Arne Engels makes a run beyond the Falkirk line. He gets into the box, looks up and tries to square, but a Falkirk man is there to cut out.

Could he do better with that cross?

Andy Halliday
Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound

When you are in the chasing pack, like Rangers are, you can't afford many slip-ups. At the moment, there only looks like one winner and that's Hibs.

Hibs are furious as Matthew MacDermid ignores a big push on Jack Iredale and Rangers break to win a corner.

Nico Raskin then has a shove at an irate Iredale, who makes a meal of it. Then we have a wee flare up.

Both men booked.

Celtic respond by getting down the left through Daizen Maeda.

He crosses to the middle, but Tomas Cvancara didn't make the right run and it sped across the box without a touch.

Brilliant save from Kasper Schmeichel.

Leon McCann curls in a sumptuous cross to Barney Stewart, who guides his header towards the back post, but Schmeichel flies to his left to palm behind.

Jack Iredale with an important interception in his own penalty box after a poor clearance from Raphael Sallinger almost gifts Rangers a route to goal.

Here we go for the second half at Easter Road.

It's been all Falkirk in the opening stages.

They just whipped a good cross in that almost dropped for Calvin Miller, but it hit Barney Stewart's hand in the build up.

Celtic were perhaps fortunate to leave Falkirk with a 1-0 win earlier this month.

It's been a different story at home for the champions though, twice hitting four goals against the Bairns in comfortable league and cup victories.

Up and running at Celtic Park...

Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "It's a difficult place to come, no doubt about it. It's, on paper, the hardest game of the season.

"We come here in good spirits, a great win last week and we gave Celtic a difficult game at home not so long ago, but we'll need to be at our best today to get anything.

"We know Celtic are a different animal here at Celtic Park, they got a great win the other night which will boost their confidence. We want to quiet that down in the start of the game, which is so important today.

"Louie [Marsh] has more attacking threat for us, we hope he can open doors. He's shown up well in training. He got an assist against Hibs. He's got a lot of talent and he can cause Celtic problems."

Image source, SNS

Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill tells BBC Scotland: "We've got to keep going, show a lot of energy. It was a great effort on Thursday, getting us into the knockout stages of the competition, which seemed a long way away.

"There's plenty of confidence about this side but it's the energy as much as anything else. We've made a couple of changes today, so we'll work around that.

"I expect them to play as strongly as possible for Celtic, it's as simple as that. I thought Tomas did really well and made the goal for us at Hearts, not many could have done that.

"He'll be nervous, his first home match, a lot of expectation on him, we'll try and lessen that as much as possible. He can cope with it, not a problem.

"We have no room for error. I know I keep saying it, it's like a foghorn talking. But it's always been the case. We're going on three fronts but hopefully we get a couple players coming in to help the squad a bit."

Image source, SNS

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

For much of the opening 45 minutes the Rangers boss Danny Rohl has looked a frustrated figure inside the visitors' dugout.

Meanwhile, just a few yards away, David Gray has been applauding his players' efforts and, with a little more composure in front of goal, the hosts would surely be in front.

Both managers, however, will have strong words for their respective players during the break in an attempt to make the breakthrough.

Hibs started slowly but have been well on top for the last half hour.

Jack Butland has made two good saves to deny Elie Youan and Martin Boyle, while Youan failed to hit the target with a golden chance.

Rangers also started slowly and haven't got going at all.

Image source, SNS

And another corner to Hibs...

Jordan Obita pings it in but a stretching Rocky Bushiri cannot steer his header on target.

It's still all Hibs.

A lovely turn and pass from Kai Andrews but Elie Youan has a wild fresh-air swipe at it.

Four minutes added before the interval.

Scott Allan
Former Hibs midfielder on BBC Sportsound

I can't believe Hibs are not 1-0 up. What a ball in that is from Jordan Obita. Hibs are really pushing here.

Another great chance squandered by Hibs...

Jordan Obita with a peach of a cross, Elie Youan with a terrible header.

The French forward is in front of goal about 10 yards out but can only glance the ball well wide.