Celtic moved level on points with Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts as Daizen Maeda’s double and a Kieran Tierney strike secured a vital – and at times nervy – win over Falkirk.
Falkirk impressed for long spells and hauled themselves back into contention when substitute Kyrell Wilson lasered a fierce shot home, but Maeda’s late finish secured victory.
Celtic leapfrogged Rangers by one point, with the Ibrox side hosting Motherwell on Sunday before Hearts travel to face Hibernian.
Home supporters held up a banner reading ‘Spirt of 86’ pre-match, a reference to winning the title on the final day at the expense of Hearts. It seems this fight will go all the way, as it did 40 years ago.
The pace was unrelenting from the off. Accuracy was not quite at that level, though, as neither could create clear-cut chances.
It was the visitors who almost struck first when a clearance fell perfectly for captain Brad Spencer, whose volley from outside the area was superbly tipped beyond the post by Viljami Sinisalo.
John McGlynn’s side then started to dictate play before shooting themselves in the foot.
By now, everyone is surely aware of Maeda’s relentless pressing and threat. Keelan Adams perhaps not so as the Japan striker flew in to block his clearance, raced clear and finished decisively from distance with Nicky Hogarth exposed.
Calvin Miller almost levelled with a volley but when Tierney lashed home a fierce drive shortly before the break, it seemed Celtic would enjoy a comfortable afternoon.
Not so. Yang Hyun-jun thought he had a third when he got in, was blocked and then nodded home but he was marginally offside.
Falkirk stuck at it, consistently threatened and were rewarded with Wilson producing a stunning finish to hand them a lifeline.
But Maeda was alert to find space in the penalty area to place a low finish home to settle the outcome, missing out on a hat-trick when he fired wide with the goal gaping.
More to follow.