SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE Falkirk 0 Celtic 3: CELTIC'S TRAVELLING support took a mere two minutes to chant Aiden McGeady's name. By full time the errant winger had apparently been forgotten; the same fans were hailing a new hero, Koki Mizuno.
It would surely have added to McGeady's pain that Mizuno's name even fits into the verse normally associated with the Republic of Ireland international.
It remains unclear whether McGeady will leave Parkhead during next month's transfer window. If this is what life without the 22-year-old would be like for Celtic, perhaps his loss would not be as significant as some think. With McGeady suspended following his spat with Gordon Strachan, Mizuno was given a first start in gale-hit Falkirk. He did not disappoint, coming to life in the second period and scoring the second of Celtic's three goals.
"Koki has had to wait a long time for his chance," Strachan said.
Admittedly Falkirk will be among the most toothless opponents Celtic face all season. The only surprise was that it took the visitors 48 minutes to open the scoring, Georgios Samaras stooping to head home Scott McDonald's clever cross.
Falkirk's Mark Stewart promptly crashed a 25-yard effort against a post but the revival was short-lived. Mizuno, sent clean through by his compatriot Shunsuke Nakamura, coolly rounded Robert Olejnik to settle matters. McDonald, worthy of a goal following an afternoon of tireless work, produced almost a carbon copy in stoppage time having also been supplied by Nakamura.
FALKIRK: Olejnik, Mitchell, Holden, Bullen, Barr, McCann, Riera (Mark Stewart 75), Arfield, O'Brien, Barrett (Finnigan 75), Lovell. Subs Not Used: Flinders, Cregg, McBride, Lynch, Scobbie. Booked: Bullen, Mitchell, Finnigan.
CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel, Naylor, Caldwell, O'Dea, Loovens, Scott Brown, Nakamura, Mizuno, Samaras (Sheridan 90), McDonald. Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Wilson, Crosas, McCourt, Hutchinson, Caddis. Booked: Mizuno. Goals: Samaras 48, Mizuno 90, McDonald 90.
Referee: E Smith(Scotland).
• Guardian Service
