John McGlynn reckons his Bairns can blast towards promotion after getting the backing of Brendan Rodgers. The Celtic boss came into the Falkirk dressing room after the 5-2 Premier Sports Cup win to pay tribute to the performance.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers felt Falkirk had posed their biggest challenge of the season but he took responsibility for a disjointed first hour after making eight changes.Falkirk led at Celtic Park approaching the final 20 minutes but substitute Nicolas Kuhn produced two assists for Adam Idah and two goals himself as the Hoops set up a Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is wary of the threat posed by more than one familiar face when Falkirk visit Parkhead on Sunday. When the quarter-final draw was made, Rodgers spoke of his admiration for “great man” John McGlynn, who worked in the Celtic backroom staff during the Northern Irishman’s first spell in Glasgow.

The champions made hard work of it against a buoyant Falkirk side after making a host of changes for their handsome win in Europe during the week

The Hoops will face Aberdeen in the semi finals of the Scottish League Cup but were made to work for their place at Hampden Park.

Falkirk: Hogarth, Adams, Henderson, Donaldson, Mackie, Spencer, Yeats, Tait, Agyeman, Miller, MacIver. Subs: Sneddon, Hayward, McCann, McKenna, Oliver, Graham, Ross, McCafferty, McCrone. As for Celtic,