Falkirk 3-3 Celtic

Bottom-of-the-table Falkirk finally found their shooting boots to share six goals in a thrilling tussle with Scottish Premier League leaders Celtic.

Robert Olejnik made a double-save to keep out Aiden McGeady's penalty before Gary Caldwell headed Celtic in front.

Scott Arfield replied from the penalty spot and Pedro Moutinho volleyed Falkirk into a surprise lead.

Scott McDonald came off the bench to restore Celtic's lead with a brace but Mark Stewart hit the leveller.

Falkirk, now four points adrift at the foot of the league, are still without a win this season but a stirring performance will have raised spirits and eased some of the pressure on manager Eddie May.

McDonald's late contribution appeared to have saved Celtic, who were sluggish in the first half, but the Bairns thoroughly merited at least a share of the spoils.

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The home side made an encouraging start and captain Darren Barr went close with a seventh-minute header from an Alex McDonald corner.

The busy MacDonald fired two firm strikes over the crossbar before Vitor Lima passed up a golden chance for Falkirk.

The impressive Ryan Flynn slipped Lima in with a cute pass but he hesitated in front of goal and keeper Lukasz Zaluska was able to block at the feet of the midfielder.

Returning this week for his second spell at Falkirk, Moutinho was handed a start when Carl Finnigan was injured in the warm-up and the Portuguese forward held the ball up expertly and was full of lovely touches.

One such feint left Caldwell bamboozled and the Celtic defender tugged Moutinho as he shaped to shoot on the edge of the penalty area.

Referee Brian Winter waved for advantage and Danijel Marceta's strike was deflected wide.

Moutinho later rolled an inviting pass in the direction of Arfield but the wild finish from 18 yards did the set-up play no justice.

Olejnik had to tip a deflected effort from McGeady as it looped down under his crossbar before Falkirk full-back Chris Mitchell blazed a fierce strike a foot wide of the target.

All of Falkirk's good work was in danger of being undone when MacDonald foolishly tripped Danny Fox to concede a 43rd minute penalty.

However, Olejnik made a fabulous double-save to deny McGeady.

Having dived to his right to stop the spot-kick, the prone Austrian managed to stick out a foot and kick the Celtic star's follow-up effort over the crossbar.

The second half was ten minutes old when Caldwell rose unchallenged to powerfully head Celtic in front from a Barry Robson free kick.

Five minutes later, the goal-scorer held his head in his hands as he clipped Flynn to concede a penalty, which Arfield converted, despite Zaluska getting fingertips to the ball.

Soon after, Flynn pounced on a sloppy Georgios Samaras pass to drift forward and centre for Moutinho to finish off with a side-foot volley.

The Falkirk lead lasted all of eight minutes and substitute McDonald was the man to haul the visitors level when he nodded a good Fox delivery beyond the despairing dive of Olejnik.

Zaluska got down quickly to beat away a rasping strike from Lima but it was Celtic who struck next when Samaras found McDonald with a great low cross and the Australian applied the finishing touch on 79 minutes.

But the Bairns would not give in and once again came roaring back when Flynn flicked the ball on for substitute Stewart to drive an angled shot across Zaluska and into the corner of the net.

Celtic had the ball in the net again but McDonald was denied a hat-trick by the linesman's flag, as he tapped in after Olejnik had saved from Samaras, who did not appear to be offside.

Falkirk manager Eddie May:
"It's the first time no one has asked me about the run we're on without a win. It just shows that when you get a point against Celtic it's like a victory.

"Ryan Flynn and Pedro Moutinho weren't meant to be playing but had to come in after injuries to Sean Lynch and Carl Finnigan. So, sometimes you're better being lucky because those two were excellent.

"We've got a good base to work from but we don't have much depth.

"I want a certain standard of player here and that costs money but I have to be realistic and not put the club at risk."

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray:
"Disappointment and anger are a couple of the emotions I'm experiencing.

"It's as poor as we've been since I arrived. But credit to Falkirk, they played particularly well.

"We've had a few tired performances after European trips, and today was a very mentally tired performance.

"We just need to look for consistency, and if there is any excuse it is that we had to play a high-energy match against Hamburg on Thursday.