We stunned Larsson and Co by taking points off them ... but Davie’s troops are flying and it wouldn’t be a shock if they did the same
Jim says Livi can go one better than class of 2001
IT was a major shock when Livingston pinched points off Martin O’Neill’s Treble-winning Celtic side when the teams met for the first time.
But former Lions manager Jim Leishman reckons no one would be surprised if his old club did it again in the space of five days.
Celtic rolled up to Almondvale in August 2001 with a frontline of Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson only to be left frustrated.
A 0-0 with Leish’s side, which had just hit the top flight after rising up the divisions, saw them leave with a point.
It was part of an incredible start to the campaign which saw Livi beat Hearts on the opening day and then draw with Dick Advocaat’s Rangers before holding the champions as well.
But the result still caused a stir – more so than it would do in the coming week when stumbling Celts face Livi at home tomorrow then away on Wednesday.
David Martindale’s class of 2020-21 have reeled off eight wins in a row – a run the Hoops would crave right now, having lost to Rangers and drawn with Hibs since the turn of the year to crush any lingering hopes of hanging on to the title.
Leishman is a Dunfermline legend but also a hero in West Lothian after spending the first nine seasons at the club following their shift from Meadowbank Thistle.
That Celtic stalemate soon after promotion is still fresh in the mind and he fancies his former side again 21 years on.
Leishman said: “I remember looking at the Celtic teamsheet – Larsson, Sutton, Hartson, Lambert, Petrov, you name it – and thinking, ‘Nae bother for Leish!’.
“We had a right good side then. We had the likes of David Fernandez, big Marvin Andrews, Davie Bingham, Davide
Xausa. We had Javier Sanchez Broto in goal. He saved a penalty from Larsson late on and we finished with 10 men after Gary Bollan was sent off.
“Martin O’Neill must have been impressed with Broto – he went and signed him. Same with Fernandez.
“But that was a wonderful afternoon in the sunshine.
“We’d made a tremendous start to the season. We’d just come up the divisions and no one knew what to expect from us. “People said we were throwing money around but we got the likes of Broto and Fernandez for nothing. Big Marvin cost about five grand. “But we were a right good side and we’d had a few good results at the start of the season, beating Hearts and drawing with Rangers. It was still a shock when we took points off Celtic, though, especially when you saw the team they had. They’d won the league by a mile the year before.
“I still keep an eye on Livi and I don’t think it would be much of a surprise if they took points off Celtic this week.
“They are going great guns under Davie Martindale.”
Livingston’s form is in stark contrast to Celtic’s and the Hoops have not had it easy against the Tony Macaroni men in recent years.
The Lions never took any more points against the Parkhead men after the draw on their first meeting – until Gary Holt’s men held Brendan Rodgers’ Celts in 2018.
Livingston have tripped up Neil Lennon as well and the champions have only won twice in their last six encounters home and away.
The Parkhead boss can’t afford any more slip-ups right now either.
Peter Lawwell’s review of the managerial situation is ongoing and one point from six to start the year isn’t exactly helping Lennon’s cause. Previous under-pressure managers have gone through tough spells and it’s seemed like they were one bad one away from disaster, such as Tony Mowbray’s St Mirren, John Barnes and Inverness, or Ronny Deila and the Rangers semi-final.
Lennon can ill afford to take any more hits but Leishman wouldn’t bet against his old club landing another.
He said: “It’s brilliant to see them back up in the Premiership again and doing so well.
“I had nine great seasons there and they are my second team.
“It was an amazing story when we went through the divisions and then managed not just to stay up but to finish third and get into Europe.
“It was incredible when you think of the money being spent by the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs.
“Gary Holt did a great job there in recent seasons and now Davie has come in and made an unbelievable start. They will be full of confidence.
“I’d imagine they are the last team Celtic want to play right now.”