| Match Pictures | Matches: 2018 – 2019 | 2018-19 Pictures |
Trivia
- Final match before the league split.
- Celtic drop two points, and this time couldn't get a late winner. Lead down to 11pts.
- Next week is Scottish Cup semi-finals.
- Week has been dominated following contentious match v Sevco last Sunday.
- Celtic and Sevco have both expressed their determination to contest Scottish FA disciplinary proceedings instigated against Brown & Kent them for the unsavoury scenes at the end of last Sunday’s game.
- Scottish FA compliance officer Clare Whyte also issued individual notices of complaint against Celtic captain Scott Brown and Sevco manager Steven Gerrard as she sifted through the fall-out from the highly charged Premiership fixture. Gerrard has accepted the fixed offer of a one-match touchline ban for comments he made towards referee Bobby Madden following the match.
- Celtic to challenge the daft charges v Scott Brown and have made it clear.
- Gordon Strachan will no longer be used by Sky Sports after controversial comments in which he appeared to conflate convicted sex offender Adam Johnson’s situation with racial abuse. Strachan said in his role as an occasional contributor on The Debate earlier this week: “If he goes on to the pitch and people start calling him names, have we got to do the same as it is to the racist situation? “Is it all right to call him names now after doing his three years – have we got to allow that to happen?”
- Trouble in Hearts v Hibs game, including flares & a coconut being thrown on to the pitch.
Review
(Bhoys are back of KDS)
Nothing worse than paying for flights, buses, grub, pints and getting a 0-0 to watch! :brickwall: On the plus side, I got to see the Hearts v Hibs game in a pub beforehand and the bloke sitting near me was raging when Hibs scored, so at least I left Glasgow having witnessed some entertainment!! :there:
Thought we played well first half, but the longer it went on the more predictable it got. Too slow in the build up to our attacks, too many passes back instead of forward. They defended solidly, because they had enough time to do so. 70 mins on and the fans clearly had enough of it. Edouard can't save the day every time, too much reliance on him producing a moment of brilliance recently.
Looked like we were playing it far too safe. At home at this stage of the season, against a team like Livi, as far ahead as we are, we need to be taking more chances. Long spells of the game we could have pushed another player or two even forward, they had nobody in our half. Forrest was struggling all game to pick out a target for his crosses.
The miss at the end just summed up the day really.
Teams
Celtic
- 29Bain
- 35Ajer
- 5Simunovic
- 32Benkovic Substituted forHayesat 63'minutes
- 63Tierney
- 49Forrest
- 8Brown
- 18Rogic Substituted forWeahat 71'minutes
- 42McGregor
- 17Christie Substituted forBurkeat 83'minutes
- 22Edouard
Substitutes
- 11Sinclair
- 15Hayes
- 21Ntcham
- 23Lustig
- 24de Vries
- 25Burke
- 30Weah
Livingston
- 1Kelly
- 31GallagherBooked at 51mins
- 26HalkettBooked at 67mins
- 4LithgowBooked at 76mins
- 33Lawson
- 8Pittman
- 6Byrne
- 3LamieBooked at 42mins Substituted forOdoffinat 45'minutes
- 10Sibbald Substituted forJacobsat 65'minutes
- 45Menga Substituted forRobinsonat 54'minutes
- 15Lawless
Substitutes
- 7Jacobs
- 14Odoffin
- 17Robinson
- 19Erskine
- 21Stewart
- 22Tiffoney
- 23De Vita
Referee:
Euan Anderson
Attendance:
58,850
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Forum
MOTM
- Voting Thread
- Result Thread
- Winner –
Stats
Home Team
Celtic
Away Team
Livingston
Possession
Home73%
Away27%
Shots
Home18
Away3
Shots on Target
Home11
Away1
Corners
Home8
Away4
Fouls
Home6
Away12
Articles
Celtic 0 – 0 Livingston: League leaders held by dogged Livi
Alan Pattullo
Published: 16:55 Saturday 06 April 2019
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-0-0-livingston-league-leaders-held-by-dogged-livi-1-4903209
A mark of Neil Lennon’s teams, certainly in this second spell as Celtic manager, has been a tendency to build toward a crescendo rather than hit teams all guns blazing from the off. This was the case here – just without the grand finale.
This was meant to be another step towards an imminent title party, with the hope the celebrations might start as soon as Sunday depending on the result between Motherwell and Rangers. But this was not to reckon on the input from the awkward squad from Livingston. Gary Holt’s admirable side secured their second 0-0 draw against the champions this season and their first-ever clean sheet and point at Celtic Park.
This was far from the thunder Lennon promised before his first stint as permanent manager but then he’s here in the first instance to facilitate Celtic getting over the line league-wise. Next weekend’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Aberdeen will see the tempo ratcheted up. Lennon will relish the higher stakes and he will hope his team do too.
This was a little different. Floodlights on an April afternoon. There was little party atmosphere immediately obvious as Celtic looked to close in on title number eight. Their own number eight tried to lift the tempo as Scott Brown conducted his usual pre-match talk from the confines of the huddle. But things refused to ignite thanks in chief to Liam Kelly, the Livingston goalkeeper who has enjoyed a superb campaign.
On the one occasion he failed to gather a shot, Oliver Burke, who replaced Ryan Christie with seven minutes left, could not convert the rebound. The eye-opening miss came in three minutes of time added on and it would have been undeniably cruel on the visitors had the Scotland striker managed to score, but also typical of Celtic under Lennon in recent weeks when they have turned late strikes into an art form.
A “Get Well Soon Stevie G” banner was unfurled before kick-off. This was in response to the Rangers manager’s comments following last Sunday’s Old Firm defeat and referenced a message fans of the Ibrox club had delivered to Steve Clarke after the Kilmarnock manager had spoken out after being a target for sectarian abuse.
Rangers will now step out at Fir Park tomorrow afternoon knowing that whatever happens, they cannot surrender the title they so dearly wished to wrestle from Celtic until after the split.
The sight of Tom Rogic in a starting line-up for the first time since late December had provided a thrill for the home supporters, likewise Ryan Christie’s inclusion. The latter player enjoyed a scoring return from injury in midweek against St Mirren and was making his first start since a 4-1 win over Motherwell in February. Lennon, meanwhile, reconsidered a mooted plan to “shut down” Kieran Tierney in the last weeks of the season. The left-back was back in his usual slot after missing the victory in Paisley.
No matter the strength of the line-up, Celtic’s combined efforts were invariably met by a big black wall in Livi, who switched outfits from amber to noir but were their usual organised, resilient selves.
They might even have sneaked a lead in the opening minute but Craig Halkett’s flashing header from a corner was blocked. It was nearly all Celtic thereafter although Scott Bain was called into action midway through the first-half to tip over Dolly Menga’s 25-yarder, which had threatened to catch the ‘keeper off-guard.
Otherwise Celtic kept probing and Livi kept resisting them. Kelly, recently called up to the Scotland squad, was at the forefront, saving impressively when called upon to stretch himself and being well positioned to field less taxing efforts. Odsonne Edouard’s weak side-foot belonged among the latter after he was set-up by a slide-rule pass from James Forrest.
A trademark curling, left-footed effort from Rogic was certainly in the more testing category but Kelly was its match as he dived to his right to tip it past the post
Livi made a change at half-time. Ricky Lamie, who had been booked, was replaced by Hakeem Odoffin. They then replaced Menga, the focus of whatever attacks they were able to launch, with Scott Robinson, which left Livi without a recognisable striker and certainly one less physically imposing.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon. Picture: SNS
But they succeeded in choking Celtic, who created fewer chances in the second half than they had in the first. Kelly saved at the feet of Edouard. Substitute Oli Burke stabbed a shot wide after the ‘keeper had spilled an effort from Edouard. It was a dreadful miss and summed up the day for a sluggish Celtic.
BBC
By Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
From the section Scottish Premiership
Oliver Burke misses a chance for Celtic against Livingston
Oliver Burke contrived to miss an excellent late chance for Celtic
Celtic will need to wait until after the Scottish Premiership split to secure the title after being held to a goalless stalemate by Livingston.
A win for the hosts combined with a defeat for Rangers at Motherwell on Sunday would have ensured an eighth successive championship for Celtic.
Odsonne Edouard, James Forrest and Tom Rogic were all denied by in-form goalkeeper Liam Kelly.
And Celtic substitute Oliver Burke fired wide from close range late on.
Neil Lennon's side, who are 14 points clear of Rangers having played a game more, face Aberdeen in next weekend's Scottish Cup semi-final then resume their league campaign away to Lennon's former club Hibernian on 21 April.
Livi, who are safe from relegation, threatened twice through Dolly Menga and move to within a point of Well and two points of St Johnstone.
Reaction and as it happened
Kelly and inaccuracy frustrate Celtic
Though Celtic would dominate, it was Livi who threatened first as Menga managed to get a touch to the ball at a corner and it flew just wide of Scott Bain's post.
Ryan Christie fired over, a low shot from Edouard was easily saved by Kelly before the Livingston keeper stretched superbly well to touch a Forrest effort around the post. Kelly would impress again soon after, denying Rogic.
Menga, this time 30 yards out, opted for an audacious shot at goal that had Bain scrambling, but the Scotland keeper tipped over.
Another chance would fall to Rogic just inside the box. This time the Australia international tried to bend the ball into the far corner, again Kelly blocking.
Livingston had started the match with a back four but in the second half they reverted to their usual back three to match up with Celtic. The champions continued to dominate the ball but were struggling to find a way of cutting through.
The breakthrough almost came via a slice of luck when Jonny Hayes fired in a cross for fellow substitute Timothy Weah. He fluffed his chance but the ball fell kindly to Edouard, who looked certain to score only for Kelly to make the save.
Right at the end a huge chance fell Burke's way just three yards out after Kelly had spilled Edouard's shot but somehow the Scotland forward knocked wide.
Celtic missing 'killer touch' – Neil Lennon
'Pragmatic Livi secure hard earned point' – analysis
A draw was not really in the script for Celtic. This was supposed to be a win that would put the pressure on Rangers to deliver some kind of result at Fir Park to prevent the champions claiming title number eight. But in the end it was a frustrating afternoon.
Not for the first time in recent weeks, Celtic struggled to make their dominance count. Yes, they created chances – especially in the first half. But this time there would be no mistake or moment of magic to conjure a goal.
Livingston were disciplined, organised and pragmatic – as a result this was never a thrilling contest. But the visitors will be happy with a hard-earned point.
'Don't panic when they have possession' – reaction
Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "Very frustrating. Great chances, a lot of good play and I don't think the scoreline reflects the performance at all but we just missed that killer touch.
"The players kept going and we had that great chance at the end. A lot of positives from the game but ultimately we didn't get the win that we wanted."
Livingston head coach Gary Holt: "I'm proud more than pleased. It's hard work to come here. We spoke about it before – don't panic when they have got possession – all season they dominate possession, especially at home.
"Stick to our game plan. Stick to the tactics and formations that we have got set in place and within that we will get a chance. To carry that out to the letter was excellent."