Celtic

Late winners have been a hallmark of Celtic this season.

On Wednesday night debutant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rescued victory against bottom side Livingston with an injury-time strike.

The previous Sunday it was new boy Junior Adamu's 97th-minute backheel that took their Scottish Cup tie against Dundee to penalties.

And when Celtic last visited Rugby Park, back in September, an added-time penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho on his debut salvaged a 2-1 win.

Both sides have now have a different manager at the helm, but left-back Kieran Tierney is braced for another difficult afternoon on the artificial surface, especially as Killie have won their past two home games under Neil McCann.

"It's not even just the last couple of weeks," Tierney said. "The last-minute winners that we've had just shows that we never give up.

"There's more games at the start of the season where we did it, even Kels [Kelechi Iheanacho] on his debut at Rugby Park last time.

"It just shows the character and it's one of these seasons where it's going to take results like this and massive shifts in momentum and we just need to keep going now.

"The last few weeks Kilmarnock have had good results, better performances as well.

"It's always tough going there, it doesn't matter if they're on form or not, but now they're on form so it's going to be extra tough for us so we need to play well."

Celtic are the first of the top three to kick off on Sunday before Hearts travel to Ibrox later that afternoon.

When asked if Celtic can use their earlier kick-off to put pressure on their fellow title challengers, Tierney added: "You can look at it that way but we just need to win our games.

"We kind of need to focus on ourselves now.

"The last few results have been good, last-minute winners and we just need to try and keep going and keep creating the chances and taking them."

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Martin O'Neill feels rejuvenated by his surprise return to Celtic management this season.

The 73-year-old club legend initially took over as interim boss in October following Brendan Rodgers' resignation and then returned following again Wilfried Nancy's catastrophic tenure.

As O'Neill prepares to take charge of his 300th Celtic game on Sunday, he told the club's official podcast:, external "The players talk about benefits for them but it's beneficial for me.

"This is an opportunity and I might as well run with it because one, it'll never happen again, and two, I might as well enjoy it. Whether I enjoy managing I'm not so sure but I enjoy the results if we win, but life's not so good if you get beaten.

"I like donning a tracksuit and going out and watching young players perform and interacting with them."

Celtic are in the midst of a hectic run and after Sunday's trip to Rugby Park they host Stuttgart in the first leg of their Europa League knockout-round play-off.

"What was the point in having a terrific performance against Feyenoord, a backs-to-the-wall against Bologna, without trying to finish it off and qualify?" O'Neill added.

"I know that in many aspects these extra games might be the undoing of us but that's what bringing extra bodies in is for."

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• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the winner on his Celtic debut against Livingston last time out. The last player to score in both of his first two Scottish Premiership appearances for the Hoops was Moritz Jenz in August 2022, while the last British player to do so was Scott Sinclair in August 2016.

• This will be Martin O'Neill's 300th game in charge of Celtic in all competitions, the sixth manager to hit that milestone with the club. His 227 wins in 299 games to date is already the most within a manager's first 300 matches in charge (Jock Stein second with 224).

• After only winning two of their first 23 league games this season (D8 L13), Kilmarnock have since won two of their past three (L1). They have scored as many goals in these past three games (eight) as their previous 14 in the Premiership beforehand.

• Celtic have only lost one of their past 21 league matches against Kilmarnock (W18 D2), a 2-1 defeat in December 2023.

• Kilmarnock have lost their past six league meetings with Celtic, last losing more in a row in April 2015 (eight).

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Celtic defender Stephen Welsh admits it feels "even sweeter" to be back at Motherwell after an "odd" couple of weeks.

The 26-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Fir Park during which he became an integral part of a successful side.

But the centre-back was recalled by Celtic during the January window to bolster Martin O'Neill's defensive options.

Welsh started the Scottish Cup tie against Auchinleck Talbot and made one further substitute appearance before the arrival of Benjamin Arthur on loan allowed the defender to return to Fir Park on deadline day.

Welsh made an immediate impact in his first game back with the Steelmen, scoring a late equaliser against Rangers on Wednesday night.

"It was an odd couple of weeks for me because I didn't know what was going to happen," he admitted.

"The communication between the clubs was good but you truly never know what could happen.

"It went down to the last few minutes before coming here. I'm thankful that it did and I'm just glad to be back.

"It was a difficult couple of weeks. People don't see what goes on behind the scenes but I'm delighted to be back. I just want to play and hopefully that continues.

"It's no secret that it's hard to come through at a club like Celtic. To play the amount of games I have there, I'm very proud of that. But I'm a realist as well. A lot of different players come into the club.

"I made the decision to come here because I could see the manager's vision. To actually come back a second time is even sweeter. To come back, have my first game and experience such a good moment is great."

Motherwell's draw with Rangers allowed Celtic, who beat Livingston, to move a point behind their Glasgow rivals with a game in hand.

"I know it does [do Celtic a favour] because they're my club," Welsh added.

"But the main thing for me now is to help Motherwell.

"It's a massive point even though we deserved three. To actually dominate a full second half, including half an hour with 10 men, is excellent."

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Interim Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has urged the club to buy 27-year-old on-loan Boca Juniors left-back Marcelo Saracchi, who scored in Wednesday's win over Livingston, at the end of the season. (Glasgow Times), external

Former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored Celtic's winner in his debut against Livingston on Wednesday, has revealed his former footballer father, Mark, had urged him to sign for the Scottish champions when the opportunity arose to end his spell without a club last month. (The Herald), external

Motherwell forward Tawanda Maswanhise says he is keeping his head down and ignoring speculation linking him with Celtic and Rangers, but the 23-year-old admits his ambition is to play Champions League football. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic assistant Shaun Maloney says he is still talks regularly with Roberto Martinez but insists he knows nothing about whether the Portugal head coach could be the Scottish champions' new manager this summer. (Sky Sports via Scottish Sun), external

Celtic earned a staggering £40m from playing in the Champions League last season. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Squeaking past bottom side Livingston thanks to an injury-time winner isn't how Martin O'Neill would have expected to mark his 200th league game as Celtic manager.

In fact, the 73-year-old probably never expected to take charge of any more Celtic games when he left in 2005.

But a debut winner from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, scored in the 91st minute, had all the hallmarks of an O'Neill team this season.

During his 10 league games in charge across two interim spells, Celtic have scored 23 goals - four of those have come in the final 10 minutes and three were scored in the 90th minute or later.

O'Neill, though, would rather get the job done earlier. "If those late goals did prove resilience and a bit of character, that's great," he said.

"But I don't think you can live on your nerves for the rest of the time like that, expecting or hoping that you're going to dig out a winner very late on. It's not plausible."

Another intriguing point is Oxlade-Chamberlain's winner was the third time this season a Celtic player has scored a vital goal on their debut.

The first was Kelechi Iheanacho, who scored a 96th-minute penalty to secure a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in September, under Brendan Rodgers.

Then it was Junior Adamu in Saturday's Scottish Cup win over Dundee - his 97th-minute goal took the tie to extra time where Celtic won 2-1 - before Oxlade-Chamberlain rescued three points on Wednesday night.

That victory was O'Neill's 165th in 200 top-flight games with Celtic. He has drawn 20 and lost just 15. In fact, the Northern Irishman's win rate of 82.5% is the best any Celtic manager.

Ange Postecoglou is the closest to O'Neill with an 80% win rate over his 188 Premiership games. Neil Lennon comes next with 75.3% from 231 matches, followed by Rodgers with 75% from 76 games.

This season, O'Neill's win rate is at 90% for 10 games - the best of any current Scottish Premiership boss by some margin.

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl is second with 72.2% from 18 matches, while Hearts boss Derek McInnes is third with 65.4% from 26.

With that kind of record Celtic fans would surely be happy to have O'Neill in charge for another 200 league games.

And he notches another milestone this weekend against Kilmarnock - his 300th match in all competitions as Celtic boss.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain insists his brilliant Celtic debut winner is just the start as he aims to "repay" the club for relaunching his career.

The 32-year-old former England midfielder had gone five months without a club, and was training with former team Arsenal, before being handed a deal by Martin O'Neill until the end of the season.

"This time a couple of weeks ago I didn't know where my future was in the game," Oxlade-Chamberlain said.

"I kept my head down, trained hard and kept believing that something else would come up. Now I'm going to do everything I can to repay the club with the faith they've put in me."

Oxlade-Chamberlain made an immediate and stunning impact for Celtic, coming off the bench to curl in a stoppage-time winner against bottom club Livingston on a dramatic night in the title race.

"It's been the best part of my season so far," the former England international said of his goal.

"I thought the atmosphere was really good, especially after the goal.

"That means a lot and I think it's our job now to be more clinical, put games to bed earlier if we can and play the football the fans want to see and go and win games with authority. That's our job."

And the reaction to his goal on Wednesday night gave Oxlade-Chamberlain an insight into what former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart had been telling him about.

"I spoke to Joe Hart about four weeks ago about this place," he added.

"This was before this opportunity had come up. He was just telling me about his time here, how much he loved it and how the stadium can be when things are going well.

"I've just seen a real good glimpse of it."

We asked for your views after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a late winner on his debut for Celtic against Livingston.

Here are some of your comments:

Liam: How we are still in this title race is beyond me. Every game is really hard, we still don't have a goalscorer and we lack quality with the final ball. A superb night results-wise though. If we can get Kelechi Iheanacho back for the run-in and keep him fit we may have a chance.

Gordy: Another win at a struggle. We played some nice football but don't have a killer touch in front of goal. We should be beating most teams emphatically in the league but aren't and I think this will cost us the league. When we don't go two or three up we will always struggle defensively and the players begin to panic when the crowd begin to panic, this will lead to drop points.

John M: Well whatever the deal was to lure Oxlade-Chamberlain to Celtic then a huge chunk has been paid back in his debut. A sumptuous goal gives Martin O'Neill's makeshift crew a precious win. Chaotic at the end but worth it, though not sure I can take many more last-gasp winners. By hook or by crook Celtic are getting closer to this title.

Shadow: What a season. Struggling in every game yet finding ways to win in injury time to keep in the hunt for the league. This is merely papering over the cracks of a chaotic season. The team and brand of football are lethargic and paying fans are getting a poor product. There needs to be engagement from board level to fan level now or it will be a barren season. The league is Hearts' to lose, but not to Celtic I suspect.

Paul: Great debut goal from Chamberlain to snatch yet another last-gasp win. Celtic will simply need to be much more cynical and ruthless in front of goal, which has been their Achilles heel all season long, if they have any aspirations of closing the gap on runaway leaders Hearts.

Peter: Another very poor performance in a season full of poor performances. The only thing that matters though is the two goals, the win and the three points. A run of tough games coming up, we will need all the new players to hit the ground running and be up for the fight.

John: Reo Hatate has become a total liability, best to leave him out and play Oxlade-Chamberlain from the start.

Nottingham Forest will make another move for Celtic's 22-year-old Belgium midfielder, Arne Engels, in the summer after failing to sign him in January. (Football Insider), external

Interim manager Martin O'Neill has dismissed reports that Celtic have offered a contract to 28-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager. (Football Transfers), external

Motherwell will listen to offers for 23-year-old forward Tawanda Maswanhise this summer amid interest from both Celtic and Rangers. (Football Insider), external

Rangers have outspent city rivals Celtic over the last two transfer windows, despite the latter banking £53m from transfers over the previous five years. (Daily Record), external

Julian Araujo, the right-back on loan to Celtic from Bournemouth, says he switched allegiance despite making one appearance for United States, the country of his birth, because he grew up in a Mexican household and it was his dream to play for them. (The National), external

Glasgow city centre residents say they have been left disappointed that, despite meetings last year, no plans regarding potential football title party celebrations in May have been communicated to them. (Glasgow Times), external

Celtic are facing further legal action over allegations of historic abuse at Celtic Boys Club. (The National), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Watch the highlights as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scores a late goal on his debut to help Celtic to a narrow win over bottom side Livingston. Available to UK users only

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain curled home a magnificent debut goal in second-half stoppage time to secure a potentially crucial win for Celtic over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Read the match report

Have your say

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Celtic manager Martin O'Neill starts by telling BBC Scotland about his emotions when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored: "Naturally delighted. I was relieved that that was going to hopefully be the winning goal, scored by a very, very fine player.

"He had a choice of a lot of teams. He's decided to come up here and help us out. He's done more than that, he's got us three points on the board.

"We reached that situation because we missed a lot of chances and their goalkeeper played very well. There must have been four chances before we scored. We needed a second goal because Livingston - who played very well - could get back into the game.

"Of course, they do equalise and we're pressing and pressing. We didn't look like we were going to get any reward at all and Alex scores this brilliant goal. When it left his foot, I could see it going in and that was a real delight.

"He's been a really fine player in his career, an excellent career. It's just a matter of him getting up to speed and I think that will come. He's naturally fit and hopefully he will be a big asset to us.

"I think there will be twists and turns in the rest of the season. Hearts are in a very strong position and we've been chasing since I've come in, first and second time. We kept ourselves in the hunt tonight."

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

Eight games, 24 days, three competitions.

Livingston's visit to Parkhead tonight kicks off a hectic and onerous run of Celtic fixtures that interim boss Martin O'Neill has described as season defining.

Three of the first four games in this sequence are at home - but the final four are all away, including two derby trips to Ibrox.

Bottom club Livi, with respect, are a gentle introduction before tougher tests await. Celtic visit a Kilmarnock side fighting for their Premiership lives on Sunday before hosting Stuttgart next Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League play-off.

Then it's Hibs at Celtic Park before the second leg away to Stuttgart as Celtic bid to advance to the last 16 of European competition for the first time since 2013.

Once their European fate is decided, Celtic play Rangers twice at Ibrox - in the league and Scottish Cup quarter-finals (date now confirmed as 8 March) - either side of a rearranged midweek visit to Pittodrie.

O'Neill's men have little room for slip-ups in the league as they try to chase down Rangers and leaders Hearts, whose derby win over Hibs on Tuesday night put them nine points clear of Celtic having played two games more.

Speaking at his news conference on Tuesday, O'Neill said of the impending run: "We have to try and stay in contention. Quite a few fixtures are big for us.

"Two of those matches anyway are because we've qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League, so that's good news in one aspect.

"I didn't really want the exertions of the game in Feyenoord and the big effort in Bologna to go to waste, so we've beaten Utrecht and let's get on with it."

And football writer Stephen McGowan, a guest on Wednesday's BBC Scottish Football Podcast, believes that with a "heck of a run" looming, Celtic must make the Livi game as "effortless as possible" to conserve energy.

Tino
Fan writer

It's now mid-February and despite the chaos of the season so far, Celtic still have a huge opportunity to finish the campaign successfully. Both on and off the park.

Though currently third, we're right in the thick of a title race - one that should become a lot clearer over the next few weeks as key fixtures play out.

Our Scottish Cup hopes remain alive - just - after Saturday's extra-time drama against Dundee and the draw takes us to Ibrox, with a place in the semi-finals on the line.

And in Europe, Stuttgart stand between us and a place in the Europa League last 16.

So far, so straightforward in terms of the challenges on the pitch. Off it, as we all know however, is another matter entirely.

Step forward Brian Wilson. The former non-executive director, now interim chairman, has been viewed by many as part of the problem in recent times. But he now has the chance to become part of the solution - if he chooses to do so.

Since taking up the role in mid-December, Wilson has spoken publicly about his desire to broker peace between the club and the support - a sentiment that is, of course, welcome.

But talk is cheap.

Alongside chief executive Michael Nicholson, he now has the opportunity to reset the relationship and take meaningful action that could help steer Celtic toward success in these closing months and beyond.

Doing so may require concessions on all sides. It may demand humility in certain quarters. And it may mean not everyone gets exactly what they want.

But if it moves everyone closer to the ultimate goal - whatever form that takes - then it has to be worth it.

And the sooner some form of resolution is found, the better.

Because if not, we're rolling the dice with the title. We're gambling with the prospect of Champions League football next season. And worst of all, we risk tarnishing the legacy of a man who has stepped into the breach not once but twice for Celtic this season.

Do right by Martin O'Neill. Do right by the fans. And the chance to end the season in spectacular style awaits.

Whether that is 'good' or 'bad' spectacular, however, rests in the hands of Wilson and his fellow board members.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Interim manager Martin O'Neill says Celtic will likely have an overhaul of their recruitment and that the club has to be "more robust" in their business. (The Herald)

Former Sweden team-mate Stefan Schwarz does not believe Henrik Larsson would be in the frame for a return to Celtic should they decide to replace O'Neill in the summer. (The Scotsman)

Celtic legend Larsson was heckled by a Rangers supporter as he went to tee up his ball on the first hole in a celebrity golf tournament. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

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Celtic's new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has already shown his class in training and will influence games for the club, according to Liam Scales.

The former England midfielder joined the Premiership champions last week but hasn't played a competitive game since last May, before he left Besiktas.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is in contention to make his debut against Livingston on Wednesday but Scales has already seen the 32-year-old in action and has been impressed.

"He looks brilliant," defender Scales said. "Really sharp.

"You can tell that he's played at the highest level from his technical ability and how he moves. You can see why he's played for clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool, and for England. He's a top player.

"He looks sharp and fit. I think he has been putting in a lot of work when he hasn't been on games.

"It's up to the manager [when he plays] but he'll influence games positively for us."

Oxlade -Chamberlain is one of six new faces to have joined the squad since the turn of the year, following Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Benjamin Arthur and Joel Mvuka.

Scales feels the new arrivals have helped add to the competition within the squad and will raise everyone's performances.

"When you add players in it lifts the guys who have been here a long time," he said. "People are coming in to fight for places and that in general is a good thing.

"We've recruited well. All the guys that have come in look really good and they are good lads as well.

"I do feel like after transfer windows you get a boost in levels because everyone needs to be on it.

"It's always good to the end of the window and there's no more question of anyone coming or going. You have that set squad."

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Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney is set to play with a broken nose while new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could potentially make the squad.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles), Jota (knee), Alistair Johnston and Callum Osmand (both hamstring) remain out.

Livingston pair Scott Arfield (hamstring) and Connor McLennan (ankle) join Aidan Denholm (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Cristian Montano could return after injury while Jeremy Bokila is available after suspension.