Celtic squander chances as Falkirk earn a replay

AMONG Celtic's various misfortunes, the most telling may be that Tommy Burns's side are the psychological equivalent of non-stayers.

Lack of mental stamina has manifested itself throughout their last five, winless matches, most significantly in the 1-1 draw with Falkirk which ensured a replay of the Scottish Cup semi-final, back at Ibrox, on Wednesday week.

Teams with less talent, such as Raith Rovers, Dunfermline, Kilmarnock and even Falkirk of the First Division, have shown that the Parkhead side are too easily worried when it comes to slugging to the line.

Paolo Di Canio - and perhaps one or two others - is a glaring exception. The Italian is not only the most gifted, but the most tenacious Celtic player. He keeps coming back for more and almost invariably masters the string of markers who try to crowd him out.

The German, Andreas Thom, simply does not have the right stuff, and the Portuguese, Jorge Cadete, an exhilarating finisher until the last few weeks, seems to have been affected by the personal financial problems which have brought him into conflict with the club. Not only has he failed to score in six games, but he suddenly appears unable to get into threatening positions.

All but one of Celtic's squandered chances against Falkirk - there were enough to have won the tie comfortably - came from Di Canio's service. Thom had a shocking miss in front of an open goal and Cadete headed wide from six yards before Tommy Johns on pulled his shot wide after Thom's astute pass.

Johnson atoned by scoring his first Celtic goal on his first start, having cost £2.4 million from Aston Villa the day before the expiry of the semi-final signing deadline.

It should have been sufficient to subdue the resilient, but fundamentally inferior Falkirk. But they came back with a headed equaliser from the towering Kevin James, at 6ft 7in the tallest player in Scottish football.

Whether Celtic can summon the hardness of spirit required to take winners through the demanding closing stages remains to be seen. They have already faltered fatally in the championship and no longer look odds-on favourites for the cup.

Kilmarnock and Dundee United, who meet in the other semi-final at Easter Road tonight, would have been encouraged by Saturday's game. Not only have they both beaten Celtic in the league in recent weeks, but they will believe they can do so again.

United are without their reliable central defender, Steven Pressley, who is suspended after being sent off against Hibernian nine days ago. Manager Tommy McLean will decide whether Stewart McKimmie, Mark Parry or David Sinclair will be his deputy.

Kilmarnock have the veteran full-back Gus MacPherson back from suspension, but their manager Bobby Williamson may be reluctant to tamper with a team who have won their last five matches.