Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for Falkirk after they ran Celtic close in the Scottish League Cup today.

The Northern Irishman had to throw on some of his big guns in order to secure a 5-2 win against the Championship side in Glasgow.

Goals by Ross MacIver and Finn Yeats had the Bairns 2-1 up at half time, as John McGlynn's side played some neat and tidy football at the home of the Scottish Premiership champions.

And while it's easy to be magnanimous after victory, Rodgers made a point of showing Falkirk with praise for their efforts in the tie.

"Got to give immense credit to Falkirk," he said on Premier Sports. "I've really enjoyed watching and analysing them because in terms of a football idea, the game, what John's doing...they're probably the best team that we've played this season in terms of how they want to work the game, how they want to work the ball. So they can be really proud of how they did.

"They pressed it really well, they were aggressive. They came with the 4-3-3 to try and disrupt and in the end they got a very good first goal."

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Michael Stewart then asked a follow-up question relating to more Premiership side's applying Falkirk's style to domestic matches.

He added: "Absolutely, it's great. If it happens more when I have my starters playing that would be fantastic. I think their attitude to the game is very, very good. John has brought that to Raith and Falkirk and will get his rewards for that. But it's never easy.

"They had nice mobility, good technicians in the team, good pace in good areas and maybe not every team has that. They play a different style."

Celtic will meet Aberdeen in the last four of the competition, meanwhile, Rangers will play Motherwell.