MARTIN O’NEILL reminded his Celtic squad they are winners – then watched them dump Falkirk.
Johnny Kenny’s first half double was followed by goals from Benjamin Nygren and Sebastian Tounekti after the break.
It was O’Neill’s first game in charge of the Hoops since the 2005 Scottish Cup final.
He said: “I jokingly said I’d not been as nervous since I did my 11 plus and I think I passed that when I was 48.
“I was concerned about the game and letting myself down but also letting others down.
“I toId the players I know confidence has been a wee bit low, which is the most natural thing in the world if you’re not getting results.
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“They stop doing things when that happens. I said there are some lads who would have no idea who I was.
“But I also said we have a number of winners in the dressing room and that’s really important.
“Those lads have experienced lows during the season and fought back.
“The captain is a real quality player but there were great performances all round.
“They overcame my insecurity problems and naturally I’m delighted to win.
“You can complicate the game but it’s quite simple. You go back to basics – when in possession you do something.
“If you are creative then make something happen and when you lose you have to be back in as quickly as possible.
“I got great help from the backroom staff. Shaun Maloney was terrific.
“There’s only so much you can do and I got great help. Wee Mark Fotheringham and the rest of the backroom staff were terrific.
“When the goals were going in it was a big sigh of relief.
“I’ve worried about matches since I became a manager so nothing has changed. Even with Larsson, Sutton and Lennon we never treated a game lightly.
“If you take your eye off it or think you’re better than you are then things become difficult.
“To win was most important but the manner we did I was really pleased.”
Major shareholder Dermot Desmond watched from the stands 48 hours after his blast at outgoing boss Brendan Rodgers.
O’Neill added: “I just saw him for a couple of minutes and hopefully I’ll have a chat again soon.
“I’ve not seen him for some time. If we’d been beaten I’d have regretted the call!”
O’Neill had claimed Hearts could win the league hours before being handed the reins but the victory cut the gap to Jambos to six points.
He said: “Did I say that? I was talking a lot of b***ocks really. Nothing has changed!”
Bairns boss John McGlynn admits the clash will count for nothing as far as their season goes.
He said: “We bin it. We have to move on. Saturday is more important than this game. It was always going to be hard.
“We stayed in the game for 30 minutes till the goal. Losing the third killed us. Celtic have that sharpness and we’re not at that level when they are.
“We won’t be competing for the top two positions in the league.
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“Celtic’s change didn’t affect us at all. That was basically the same style we played against them in the League Cup.
“They’re too quick with their ability and that’s what happens when you pay the big bucks.”
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