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 and 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
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?
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.”
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
Livingston
Squad number9Player nameEmmanuel-Thomas
Squad number12Player nameSerrano
Squad number3Player nameBrown
Squad number8Player namePittman
Squad number11Player nameForrest
Squad number27Player nameGuthrie
Squad number21Player nameMcMillan
Squad number37Player nameKabia
Squad number38Player nameHamilton
Squad number20Player nameReilly
Squad number17Player nameRobinson
Squad number33Player nameLawson
Squad number2Player nameDevlin
Squad number5Player nameFitzwater
Squad number1Player nameMcCrorie
Celtic
Squad number27Player nameElyounoussi
Squad number14Player nameTurnbull
Squad number35Player nameAjer
Squad number42Player nameMcGregor
Squad number9Player nameGriffiths
Squad number12Player nameSoro
Squad number6Player nameBitton
Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Squad number17Player nameChristie
Squad number1Player nameBarkas
Squad number4Player nameDuffy
Squad number8Player nameBrown
Squad number30Player nameFrimpong
Squad number11Player nameKlimala
Squad number19Player nameJohnston
Line-ups
Livingston
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1McCrorie
- 5Fitzwater
- 27Guthrie
- 3Brown
- 21McMillanSubstituted forRobinsonat 75′minutes
- 33Lawson
- 8Pittman
- 12Serrano
- 9Emmanuel-ThomasSubstituted forDevlinat 67′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
- 42McGregor
- 14TurnbullSubstituted forJohnstonat 82′minutes
- 9GriffithsSubstituted forKlimalaat 70′minutes
- 27Elyounoussi
Substitutes
- 8Brown
- 10Ajeti
- 11Klimala
- 18Rogic
- 19Johnston
- 29Bain
- 30Frimpong
- 57Welsh
- 93Laxalt
Live Text
Match ends, Livingston 2, Celtic 2.
Second Half ends, Livingston 2, Celtic 2.
Hand ball by Jaze Kabia (Livingston).
Offside, Celtic. Shane Duffy tries a through ball, but Patryk Klimala is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Scott Pittman (Livingston) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Nir Bitton.
Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Nir Bitton.
Offside, Livingston. Jon Guthrie tries a through ball, but Julien Serrano is caught offside.
Scott Brown (Celtic) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Foul by Scott Brown (Celtic).
Jaze Kabia (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Celtic. Michael Johnston replaces David Turnbull.
Ryan Christie (Celtic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jaze Kabia (Livingston).
Foul by Greg Taylor (Celtic).
Jaze Kabia (Livingston) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Celtic. Scott Brown replaces Ismaila Soro.
Substitution, Celtic. Jeremie Frimpong replaces Kristoffer Ajer.
Attempt missed. Jaze Kabia (Livingston) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Substitution, Livingston. Scott Robinson replaces Jack McMillan because of an injury.
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