Lions’ roaring start was reduced to a whisper

Rampant Celtic hit Livi with goal blitz

A revitalised Celtic gave Livingston a torrid afternoon in Glasgow as they were hit for six.

The Lions headed into the game in good form, having won two and drawn one of the last three, and lined up with the same starting line-up that beat Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup last week.

Livi manager Davie Martindale told The Courier midweek that there was no fear factor for his side heading to Glasgow and so it proved in the opening stages as Livingston attacked Celtic right from the off.

Sitting in fifth place in the league, the Lions started the game four points clear of St Johnstone and five points adrift of Aberdeen in fourth place – so the pressure was off Martindale’s men.

The ball stayed in Celtic’s half at the start of the game and Livingston weren’t interrupted by the physio having to come on twice in the opening four minutes after knocks to Craig Sibbald and Scott Pittman.

On the sixth minute, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas should have got a shot off from just outside the box, after some neat footwork allowed him to glide past two Celtic defenders, but couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet.

Livingston were doing their best to deny Celtic any space but James Forrest showed real artistry, playing a neat one-two with Odsonne Edouard, to give Celtic the lead on the 31st minute. He seemed to sclaff his shot but got enough on it to send it past the despairing Robby McCrorie.

The West Lothian side did not deserve to be behind at this point in the game but they seemed to lose confidence afterwards.

Celtic picked up the pace and had a couple of chances before they scored their second on the 38th minute.

Mohammed Elynounoussi raced down the left flank and his cross found David Turnbull inside the six-yard box and presented the midfielder with an easy opportunity.

Callum McGregor came close to making it three on the 43rd minute as he raced into the box but failed to get an effort away.

Livingston were holding on but Alan Forrest broke free in the last minute of the half, after a headed lay-off from Pittman, and his low shot was blocked by Scott Bain in the Celtic goal.

The half ended with Celtic two in front and Livingston couldn’t really have any complaints.

Josh Mullin and Matej Poplantik came on at half-time for Sibbald and EmmanuelThomas but Celtic stayed on top and McCrorie was forced into action on the 48th minute, tipping the ball round the post for a corner from a low shot by Callum McGregor.

Celtic made it 3-0 from the resultant corner on the 50th minute, when Scott Brown met the ball with a diving header and directed it toward goal, but it looked like Jack Fitzwater got the final touch.

They quickly made it 4-0 on the 53rd and it was looking too easy for them at this stage. Right back Jon Kenny drove the ball toward the 18-yard box and no Livingston defender closed him down quickly enough, before he fed the ball into Elynounoussi.

The Celtic winger picked it up and dispatched a looping shot into the net and over McCrorie to put the Hoops on easy street.

And on the 65th minute it was 5-0 when Ajer danced his way through the midfield before feeding Elynounoussi, who dinked a delightful chip over McCrorie.

Poor defending from Efe Ambrose gifted Celtic their sixth in the 87th minute, with his wayward pass finding Ryan Christie, who duly tucked the ball into the net to make it six.

Livingston: McCrorie, Devlin, Fitzwater (Lithgow. 80), Guthrie, Longridge, Holt, Bartley (Diani, 67), Pittman, Forrest (Ambrose 67), Sibbald (Mullin 45), EmmanuelThomas (Poplatnik 45).

Celtic: Bain, Kenny, Ajer, Welsh, Taylor, Brown (Soro 75), McGregor, Turnbull (Rogic 68), Forrest (Christie 58), Elynounoussi (Griffiths 75) Edouard (Ajeti 68).