McDonald spares Celtic's blushes at Falkirk

28/01/2008 13:02

By Kenny MacDonald

GLASGOW (Reuters) - A first-half header from Scott McDonald gave champions Celtic a 1-0 win at Falkirk in the Scottish Premier League on Sunday and cut Rangers’s lead at the top to four points.

The Australian striker glanced a close-range effort over keeper Robert Olejnik in first-half stoppage time following Japanese midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura’s chipped cross from the side of the box.

Celtic are second on 49 points from 22 games while Rangers have 53 from 22 after their 4-0 win over 10-man St Mirren on Saturday.

"It was hard work, conditions were not great for playing football," Celtic manager Gordon Strachan told the BBC. "So, we are delighted with the win."

It was far from a polished performance from Celtic and Falkirk had a strong penalty claim turned down on 15 minutes when defender Gary Caldwell handled a high ball into the box.

There was more misery for the home side when they had Dean Holden carried off on a stretcher 20 minutes later with a suspected broken leg following a sliding challenge from Celtic’s Stephen McManus.

McDonald made the breakthrough just before the interval but the second half was a tense affair and Celtic survived another penalty claim when Italian midfielder Massimo Donati brought down Falkirk’s Kevin McBride.

Dutch striker .....continued below

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Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink came close to scoring for Celtic in the final minute with an angled shot from the right that flew low beyond Austrian keeper Olejnik only to strike the base of the far post.

(Editing by Miles Evans)

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