Falkirk v Celtic

Falkirk 1

Jay Fulton 40′

Celtic 3

Brown 27′ (pen) Stokes 56′, 86′

FT 90 +5
HT 1-1

Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final highlights - Falkirk 1-3 Celtic

By Andy Campbell BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic will face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Communities League Cup final after overcoming Falkirk at Hampden.

Scott Brown's penalty gave Celtic a 27th-minute advantage.

But Jay Fulton, son of former Celtic and Falkirk midfielder Steve, levelled five minutes before half-time with a composed finish.

Anthony Stokes restored Celtic's lead with an excellent free-kick on 56 minutes and the striker got his second with a tap-in late on.

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Interview - Celtic manager Neil Lennon

With the Bairns having knocked Rangers and Dundee United out of the competition in an earlier round, the First Division side were hoping to claim a third Scottish Premier League scalp, while Celtic were looking to continue their push for the domestic treble.

Falkirk's top goalscorer Farid El Alagui was unable to test Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster with a first-time shot that flew wide early on.

Celtic began to assert themselves and Brown's well-struck shot was touched onto the post by Michael McGovern.

Gary Hooper converted the rebound only to have his celebrations cut short by the offside flag but television replays suggested the goal should have stood.

El Alagui (left) was unable to maintain his record of scoring in every round

The frame of the Falkirk goal was struck again when Thomas Rogne's downward header from James Forrest's corner bounced up onto the bar.

Rogne's presence at a corner was the catalyst for the opening goal as Darren Dods was penalised for grappling with the Celtic defender in the box.

Brown confidently stroked the spot-kick to McGovern's left as the keeper dived in the other direction.

El Alagui's shot into the arms of Forster lacked power as Falkirk tried to respond quickly.

A slack pass from Victor Wanyama allowed the Bairns to mount the attack that would give them their equaliser.

David Weatherston retrieved, pushed down the left and cut the ball inside for Kallum Higginbotham.

Higginbotham had the awareness to spot Fulton's advancing run on the right-hand side of the penalty area and the inch-perfect pass was coolly converted by the 17-year-old.

Rogne was unable to connect with a teasing Brown free-kick and Forrest was denied by McGovern in the closing stages of the first half.

Steven Pressley marched onto the pitch just after the half-time whistle to remonstrate with referee Euan Norris and, as a result, the Falkirk manager watched the second half from the stand.

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Interview - Falkirk manager Steven Pressley

Fulton scooped the ball over after meeting Higginbotham's high, hanging cross shortly after play resumed.

Rogne was frustrated by the crossbar again with a deflected shot from Charlie Mulgrew's corner and, in the melee that followed, Stokes claimed unsuccessfully for a handball against Murray Wallace before the ball was cleared.

However, Celtic quickly won a free-kick and Stokes superbly curled the ball home to register a goal against his former club.

Fulton's replacement Blair Alston fired wide from the edge of the box before Forster made a double save to deny Dods and Stewart Murdoch as Falkirk continued to threaten.

At the other end, Joe Ledley's effort was deflected wide by Kieran Duffie and McGovern held a curving Mulgrew free-kick.

But Celtic did get a third goal on 86 minutes when Hooper burst towards the bye-line and cut back for Stokes to apply a simple finish.

Neil Lennon's side will return to the national stadium to face Killie on 18 March, the latter having beaten Ayr United in Saturday's first semi-final .

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Falkirk

01 McGovern
02 Duffy
03 Scobbie
04 Dods Booked
05 Wallace
06 Murdoch Booked
08 Millar Booked
11 Jay Fulton (Alston - 61' )
07 Weatherston (White - 87' )
09 El Alagui
10 Higginbotham (Sibbald - 90' )

Substitutes

17 Bowman
12 Bennett
14 Alston
15 Sibbald
16 White

Celtic

01 Forster
03 Izaguirre (Ki Sung-Yeung - 46' )
11 Cha Du-Ri (Matthews - 68' )
21 Mulgrew
25 Rogne
08 Brown
16 Ledley
67 Wanyama
10 Stokes (Commons - 87' )
49 Forrest
88 Hooper

Substitutes

24 Zaluska
02 Matthews
18 Ki Sung-Yeung
09 Samaras
15 Commons

Ref: Norris

Att: 30,000

Match Stats

Possession 53 47

Shots

8 12

On target

4 8

Corners

4 7

Fouls

13 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:34 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

90:00 +4:00

Charlie Mulgrew concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Millar. Direct free kick taken by Mark Millar.

90:00 +2:31 Substitution

Substitution Craig Sibbald replaces Kallum Higginbotham.

90:00 +0:41

Farid El Alagui gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Charlie Mulgrew. Scott Brown takes the direct free kick.

89:46

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Millar from the right by-line.

88:48

Effort on goal by Kris Commons from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

86:40 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Stokes goes off and Kris Commons comes on.

86:10 Substitution

Substitution Jordan White on for David Weatherston.

85:21

Assist by Gary Hooper.

85:21 Goal scored

Goal - Anthony Stokes - Falkirk 1 - 3 Celtic A goal is scored by Anthony Stokes from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Falkirk 1-3 Celtic.