A Scott McDonald goal deep in first-half injury time against Falkirk reduced the gap between Celtic and Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers back to four points.

The champions went in to the game knowing the Ibrox side's win over St Mirren on Saturday had piled the pressure on but apart from the result, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will not have been happy with his side's response.

The Bairns had dictated the opening 45 minutes but in the third minute added on for treatment to defender Dean Holden, who was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg following a challenge by Stephen McManus, the Australia international nodded home a cross by Shunsuke Nakamura.

Falkirk had the better of the second half as well but the Parkhead side held on for three crucial points to keep them on the heels of their old rivals but it was a nervous afternoon for the visiting fans.

It was a tepid start to the match but in the 14th minute, following a claim for handball against Gary Caldwell in the Celtic box that was ignored by referee John Underhill, Bairns midfielder Arnau Riera tested Artur Boruc with a shot from distance.

Moments later, Lee Naylor blocked Graham Barrett's goalbound strike at the expense of a corner, the ball eventually breaking to Kevin McBride who blasted over from 12 yards when he should have done better.

Then Boruc did well to push Tam Scobbie's whipped-in free-kick past the post for a corner which was defended easily before the visitors raced up the park to win themselves a corner, McDonald knocking Shunsuke Nakamura's cross over the bar.

In the 34th minute the home side should have taken the lead after a tremendous run by Holden towards the Celtic penalty area ended with the Falkirk defender toe-poking the ball through to Barrett.

The Falkirk striker tried to tuck the ball past Boruc in to the corner of the net from 12 yards out but the Poland international pulled off a great save.

Holden had been badly injured by Parkhead skipper McManus as he released the ball and he was stretchered off to be replaced by Kenny Milne.

There was always the notion that Celtic would be more lethal if presented with an opportunity and in the third minute of added on time, it duly arrived.

McDonald broke quickly on the counter, fed Nakamura on the right and was back in the right place to head-flick the Japan international's cross in to the net from eight yards out and stun the home side.

The goal had stunned the home side but they appeared to have put the disappointment behind them quickly as they came out after the interval and again had Celtic back-tracking.

In the 51st minute, after Hoops' midfielder Scott Brown had fouled Cregg, substitute Kenny Milne had a poor attempt at Scobbie's deep cross and his header was easily saved by Boruc at his near post.

Despite Falkirk's battling qualities and the pressure they were exerting on Celtic, in reality there was little to suggest the equaliser was inevitable.

Barrett's weak effort from 25 yards in the 59th minute, which Boruc gathered comfortably, was further evidence of Falkirk's apparent impotence.

Belief seemed to ebb away from the home side as the second half continued and after Evander Sno replaced Nakamura, Celtic slowly came back in to the match.

In the 80th minute Sno had a goal-bound drive stopped by the thigh of Bairns skipper Darren Barr just inside his own penalty area.

Falkirk then brought on veteran midfielder Russell Latapy for McBride in the hope of the former Rangers player conjuring up some magic but it was Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink who crashed a shot off the post in the final seconds.

Teams

Falkirk Olejnik, Ross, Holden (Milne 35), Barr, Scobbie,Cregg, Riera, Arfield, McBride (Latapy 81), Moutinho,Barrett (Finnigan 86).

Subs Not Used: Barclay, Aafjes, Bradley, Stewert.

Booked: Ross, Milne.

Celtic Boruc, Caldwell, Naylor, McManus, Hartley (Caddis 74),Scott Brown, Nakamura (Sno 68), McGeady, Donati,McDonald (Killen 90), Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Subs Not Used: Mark Brown, Zurawski, Riordan, Pressley.

Booked: McDonald, Donati.

Goals: McDonald 45.

Att: 6,803

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).