Bhoys breeze past Bairns

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Falkirk made a bright start but Gary Caldwell blasted a 29th-minute opener and both Vennegoor of Hesselink and Stephen McManus hit the crossbar just before the break.

Celtic controlled the second half and Aiden McGeady and Darren O'Dea netted after Vennegoor of Hesselink had notched his fourth goal of the season.

An adventurous Falkirk enjoyed some decent possession inside Celtic's half in the early stages. Carl Finnigan's 25-yard strike forced a save from Artur Boruc and Michael Higdon rifled just over from 20 yards after a poor defensive header from O'Dea.

Georgios Samaras had a shot turned past Dani Mallo's near post after latching on to Caldwell's quick free-kick, but the Greek striker limped off in the 14th minute after an innocuous challenge by Steven Pressley.

Vennegoor of Hesselink, who ended a barren spell of more than six months during Saturday's 4-0 win over Hamilton, entered the fray. But Falkirk continued to knock the ball around in a manner which belied their status as the SPL's bottom club.

But they fell behind after referee Willie Collum harshly ruled that Kevin McBride had pushed Aiden McGeady in the corner. Scott McDonald headed Shunsuke Nakamura's free-kick across the face of goal and Caldwell blasted the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Brown almost added a quick second after outmuscling Burton O'Brien but he curled the ball just wide from 20 yards, while both Vennegoor of Hesselink and Stephen McManus headed Nakamura corners off the underside of the bar.

Celtic carried their momentum into the second half and got the cushion they wanted in the 62nd minute. Mallo missed Nakamura's cross from the left and Vennegoor of Hesselink bundled the ball home from four yards.

McGeady scored in the 78th minute when he beat a man and fired into the bottom corner from 18 yards. And O'Dea further boosted Celtic's goal difference in the dying moments by sidefooting home McManus' cross from two yards.