Celtic 2 Livingston 1: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes to the rescue to stop Bhoys paying the penalty

If the crown which has rested on Celtic’s head for the past four years is to remain there come May, Martin O’Neill will have to ensure that nights such as these become rarities.

Facing a Livingston side which secured its sole Premiership victory this term on August 9, the securing of three points for Martin O’Neill’s men was simply non-negotiable.

As against Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, it proved to be an almighty struggle.

Just when the home supporters were fearing a truly disastrous outcome, however, a new hero arrived on the scene.

Much has been made of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s suitability for the rough and tumble of Scottish football after failing to kick a ball since a run out with Besiktas last May.

With one sublime strike with his right foot after coming off the bench, the former England international removed a lot of those doubts. It was an extraordinary start to life in Glasgow East End.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on with the score level and grabbed the winner

Oxlade-Chamberlain was hailed by his new skipper Callum McGregor after his goal

Celtic had started like a train, scoring early through Marcelo Saracchi, and looked good to win handsomely.

But a raft of missed chances ensured Livingston kept believing. Robbie Muirhead’s converted spot kick in the second half ensured that nerves were frayed as the game entered stoppage time.

Just when it looked like Celtic would suffer a calamitous draw, Oxlade-Chamberlain produced a moment which might well prove to be pivotal when this extraordinary title race is settled.

With Rangers slipping up at Fir Park, it proved to be a fine night’s work for the defending champions.

What a record O’Neill boasts in the league across his two interim spells this season. To the five straight wins he racked up first time around, he’s subsequently added four victories and a draw.

In the dark of night, the Parkhead board must lie awake and curse the fact that they ever let Wilfried Nancy set foot in the club in between O’Neill’s stints.

Saracchi could certainly not have chosen a better moment to open his account at Celtic.

Although his team-mates created a slew of early chances, they required him to find the net with a precise strike from the edge of the box to edge in front.

O’Neill is a stated admirer of the full-back. Even if the veteran is not in charge of the side next season, you would imagine that he’d recommend that his club investigates the possibility of Saracchi moving from Boca Juniors on a permanent basis.

The veteran’s 200th league game in charge of Celtic was initially a one-sided affair. Were it not for some fine goalkeeping by Jerome Prior, the Northern Irishman’s side could have been out of sight within half an hour.

While O’Neill will be pleased that there were no dropped points, his side could have won far more convincingly. Who knows how costly an inferior goal difference may prove in the final reckoning.

Before the visitors had even got out of their own half, the visiting keeper blocked Callum McGregor’s strike then advanced to prevent Tomas Cvancara lifting the ball over him.

Unusually deployed on the right flank, Seb Tounekti gave Daniel Finlayson a torrid time. Prior made another good save to prevent the Celtic winger converting Daizen Maeda’s cross.

A slip by Finlayson then gave Benjamin Nygren an unwarranted opening. Prior saved the Swede’s strike and was grateful that Cammy Kerr positioned himself on the line to prevent Maeda netting the rebound.

Livingston rarely threatened in the first period. One moment of alarm among the home fans came when a long-throw wasn’t dealt with. Steve May’s shot on the turn was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.

Prior was equal to McGregor’s attempt to find the top corner but, on 15 minutes, his resistance was finally broken.

Arne Engels’ corner was knocked clear by Emmanuel Danso. Saracchi had sat deep in anticipation of the headed clearance which duly arrived. The Uruguayan took one touch to steady himself before firing beyond the static Prior from the edge of the box.

It felt like the floodgates would open. Livingston, though, dug in. Prior did brilliantly to get down low and prevent Nygren’s low strike from finding the far corner.

With Engels hobbling off to be replaced with Reo Hatate just after the half hour mark, Celtic’s play lost some fluency until O’Neill was able to impart some words of encouragement in the dressing room.

As long as the deficit remained just one, Livingston were capable of pulling off an extraordinary result.

They were helped in that regard by Celtic’s profligacy. Another Saracchi centre early in the second period saw Liam Scales head over when he ought to have worked the keeper.

Robbie Muirhead won the foul and then converted the penalty to bring Livi back into the game

Saracchi then released Hatate who crossed for Cvancara. The Czech slid in at the far post but couldn’t quite connect.

How costly such moments would soon prove. Celtic were unconvincing while defending a rare visiting corner. With the ball in the air, Hatate lost his bearings and felled Muirhead.

The striker spotted the ball and drilled it down the middle. Incredibly, despite Celtic’s early dominance, we were level.

It became rather frantic. Nygren saw his shot from the edge of the box saved. Scales had a drive deflected off target.

O’Neill would have envisaged giving Oxlade-Chamberlain the closing stages of a comfortable win. Instead, the Englishman and James Forrest were thrown on with 12 minutes remaining to try and save the day.

Kieran Tierney, who’d earlier replaced Saracchi, cut one ball back from the bye-line. McGregor’s strike lacked conviction.

You had to hand it to Livingston. Their sheer will to defend their box by any means necessary was commendable.

Nygren thought he’d found way through when he strode forward and let fly only for his shot to rise at the end.

The home fans were starting to leave when a sublime moment of skill by Oxlade-Chamberlain ensured disaster was averted.

Tounekti slipped the Englishman in with a cute pass. Seemingly with nowhere to go, he rolled the ball onto to his right foot and floated it at the far post with a majestic flick if his right boot. What an introduction.