure with the

figures N the end Anthony Stokes coming up trumps for you. Yes. He's

been working, we have worked with him on free-kicks. He puts too much

on them. That was definitely his range today. Thankfully he found

the precision and the quality to score. Anthony is in the right

place. I had a wee chat with him on Thursday. I said I wanted more from

him because his overall game has not been there. Anthony is always

going to score goals. We want to contribute more to the team.

don't want to miss the final, back in Hampden in seven weeks' time. It

is Kilmarnock against Celtic. That is on Sunday, 18th March.

Kenny said earlier on that must send out a positive message about

what the likes of Falkirk, just as an example, what they are doing t

type of players they are producing. For me, I am delighted. We are

always promoting Scottish football. I think as a nation we dwell too

much on the negative. There is a lot of positive about it. I have

seen some terrific young players in Celtic as well. There is a lot to

look forward to in Scottish football. We concentrate on the

negative all the time. The Celtic fans will probably throw things at

the TV saying speak about us. They did get the job done. It was a

professional performance, wasn't To be fair, they have the weapon

free to win the match and they achieved that but Falkirk have the

weaponry for a very good game of football. It was more competitive

than yesterday and that is down to the approach and Howard Falkirk

applied themselves and how they wanted to attack at times. -- how

Falkirk applied themselves. They kept the ball up the pitch, compact,

intricate play. But Celtic have equality at the top of the pitch,

and that was a difference, the big difference. With Gary Hooper and

Anthony Stokes there, there will always be chances that are

converted and they did that. D Day Neil Lennon's point about a lack of

atmosphere of not working from their point of view? -- do you take

the point? Yes, we always play better in a good atmosphere. He

said they did not play at their brilliant best, which was

wonderfully one -- honest, but the two players up front will always

score and create chances. It ended up right in the end, with the right

final, that will be exciting. We do mention Falkirk for a number of

reasons. Like a lot of clubs in Scotland, Kilmarnock, St Mirren,

they take the ball down, and I think play the game in other right

way and an enjoyable way. It is good football if we all buy into it.

I was delighted to see that. If they do get into the SPL, then they

will be a real edition. I cannot lose the opportunity to talk about

Bolton. What about the Premier League? How things turned round

after a difficult spell? There is no doubt that it was a slow spell

and we know why, with 10 players injured. When your best players are

missing it is always difficult. We had a horrendous start in terms of

the fixture, playing five of the top six. And when you lose games,

confidence is King in football, and your players lose confidence bit by

bit. We had a good run before Christmas and we have to continue

that. We got a couple back from injury, which helped. And we will

get some transfers before the window closes on Tuesday so we have

a lot to look forward to for the second half of the season. It was

always going to be a season of tradition because of what we were

trying to do. We have to make sure that we cake on and do ourselves

justice. Good luck. It has been good to have your company. I am

back later tonight for my night shift at 10 o'clock on BBC Two. The

highlights of both the semi-finals. This weekend coming up it is all