Sometimes a player does not need to score the winning goal to leave a lasting impression on a football match. Sometimes their influence can be seen in the small details, the movement, the intelligence, the work rate and the moments that help a team control the game.
That was certainly the case at Celtic Park as Celtic secured a hard fought 2-1 victory over Falkirk, with one underrated Celtic star emerging as one of the biggest talking points from the afternoon.
Camilo Duran grabbed the headlines after scoring twice in the opening half, but the performance of one of his teammates deserves just as much recognition.
For Falkirk manager John McGlynn, the quality shown by Celtic was a reminder of just how difficult it is to compete against players who can control the tempo and find solutions under pressure.
Celtic eventually secured all three points, but Falkirk refused to disappear from the contest. After trailing 2-0 at half time, McGlynn’s side fought their way back into the match and reduced the deficit through a Colby Donovan own goal.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.
Celtic had dominated large portions of the opening period, but Falkirk began believing they could get something from the game. The visitors pushed forward, battled for second balls and made life uncomfortable for the home side.
Yet amid that pressure, one Celtic player continued to show remarkable composure.
That is why the phrase “give him his flowers” feels appropriate.
j
The player may not always receive the same level of attention as Celtic’s biggest stars, but his contribution against Falkirk was outstanding.
His ability to receive the ball under pressure, move possession forward and constantly offer an option gave Celtic an important outlet. Even when Falkirk increased the intensity, he remained composed and disciplined.
That kind of performance can easily be overlooked because it does not always produce spectacular statistics.
But managers notice it.McGlynn has built his reputation around organisation, discipline and understanding the details of football. His Falkirk side arrived at Celtic Park knowing they would have to be extremely disciplined if they wanted to compete.
Despite Celtic eventually winning, Falkirk showed enough character to make the champions uncomfortable in the second half.
And that makes the performance of Celtic’s underrated star even more impressive.
There were moments when Celtic needed somebody to slow the game down, make the correct decision and prevent Falkirk from building sustained momentum.
He repeatedly stepped up.
It was not necessarily the kind of performance that dominates social media clips. There were no outrageous celebrations or spectacular long range goals.
Instead, it was about consistency.
It was about making the right pass.
It was about moving into the correct position.
It was about helping teammates.
It was about understanding when Celtic needed to attack and when they needed to manage the game.
Those qualities are invaluable over the course of a long season.
Duran understandably walked away with much of the attention after scoring twice, including an early opener and another composed finish before the half hour mark.
But football is rarely won by one player alone.
Celtic needed a collective performance, especially after the disappointment of their European exit against LASK earlier in the week. The 2-1 victory therefore represented an important response, even if the performance was not perfect.
Falkirk’s late pressure demonstrated that there are still areas Celtic must improve.
For McGlynn, however, the match also provided evidence that Celtic possess players capable of making a difference even when the game becomes uncomfortable.
The underrated star deserves credit for exactly that.
Fans often celebrate goalscorers because goals are the easiest contribution to measure.
But there is another side of football.
Players who quietly control matches deserve recognition too.
Against Falkirk, that player showed intelligence, composure and determination at a time when Celtic needed those qualities most.
It may not become the most remembered performance of the season.
It may not generate the biggest headlines.
But it was the kind of display that coaches appreciate.
And perhaps that is why the biggest compliment is simply this:
Give him his flowers.
He earned them at Celtic Park.