Tough Job For Mowbray

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray is looking to Scott MacDonald to make it impossible for him to be left off the team-sheet each week. He can do that be scoring more goals from the chances that come his way. The Australia international was dropped to the bench for Saturday’s game against Falkirk after he missed chances in the goalless draw against Hamburg in the Europa League on Thursday night. However, when Celtic needed to get an equaliser after Falkirk had gone 2-1 ahead, it was MacDonald who was called upon to redress the balance. MacDonald replaced Paddy McCourt and had barely been on the pitch for five minutes when he headed in the equaliser. He followed that up minutes later when he side-footed in from close range to give the visitors the lead.

Mowbray challenged the likes of McDonald when he said: "There is competition for places but I'm delighted that he scored a couple of goals. From my perspective, you'd like to be in the position where you don't leave Scott on the bench because he scores every single week. But he has had a few weeks where he has had some chances and the keeper has made good saves but hopefully those goals will help his confidence."

Mowbray claimed his side were too "mentally tired" from their trip to Germany in midweek to give of their best against the Bairns.  He said: "It was a tired performance from us. It was probably as poor as we've been this season and the team didn't play well in the first half. It was the same defence which kept a clean sheet in Hamburg but mentally it was a tough day for the team. Generally, we have had mentally-tired performances after games in Europe and I think that was one. Yet, if we want to take a positive, the team tried to rally themselves from a losing position and showed great endeavour to get back into a winning position. They could have felt sorry for themselves, they had a tough week, getting back from Europe in the early hours (of Friday). Obviously we are disappointed to drop points but we have to move on."

Despite their best performance of the season, Falkirk are still stuck at the bottom of the SPL with five points. Manager Eddie May, who also saw keeper Robert Olejnik make a remarkable penalty save from Aiden McGeady just before the break - saving from the rebound after blocking the Celtic midfielder's first attempt - will take heart from the performance. He said: "We have to ask every player to play to their maximum and, if we can do that, we have a chance of staying in the league."