Scottish Premiership
LivingstonLivingston2CelticCeltic2

Livingston 2-2 Celtic: Scott Brown sent off in draw

By Andrew SouthwickBBC Scotland

Celtic have gone four consecutive league games without a win for the first time in 21 years, after a second draw in five days against Livingston.

Captain Scott Brown was ordered off for lashing out at Jaze Kabia five minutes after coming on, as Neil Lennon's side now languish 20 points behind leaders Rangers with two games in hand.

Ciaron Brown headed Livingston into the lead, only for Mohamed Elyounoussi and Nir Bitton to turn the game around. But Jay Emmanuel-Thomas levelled after the break to earn the hosts a point.

It means David Martindale remains unbeaten in 10 games as manager with a League Cup semi-final against St Mirren to come on Sunday.

It was always likely to be a different affair than Saturday's 0-0 draw between the pair, with Livingston making seven changes, Celtic six.

While the hosts' motivation was keeping players fresh for the semi-final, Celtic were welcoming back those who had been forced to self-isolate following a positive Covid-19 case within the squad.

One side supposedly weaker, the other with strength in numbers. Yet a quarter of an hour gone and Livingston were in front.

So often this season Celtic have struggled at set-pieces. And after Shane Duffy gifted a free-kick, Julien Serrano drifted in a ball towards Brown, who steered his header beyond Vasilis Barkas.

Another error from Duffy led to Alan Forrest driving a shot just wide, but soon Celtic started to come alive. Leigh Griffiths hit the side netting before a series of corners led to the leveller, with Elyounoussi emphatically slamming in a Griffiths delivery.

Celtic's Achilles heel may be defending set-pieces, but the second goal again arrived from one of their own. David Turnbull's corner wasn't properly cleared and a series of passes opened Livingston up before Bitton finished off the move, although he may have strayed just offside.

It could, and perhaps should, have been 3-1 when Kristoffer Ajer burst forward and latched into a through ball, but could not divert the ball past the goalkeeper.

Elyounoussi lobbed over, then forced a save as Celtic continued to foray forward with regularity. But as it began to look comfortable, Livingston hit them on the counter-attack.

Brown robbed Ryan Christie in possession, drove a ball across the box, and Emmanuel-Thomas side-footed in his fourth goal of the season.

As the snow began to fall heavily, the ball wasn't moving as freely along the surface and Celtic' frustration was growing.

Brown was introduced from the bench but, after swinging an arm at Kabia, his night ended early. Livingston could even have won it after appealing late on for a penalty after Jack Fitzwater hit the deck following a challenge from Patryk Klimala.

But Celtic's faint title hopes dimmed even more as they matched an unenviable run set under Kenny Dalglish in 2000.

Man of the match - Mohamed Elyounoussi

Mohamed Elyounoussi
Southampton loanee Mohamed Elyounoussi was at the centre of most of Celtic's good play

What did we learn?

That Martindale was able to make seven changes yet still get a performance from his side was testament to the spirit and guts his side are displaying at the moment. And it will be another boost before Sunday's Hampden showdown with St Mirren.

Celtic at times played some good stuff going forward, but they continue to struggled defensively at a venue that has caused them problems on each of their previous three visits.

What did they say?

Martindale hails 'brilliant' Livingston side

Livingston manager David Martindale: "I think we were a bit unlucky not to win after Celtic went down to 10 men.

"I thought there was a stonewall penalty in the second half and Celtic's second goal was offside. I'm seeing it as a positive but just a wee bit frustrated.

"Every single one of the boys came out and stepped up to the plate. It shows collectively that we're all in this together."

Celtic manager Neil Lennon: "Scott had a moment of madness and it's a lot of ill discipline which is unnecessary. I'd need to see it again. I don't know how much contact he actually made.

"The performance didn't merit the result. We were as good as we've been here for a long time. Bitterly disappointed night not to have won on a difficult pitch on a difficult night."

'I've been concerned about job for long time' - Lennon

What's next?

Livingston face St Mirren at Hampden on Sunday for a place in the League Cup final (16:00 GMT), while Celtic have to wait until Wednesday 27 January to host Hamilton Academical (19:45).

Player of the match

Emmanuel-ThomasJay Emmanuel-Thomas

with an average of 8.40

Livingston

  1. Squad number9Player nameEmmanuel-Thomas
    Average rating

    8.40

  2. Squad number12Player nameSerrano
    Average rating

    8.29

  3. Squad number3Player nameBrown
    Average rating

    8.25

  4. Squad number8Player namePittman
    Average rating

    8.24

  5. Squad number11Player nameForrest
    Average rating

    8.23

  6. Squad number27Player nameGuthrie
    Average rating

    8.23

  7. Squad number21Player nameMcMillan
    Average rating

    8.21

  8. Squad number37Player nameKabia
    Average rating

    8.16

  9. Squad number38Player nameHamilton
    Average rating

    8.12

  10. Squad number20Player nameReilly
    Average rating

    8.06

  11. Squad number17Player nameRobinson
    Average rating

    8.05

  12. Squad number33Player nameLawson
    Average rating

    8.04

  13. Squad number2Player nameDevlin
    Average rating

    7.90

  14. Squad number5Player nameFitzwater
    Average rating

    7.80

  15. Squad number1Player nameMcCrorie
    Average rating

    7.54

Celtic

  1. Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
    Average rating

    3.91

  2. Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
    Average rating

    3.68

  3. Squad number35Player nameAjer
    Average rating

    3.57

  4. Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
    Average rating

    3.45

  5. Squad number9Player nameGriffiths
    Average rating

    3.38

  6. Squad number12Player nameSoro
    Average rating

    3.36

  7. Squad number6Player nameBitton
    Average rating

    3.32

  8. Squad number3Player nameTaylor
    Average rating

    3.31

  9. Squad number17Player nameChristie
    Average rating

    3.21

  10. Squad number1Player nameBarkas
    Average rating

    3.03

  11. Squad number4Player nameDuffy
    Average rating

    2.76

  12. Squad number8Player nameBrown
    Average rating

    2.48

  13. Squad number30Player nameFrimpong
    Average rating

    2.29

  14. Squad number11Player nameKlimala
    Average rating

    2.15

  15. Squad number19Player nameJohnston
    Average rating

    2.12

Line-ups

Livingston

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1McCrorie
  • 5Fitzwater
  • 27Guthrie
  • 3Brown
  • 21McMillanSubstituted forRobinsonat 75'minutes
  • 33Lawson
  • 8Pittman
  • 12Serrano
  • 9Emmanuel-ThomasSubstituted forDevlinat 66'minutes
  • 11ForrestSubstituted forKabiaat 58'minutes
  • 38HamiltonSubstituted forReillyat 58'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Devlin
  • 10Sibbald
  • 14Mullin
  • 17Robinson
  • 20Reilly
  • 29Taylor-Sinclair
  • 37Kabia
  • 39Pignatiello
  • 40Maley

Celtic

Formation 4-3-1-2

  • 1Barkas
  • 35AjerSubstituted forFrimpongat 78'minutes
  • 6Bitton
  • 4Duffy
  • 3Taylor
  • 17Christie
  • 12SoroSubstituted forBrownat 78'minutesBooked at 83mins
  • 14TurnbullSubstituted forJohnstonat 82'minutes
  • 42McGregor
  • 9GriffithsSubstituted forKlimalaat 70'minutes
  • 27Elyounoussi

Substitutes

  • 8Brown
  • 10Ajeti
  • 11Klimala
  • 18Rogic
  • 19Johnston
  • 29Bain
  • 30Frimpong
  • 57Welsh
  • 93Laxalt
Referee:
William Collum

Match Stats

Home TeamLivingstonAway TeamCeltic
Possession
Home31%
Away69%
Shots
Home6
Away18
Shots on Target
Home2
Away6
Corners
Home4
Away7
Fouls
Home10
Away10

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Livingston 2, Celtic 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Livingston 2, Celtic 2.

  3. Post update

    Hand ball by Jaze Kabia (Livingston).

  4. Post update

    Offside, Celtic. Shane Duffy tries a through ball, but Patryk Klimala is caught offside.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Scott Pittman (Livingston) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Nir Bitton.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Nir Bitton.

  8. Post update

    Offside, Livingston. Jon Guthrie tries a through ball, but Julien Serrano is caught offside.

  9. Dismissal

    Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the red card for violent conduct.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).

  11. Post update

    Jaze Kabia (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Michael Johnston replaces David Turnbull.

  13. Post update

    Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Jaze Kabia (Livingston).

  15. Post update

    Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).

  16. Post update

    Jaze Kabia (Livingston) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Scott Brown replaces Ismaila Soro.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Celtic. Jeremie Frimpong replaces Kristoffer Ajer.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jaze Kabia (Livingston) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Livingston. Scott Robinson replaces Jack McMillan because of an injury.