Bain makes nine saves as Falkirk end 19-year wait to beat Celtic

Falkirk beat Celtic 2-0 to end a 19-year wait for victory over the Glasgow club, with goalkeeper Scott Bain making nine saves against his former team. BBC Sport Scotland reported that the result gave Falkirk a fourth successive win and lifted them to fourth in the Scottish Premiership. It also extended their run of clean sheets to three matches.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue6AkxA6AUc

Bain's contribution helped take Falkirk's sequence without conceding to 342 minutes. Manager John McGlynn highlighted two particularly strong saves in the first half and said his goalkeeper was called on repeatedly after the break. McGlynn thanked Bain for his performance, while former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner also praised the defensive work of the team as a whole.

Speaking after the victory, Bain said he had entered the game with confidence in both his team-mates and the plan for facing Celtic. He expected to have saves to make but described feeling during the match that the visitors would not score. Although pleased with his own display, he placed greater emphasis on what the result meant for the team.

The win came ahead of Scotland's squad announcement for their forthcoming Nations League fixtures. Bain, who has four international caps, said he hoped to be included after enjoying the previous camp under head coach Sebastien Pocognoli. He said he believed he had performed well since that gathering and throughout the season, but the report did not confirm his selection for the next squad.

Bain also spoke positively about working with Pocognoli and learning what the coach wanted from his side. His comments expressed a wish to return to the international group, rather than an expectation of a starting place. The immediate achievement remained a club result secured by a defence that again prevented its opponents from scoring.

The goalkeeper, who turns 35 this month, extended his Falkirk contract in January. That agreement runs until the summer of 2028 and includes an option for a further year. Having previously served as a back-up at Celtic, Bain is now part of a Falkirk side whose latest victory combined another shutout with continued progress up the Premiership table.