Stewart strike earns Falkirk point

Hoops midfielder Aiden McGeady had a first-half penalty saved by Robert Olejnik, before Gary Caldwell headed the Hoops ahead just after the break. But Scott Arfield levelled from the spot, before Pedro Moutinho volleyed Falkirk ahead.

Parkhead substitute Scott McDonald, on moments earlier for Paddy McCourt, headed the equaliser in the 72nd minute before grabbing another five minutes later. But there was still time for Bairns substitute Mark Stewart, on for Alex MacDonald, to make it 3-3.

In the seventh minute, defender Darren Barr should have scored when he got on to a MacDonald corner but the Scotland international headed wide from six yards out. MacDonald himself then fired a free-kick from 25 yards over the bar then came closer moments later when he cut inside from the right and fired over from the edge of the box.

Falkirk continued to press with purpose and missed their best chance in the 24th minute when Danijel Marceta set up Vitor Lima inside the Celtic box. The Bairns midfielder looked favourite from 10 yards out but Hoops keeper Lukasz Zaluska made a fine saving block.

In the 43rd minute, MacDonald blotted his copy book when he tripped Parkhead left-back Danny Fox inside the box to concede a penalty. However, a remarkable double save by Robert Olejnik from Aiden McGeady kept the game goalless.

The second half was something else. The traffic was starting to build up towards Olejnik and the goal arrived in the 55th minute through Caldwell. After Barry Robson's long free-kick from the left arrived at the back post, the Hoops defender climbed to head back across Olejnik and into the net for his first goal of the season.

In the 61st minute, it was Caldwell's clumsy challenge on Ryan Flynn that gave the home side a penalty - Arfield stepped up to take responsibility and, although Zaluska got a hand to the penalty, he could only help it into the net. And just two minutes later McGeady hesitated as Flynn again charged into the box and his cut-back was volleyed past Zaluska by Moutinho from eight yards out.

Celtic responded by introducing McDonald and Zheng Zhi for Paddy McCourt and Barry Robson, and, in the 72nd minute, the little Australia international headed a Fox cross past Olejnik to again level the scores.

An enthralling finale ensued, with the Parkhead men going all out for the winner, which looked to have arrived in the 79th minute when McDonald tapped into an empty net from Georgios Samaras' cross. Falkirk looked demoralised but, in the 83rd minute, Flynn sent Stewart through on goal and he slammed the ball past Zaluska.