Celtic were taking the match seriously, out went the youngsters who easily beat Partick on Thursday night, and in came Sutton, Larrson and co, but Martin O’Neil isn’t daft, and he knows that we are no Partick Thistle.
Livingston never stated the match well, and Celtic were enjoying most of the possession, and nearly benefited by the generosity shown by the tame Livi players when Jackie McNamara found acres of space outside the box, and unleashed a powerful drive that Livingston goalie Roddy McKenzie managed to tip over the bar. An early warning for Livi and Rubio and Marv were now being stretched to the max.
A couple of minutes late saw a chance for Livi, and if Quino would have been more composed, then the Lions might have found themselves a goal up, totally against the run of play. Some neat play from Livi saw Quino excellently jinx his way past a couple of Celtic players, he looked up, and instead of placing the ball, he opted for power, and the blasted that ball well over Hedman’s bar.
Henrik Larsson was then put through one on one with Roddy McKenzie, but the striker took too much time on the ball, and his shot was saved by Roddy, and the ball was cleared to safety just as it looked as if it was going to slowly find it’s way into the back of the net. A let off for Livi, and a let off for Rubio who clearly tugged back Larsson just as he was about to shoot.
Hugh Dallas was losing the plot at some of the tackles, and he showed why most people think that Scottish refs are bias towards the Old Firm when he opted not to take any action against Celtic giant Bobo Balde. The defender was brilliantly skinned by Fernando Pasquinelli, but the Livi player was taken out of the match blatantly by Balde (a yellow card you would think) Dallas blew for a foul, Balde then walked up to the injured Pasquinelli on the deck, and kicked him (a straight red if the situation was reversed and we were at Porkhead) but Dallas showed his true colours and quietly spoke to Balde, without issuing any cards. No wonder more and more supporters are staying at home, and this type of behaviour by referees is border lining on cheating.
Livingston did have the final chance of the first half when the won a free-kick 30 yards out. Jamie McAllister opted to have a strike, and he fired in a powerful shot, but Hedman was on hand to tip the ball over, but in fairness, I think the ball would have cleared the cross bar, but it was well worth a go.
Surprisingly Livingston returned after the break without making a change, Stuart Lovell would have been the obvious player to have come off as he was not making an impact in the match, and was possibly most at fault for letting Celtic win the midfield battle.
Celtic didn’t have to wait long before they broke the deadlock in the second half, and it wasn’t hit man Larsson who got on the score sheet but his striking buddy Chris “The Hands” Sutton who managed to make space for himself in the box (mainly by holding on to Rubio quite obviously) and turned, fired the ball just past Roddy McKenzie’s left hand and into the back of the net. Dallas should have blown the whistle, but instead done his usual and turned a blind eye to the foul.
Henrik Larsson again had an opportunity to get on the score sheet when some slack defending let into the former Swedish international, but again, Larsson seemed to lose his cool, and although he slotted the ball past McKenzie, who managed to get a touch on the ball, and Rubio slammed the ball to safety.
Livingston then seemed to get a hold of the game, but were missing the influence of Lee Makel in the Midfield. David McNamee was having one of his worse matches for the Lions, but one player who was really getting stuck in was Fernando Pasquinelli. He was covering every blade of grass on the Almondvale pitch, and he was giving Balde and Varga, the two Celtic giants hell.
Pasquinelli’s pressure and presence nearly paid off big style with eight minutes to go, but his acrobatic overhead kick sailed just over the bar. A real let off for the hoops as Hedman was stranded on the 6 yard box.
If you don’t take your chances against the Old Firm, you’ll be punished, and that’s exactly what happened to Livingston. Neil Lennon crossed in a hopeful ball into the Livi 6 yard box, the ball was poorly cleared to Alan Thompson by Oscar Rubio, and the England hopeful volleyed the ball home past the unsighted McKenzie in the Livingston goal. A deserved second for Celtic, but one that could and should have been avoided.
Man of the match - Fernando Pasquinelli - Worked very hard
Livingston: McKenzie, Rubio, Dorado (Camacho 76), Andrews, McNamee, Lovell (McGovern 67), O'Brien, Quino, McAllister, Pasquinelli, Lilley.
Subs Not Used: Main, Scott McLaughlin, Snodgrass.
Booked: Quino.
Celtic: Hedman, Varga, Balde, McNamara (Mjallby 90), Gray, Miller, Petrov, Lennon, Thompson, Larsson, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Hartson, Maloney, Wallace.
Booked: McNamara.
Att: 9,523
Ref: H Dallas