Celtic beat Livingston to restore lead at top of Scottish Premiership

Celtic will “be a hard team to stop” after convincingly overcoming their nemesis Livingston to restore their three-point Scottish Premiership lead, says manager Ange Postecoglou.

A Nicky Devlin own goal and James Forrest’s fine finish made it 3-0.

And Andrew Shinnie’s close-range reply could not deny Celtic a first win at Tony Macaroni Arena since 2007.

“Great to win because obviously it’s a difficult place to come and get three points,” Postecoglou said as his side responded to reigning champions Rangers’ win over Aberdeen on Saturday in his 50th game in charge.

“We’ve got to keep getting stronger and I think we are. We’re in a good space to keep getting stronger to the end.”

While admitting it was a thoroughly deserved win for the clinical and dominant visitors, Livingston manager David Martindale suggested referee Nick Walsh got decisions wrong in the lead up to two Celtic goals as his side passed up a chance to reclaim fourth spot from Hibernian.

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• Reaction & as it happened

With Livingston having taken 17 points since the winter break – a haul bettered only by Celtic – this was very much a game between the Premiership’s two form sides.

It looked like Livingston might again spring a surprise as they went close to taking a sixth-minute lead, but Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart stretched out a big hand to parry clear when Ayo Obileye half-volleyed a corner from a difficult angle at the far post.

Celtic responded by dominating possession and took the lead following two minutes of controversy.

When Maeda’s attempted cut-back inside the six-yard box struck Jack Fitzwater’s trailing arm, the Livingston centre-half appeared to be unfortunate to concede a penalty kick.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor fired the spot-kick against the outside of a post, but the breakthrough was only momentarily prevented.

Anthony Ralston won a corner when the ball appeared to last come off the Celtic right-back’s arm and, although Max Sryjek parried superbly from Carl Starfelt’s header from Jota’s delivery, Maeda was lurking at the back post to provide the vital touch.

It was Celtic’s first goal in three meetings with Livingston this season – and it set them on their way to their first win over Martindale’s side.

Although Celtic were now in almost total control, Livingston ought to have gone in at the break level after Alan Forrest’s in-swinging free-kick found Obileye unmarked 10 yards out. However, the defender sent his header crashing off the crossbar.

Livingston’s dismay was doubled seconds after the break as Ralston’s cross into the six-yard box deflected off Obileye’s toe, on to fellow defender Devlin’s chest and over the line.

Alan Forrest’s form had outshone that of brother James in recent weeks, but the Celtic winger not only kept his younger sibling quiet in their one-to-one exchanges but was the one on the scoresheet on this occasion, racing through to fire low past Stryjek to make it a 13th consecutive season with a top-flight goal.

Shinnie had scored Livingston’s winner when Celtic visited in September, but by the time he stabbed home in a crowded goalmouth from a throw-in, the visitors were well on their way to stretching their unbeaten domestic run to 29 games since then.

Man of the match – Jota

What did we learn?

Given their record against Celtic – and having only lost once in their previous nine home games – Livingston will no doubt be disappointed to not only have suffered defeat but conceded three goals in the process.

However, Martindale will stress that they still emerge from the weekend well placed to secure a top-six finish and qualify for European football.

The Livingston manager had suggested prior to kick-off that Postecoglou’s side are now a different beast from the one that lost in West Lothian in September and so it proved against the only top-flight side he had yet to beat.

Celtic travelled east having only won twice in their last five outings, but two of those were defeats by Bodo/Glimt in the Conference League, and the Australian’s side once again showed that they will take some stopping as they look to win the title in his first season in charge.

What they said

Livingston manager David Martindale: “I think Celtic were very good and very clinical. I don’t think we deserved much more from the game, but with the two decisions leading to goals you feel a little hard done-by.

“You need a wee bit of the luck to go your way when your playing either of the Old Firm and there’s a refereeing decision that leads to the corner – I think it’s our bye-kick and the linesman and fourth official told the referee it was a bye-kick.

“On the second goal, I think there’s a hand ball from Tom Rogic in the middle of the park and we don’t get that decision.”

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: “I think our performance was excellent. We started the game very well, played at a high tempo and put them under a lot of pressure when they had the ball and created a lot of chances and scored good goals.

“Our defensive work over the last couple of months has been outstanding and again I thought it was key.”

What’s next?

Livingston next visit Heart of Midlothian in the Premiership on 19 March (15:00 GMT), while Celtic visit Dundee United in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on 14 March (19:45).