Celtic can’t keep relying on stoppage time dramas to save the day

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The Celtic Star

·12 February 2026

Celtic can’t keep relying on stoppage time dramas to save the day

Celtic got the job done last night with a stoppage time winner from new arrival Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but the three points were won by the skin of our teeth for the second match in a row after failing to take our chances…

11.02.2026 Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership. Celtic managerMartin O’Neill on the touchline. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO / News Licensing

This simply can’t go on as we are going to come unstuck at one point soon if we fail to finish teams off when on top…

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s goal to make it 2-1 to Celtic. 11.02.2026 Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership. Photo Kenny Ramsay. IMAGO/ News Licensing

Earlier I looked at the the worrying loss of form from one of Celtic’s most talented performers, Reo Hatate before going on the highlight the importance of Martin O’Neill adding a top quality player to the squad in last night’s match-winner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Now in the third article based on what we witnessed last night, I’m going to say something about Celtic’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.

Not taking our chances early is going to cost us at some point. That was probably a view expressed in every post-match conversations last night as supporters made their way home on supporters buses, in cars or on public transport.

It’s taken two stoppage time winners in four days against Dundee and Livingston to maintain our interest in both the Scottish Cup and possibly even the Scottish Premiership. We might not be so fortunate next time we dice with disaster.

Celtic causing endless problems for themselves

Last night, much like we have seen in many other fixtures this season, Celtic’s inability to bury teams we have under the cosh early on is causing us endless problems. This isn’t a new phenomenon. We have seen exactly the same story under both Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy already. We come out looking promising, dominate our opponent but fail to put them away.

Then suddenly the opposition finds a way back into the game and the panic sets in as we search for a winner or in Nancy’s case an equaliser when thinking back to that game against Dundee United at Tannadice when Celtic should have been four or five ahead at the break only to end up losing 2-1.

Martin O’Neill, manager of Celtic. Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 11 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO/Shutterstock

I have mentioned previously that we have been lucky in this regard under Martin O’Neill. We have found something at the end time and time again but this way of winning is totally unsustainable. You can only go to the well so many times looking for late winners before the well dries up, and we must currently be draining the last droplets of it.

Celtic must find a way to be more ruthless

11.02.2026 Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership.Marcelo Saracchi scores for Celtic. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO / News Licensing

Celtic has to vey quickly find a way to be more ruthless. Our goalscorers have to be more clinical in front of goal when they get the opportunity. We have signed two strikers and have another coming back from injury, surely one of them can find their goalscoring boots?

Failing to dispatch teams early after multiple opportunities leads to an anxiety in the ground that is palpable. This transfers to the players and adds extra pressure. Last night could have been anything if we had scored early, Livingston looked all over the place.

Sebastian Tounekti of Celtic and Daniel Finlayson of Livingston Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 11 February 2026. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO Shutterstock

We also need to remember that goal difference could come into play in such a tight season. Martin O’Neill already knows the heartbreak of losing a league title in such a manner. We need to show a ruthless streak, especially in games against the so called weaker teams.

Conall McGinty