Scottish Premiership
Sunday, October 6, 2019
Tony Macaroni Stadium, Livingston

CELTIC…0

LIVINGSTON…2
(Robinson 47, Dykes 74)

CELTIC suffered a shock defeat to away to Livingston after playing the majority of the match with 10 men. Ryan Christie’s sending off preceded two goals from the home side in the second half.

Scott Robinson put his side ahead just after the break and Lydon Dykes doubled the lead for Livingston.

Some slick play between Edouard and Forrest yielded the first opportunity for Celtic 10 minutes after kick-off. After collecting Forrest’s return ball into the box, Edouard cut inside but with no room to get a clear shot off he cut a pass back. Forrest was swarmed by opposition defenders and couldn’t direct his effort on target.

Livingston had a couple of opportunities themselves within the first 15 minutes. Scott Robinson had his shot from inside the box blocked and Jon Guthrie’s side footed effort from a cross wasn’t far off target.

Celtic capitalised on the opportunity to punish their opponents whenever they looked to create something in the final third with quick transitions into attack. Christopher Jullien intercepted a stray pass and burst forward before feeding the ball through to Edouard but the shot from just inside the box was straight at the keeper.

Midway through the first half Celtic were dealt a blow when Ryan Christie was sent off. The midfielder made a lunging tackle on Robinson on the halfway line and was shown a straight red. The decision proved pivotal in the outcome of the game.

The home side grew in confidence following the dismissal and tried to make use of the extra man by pressing Celtic higher up the pitch. The champions shouldered the pressure well though, and limited their opponents to few chances.

Kristoffer Ajer passed up a chance to put his side ahead when in possession inside the Livi box but the ball appeared to get caught under his foot and the defender scuffed his shot. The Norwegian turned provider moments later when one of his typical surging runs forward saw him slip a through ball into the path of McGregor but the Livi keeper Matija Sarkic rushed off his line to snatch the ball.

There was a frantic tempo to the play towards the end of the first-half as both sides worked to create an opening but there were few clear cut chances.

Livingston took their chance early in the second half however to take the lead. Robbie Crawford was given ample time to wait for Robinson’s run in-behind the Celtic defence and his through ball set his team-mate up to smash beyond Fraser Forster’s near-post.

Neil Lennon made some tactical changes following the goal, bringing Vakoun Bayo on for Forrest. Edouard had little in the way of supply but the 21-year-old came close to equalising from a free-kick that was heading into the top corner before the keeper saved.

Livingston found themselves under incredible pressure after going ahead as Celtic bombarded their goal with a relentless attacking play.

Elyounoussi forced a save from the keeper when he cut inside from the byline and drilled a low shot across goal. Bayo was close to knocking in the loose ball but the defence stabbed the ball away.

The Ivorian worked hard to make up for Celtic being a man down. He dropped deep and got involved in the build-up play for Celtic’s attack but a stubborn Livingston defence limited the number of chances on goal.

Despite Celtic’s attacking play they conceded a second goal when a long clearance from Sarkic was left to bounce into the box and Dykes lifted the ball over the onrushing Forster.

Neil Lennon’s side continued to pressure their opponents right up until the final whistle. Edouard had a powerful shot blocked and Elyounoussi’s cut back from the by-line was intercepted and cleared. Time ran out before Celtic could find the breakthrough they had been searching for and the Hoops were unable to score in a game for the first-time this season.

CELTIC: Forester, Bauer, Jullien, Ajer, Bolingoli (Hayes 73); Brown (Ntcham 75), McGregor, Forrest (Bayo 55), Elyounoussi, Edouard
Subs: Gordon, Elhamed, Bitton, Sinclair

LIVINGSTON: Sarkic; Devlin, Guthrie, Lamie, McMillan, Bartley, Jacobs, Crawford, Lawless (Odoffin 82), Robinson (Lawson 76), Dykes (Miller 88)
Subs - Stewart, Pepe, Sibbald, Souda

10-man Celtic suffer defeat away to Livingston