Celtic 4-0 Falkirk: Hoops ease to Premiership win on Martin O'Neill's return to dugout

Celtic have eased to a Premiership win over Falkirk on Martin O’Neill’s return to the Parkhead dugout.

Johnny Kenny struck twice in the first half before Benjamin Nygren and Seb Tounekti were on target after the break to secure a 4-0 victory.

The Hoops got back to winning ways after consecutive defeats in the league against Dundee and Hearts.

Former manager Brendan Rodgers resigned from his position on the day after the defeat at Tynecastle that left Celtic eight points behind the Premiership leaders.

O’Neill returned, 20 years after leaving Celtic Park, to take over the team on an interim basis until a permanent boss in secured.

And it was almost as though he had never been away, with his name ringing out around the stadium as the champions cut the gap at the top of the table to six points, thanks to Hearts drawing with St Mirren.

Daizen Maeda also made a return from injury as he replaced Kenny for the final 20 minutes.

It’s a Hampden semi-final against Rangers up next for Celtic on Sunday as they look to reach the League Cup final.

A number of supporters held a protest against the board before the game, but O’Neill was given a rousing reception from the home fans before kick-off.

Celtic soon had to thank goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for denying returning Bairns midfielder Scott Arfield in the first action of the game.

However, the home side slowly began to get up a head of steam.

Scott Bain made a fine save at the feet of Nygren in the 28th minute, but the home side kept the pressure up, and when Bain touched a drive from Nygren onto the post, 22-year-old striker Kenny was on hand to return the rebound into the net.

Schmeichel made a fine save from Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi as John McGlynn’s men fought back.

Moments later, however, Bain had to dive smartly to his left to beat away an effort from James Forrest but he had no chance when Nygren re-directed an Anthony Ralston delivery back across goal for Kenny to head in from eight yards.

Kenny began the second half by blazing a shot over the bar with only Bain to beat.

The keeper looked at fault when he parried a shot from Marcelo Saracchi out to Nygren who fired into the net for the easiest of goals just before the hour, allowing the home side to cruise.

Japan striker Maeda, recovered from a hamstring injury, took over from Kenny, providing another boost for the home fans, who cheered again when Tounekti raced clear of the Bairns defence to smash in a fourth, with time for 19-year-old forward Callum Osmand, signed from Fulham in the summer, to come on to make his debut on a night when the supporters enjoyed O’Neill rolling back the years.