Callum McGregor says Celtic's 'mentality is back' under Martin O'Neill after Falkirk win

Celtic’s win against Falkirk wasn’t always pleasing on the eye.

Martin O’Neill’s side had to rely on their defence and goalkeeper, but in the end, earned a clean sheet and a 1-0 win.

Celtic didn’t create a lot, but Benjamin Nygren’s first-half header was enough to secure the three points for the second time since O’Neill’s return.

Crucially, both wins since his second interim return have come with clean sheets, something Wilfried Nancy couldn’t manage once in his eight games.

And Callum McGregor, who wasn’t often vocal under Nancy, is back reassuring Hoops fans under O’Neill.

Would Celtic have won that game under Wilfried Nancy?

Callum McGregor on Martin O’Neill’s Celtic vs Falkirk

McGregor has returned to his role at the base of Celtic’s midfield with two advanced midfielders playing ahead of him.

Under Nancy, he had often been left exposed out of possession, with the Hoops using an unorthodox back-three.

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And there’s no doubt that McGregor’s glad to be back in familiar surroundings.

Speaking to Premier Sports after the game, he said: “Yeah, you’ve got to win these games, especially midweek games on the astro, weather’s not great.

“Listen, they’re a good side as well, they test you, they make you run and test your organisation and we knew it wouldn’t be easy. We knew the job was to come here, win and move on.

“Games like this when you come here, you’re not going to play well every time – especially against good sides. At the end of the season, we can earmark that as one that was a big win for us.

“But we know that, performance wise, we’ve got to perform a lot better than that to continually win football games.

“But coming off the back of what was a difficult four weeks, I think that’s huge. Shows that the mentality is back in the group, clean sheets, and 1-0 to get a big win.

“[O’Neill] is such an experienced manager. When he came in the first time, six weeks before, he got a huge bounce off the players as well.

“To be honest, we’ve sort of picked up where we left off. Really good atmosphere, the boys are working so hard. You see there, last 15-20 minutes, people are running their socks off trying to get in the right areas to defend.

“It’s a big, big team effort, so he’s been amazing. Shaun, Fozzy, all the guys have been brilliant – we’ve just got to keep responding with wins.”

Do you think Callum McGregor would ever leave Celtic?

Callum McGregor’s Celtic season so far

Managerial changes had been rare for McGregor at Celtic, until this truly chaotic season.

His first real contribution was a goal in a 3-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle, which turned out to be Brendan Rodgers’ final game.

McGregor scored two crucial (and excellent) goals in O’Neill’s first interim spell, in extra time against Rangers and injury time against St Mirren.

And working back with O’Neill, Maloney and Fotheringham – who calls McGregor ‘The Maestro – don’t rule out more contributions before the end of the season.

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