CELTIC got back to winning ways as they overcame a stuffy Livingston outfit to halt a two-match losing streak.
A tap-in from Kyogo Furuhashi just after the interval set them on their way, and a Liam Scales header soon after removed any doubt about the outcome.
Here are the talking points from a sodden Celtic Park…
KYOGO FINALLY GETS BACK ON THE SCORESHEET
At last. At long last. That was the feeling around Celtic Park as Kyogo tapped the hosts into the lead, and for more than one reason.
The striker’s tap in after Luis Palma had cut in from the left flank and sent a cross-shot towards the back post saw the striker and 60,000-odd others around the stadium let out an almighty roar of relief, just as it looked as though Livingston were about to inflict another frustrating afternoon upon the champions and their supporters.
On a personal level, the goal might not make the little forward’s highlights reel, but it was a hugely important one for his confidence as he brought to an end a run of eight games without finding the back of the net.
It is perhaps no surprise that Kyogo not only scored in this game, but looked a lot more like his old self, with the Celtic players heeding Brendan Rodgers’ pre-match calls to provide more penetration in wide areas, and more crosses for the focal point of their attack.
The return of Daizen Maeda helped with that, but his long-awaited reappearance from the start was rather overshadowed by the performance of the man on the other wing.
HOW MAY LUIS PALMA ASSIST YOU?
The winger’s penchant for cutting inside from the left onto his stronger right foot and shooting has been cited by some as one of the reasons that the service to Kyogo has dried up a little this season, but such accusations of selfishness couldn’t be levelled at him here.
Not only did he dish up Kyogo’s opener on a silver platter, but his wicked in-swinging corner delivery that was glanced home expertly at the front post by Liam Scales to quickly double Celtic’s lead was delightful too.
Palma has been the one bright spot of Celtic’s oft-ridiculed summer recruitment drive, and he showed here that he also possesses craft along with his impressive eye for goal.
HAVE CELTIC REDISCOVERED THEIR MOJO THEN?
Well, it may be a little too soon to say. For now, everyone associated with the club will just be relieved to have brought a run of two defeats to an end and to have gotten back to winning ways.
There was a spell though in the first half when you wondered whether they were going to make heavy weather of their task yet again, and that was clearly felt by the supporters in the stadium, as early exuberance gave way to the pensiveness that has become familiar over recent weeks.
Celtic came haring out of the traps, roared on by the home crowd with the Green Brigade restored to their customary position. But as their vast territorial advantage failed to be converted into a lead – or indeed, many clear-cut chances – during a goalless first half against a low-lying, doughty opponent, frustrations started to rise.
The Celtic fans had seen this movie before, and more than a smattering of boos broke out as the half-time whistle blew to remind the home players that the spilling of yet more points would not be tolerated.
Thankfully for them, they got the all-important breakthrough seconds after the restart, and it was a stroll in the park after Scales’ second.
It might not have been scintillating, but it was a step in the right direction, both on and off the park.
GREEN BRIGADE MAKE THEIR COMEBACK
Speaking of which, the Green Brigade were finally back inside the stadium for this one as their long stand-off with the club came to an end, and they were intent on making their presence felt.
In fairness to them, they kept their pyro display outside the perimeter of Celtic Park, presumably wanting to abide by the new hardline rules laid down by the club as they took their place in the North Curve once more. And, presumably, because they had bought the fireworks already. Waste not, want not, and all that.
What is not in doubt is that the stadium was a much livelier place for their presence. The team were clearly fired up by the raucous backing they were receiving in the early stages, and even when the rest of Celtic Park were getting a little nervous late in the first half, the Ultras section kept up their constant singing and support of their team.
What they can’t do, as it turns out, is score a goal for their team. You can argue about how much influence they had in Celtic eventually doing just that, but what is now not in dispute is that the atmosphere is infinitely better when they are present.
SURPRISE LIVINGSTON CHANGES, BUT THEY LEAVE WITHOUT TOO MUCH DAMAGE DONE
David Martindale shuffled his pack for this one, citing the exertions of the midweek trip to Aberdeen as the reasoning behind his changes. That include the rather unusual move of resting his keeper Shamal George, with Jack Hamilton getting a rare start between the sticks.
Given the pressure and territory that Celtic enjoyed in the first half, he might have expected to be busier. In fact, apart from spilling a rather routine free kick from Palma, he had little of note to do.
Livingston weathered the Celtic storm for the opening half an hour, with a mixture of heroic last gasp defending and indecisive finishing seeing chances for Matt O’Riley, Kyogo and Maeda come and go. And as they slipped past, Livi’s belief grew, and Martindale would have been pleased to not only reach the interval unscathed, but to have started to offer a little threat of their own.
He would have been livid then when they lost such a cheap goal just after the restart, with the hitherto sturdy defence undone all too easily by Palma cutting onto his right foot. Which, if they hadn’t noticed, he likes to do from time to time.
They weren’t helped though by the loss of the outstanding Tom Parkes, who took a Cameron Carter-Vickers thunderbolt to the face, and Martindale will hope to have him back for the arguably more important matches to come against St Johnstone and Motherwell.
