Today was satisfying as Celtic produced a professional job on a team that is so dull it makes Rangers (RIP) UEFA Cup team of 2008 look like Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. As often is the case when we roll into town (or they come to Glasgow for that matter), Martindale set up his side to frustrate and irritate Celtic’s creative players. Well they got just what they deserve yet again: Diddly Squat.
The fact he couldn’t bring himself to admit that he was beaten comprehensively by the better side just sums him and his side up. Not any attempts to play at football are ever made when we come up against them; but it makes it all the sweeter when we leave them bereft at full-time.
A big shout out to Cameron Carter-Vickers who was booked early on for pulling Joel Nouble’s shirt. The big Livi striker is a major handful as he proved at Ibrox last week and against us in the past. It looked like it might have been a very difficult afternoon for Cam after that, however, he recovered really well and played smarter in his duels post-booking – not getting too close to Nouble and trying to be too cute with the ball over the top.
Secondly, it really is imperative that Greg Taylor is mentioned for another phenomenal display at left full-back and beyond! After coming on and helping to steady the ship and scoring the winner at Tyncastle last Saturday, he’s popped up with another goal and Man of the Match performance in West Lothian this afternoon. Simply sensational from the former Killie man!
Kyogo also looks to have found the way to goal again after that ferocious strike that opened the door early on and settled the proverbial nerves. His all-round movement was also excellent and provided pockets of space for others like Hatate, Mooy, and James Forrest. Speaking of James, he should have made it 102 goals with that gift we were given by Jack Hamilton. Such is life.
Despite the pathetic state of the surface and the tactics of the opposition, we maintained a strong cohesive pattern in our play, and subsequently received our just awards in the end. Giorgos Giakoumakis should have scored that penalty and from now on might be best leaving it to another of his teammates. Andy Walker mentioned he wasn’t moving too well on that artificial pitch in commentary and I reckon it is only a matter of time before we suffer a bad one at that amateur ground. Sorry, that’s actually being harsh on Sunday League Football in Scotland, many of whom keep a better pitch than Livngston do!!!
But the most important thing was the win and stretching our lead to four points again. The fact everyone came through the minefield unscathed is a major bonus. It is historically a tricky place for us, as evidenced by the 6 points taken from a possible 18 before kick-off today. We got there despite the conditions and are on a run which is crucial to continue up until the World Cup break.
Is the boy with the phone on Twitter? Shows your photo, must be a belter 😂 pic.twitter.com/pP6sqHtof4
— Vagelis Georgariou (@vagelisgeo) October 30, 2022
The momentum is with us. We need to just keep our heads down and keep motoring away. It turns to Real Madrid this week in our final Champions League match this year. Sadly, it is also our last in European competition too. Still though, we must ensure we take positives from that by giving the Champions a game again. No 7-1 hidings please! Leave that to the worst team in Champions League history…
Paul Gillespie
