Martin O’Neill might feel as though he got away with dropping several first team regulars for the visit of Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. A look at the Premiership table could convince him to do the same against Livingston at Celtic Park tonight. Livi are on a 25-game winless run, which leaves them six adrift at the bottom of the league. As a consequence, David Martindale’s heroic five-year term as manager ended a week ago, replaced by former-player Marvin Bartley.
Martindale was something of a miracle worker, but even that status was not sufficient to inspire this Livi lot. Bartley is not a miracle worker. He will provide a fresh voice to a dressing room which was surely in need of a change, but that’s about all.
I would, however, strongly caution against easing up tonight. Many of Livingston’s games have been tight; in September Newco required a 94th minute winner, then in November they edged Livi with a 78th minute goal. The game needs to be won before we can consider easing up.
There is another more pressing reason to go for it tonight. This league title is incredibly tight and Martin, more than any manager in our history, knows that goal difference can be crucial. As well as a points gap, we have an eight goal difference to make up on Hearts. On paper, Livingston at home presents the best chance of closing this. Get on the front foot early and batter the net a few times.
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Wednesday!
A game as well.
HH!
Tartan army fan zone announced in Boston!
Is a laxity what bedwetters take?
Sorry, it’s been a long morning.
It’s very much a case of the quiet before the storm tonight. We’ve a lot of players that need minutes if they’re to be of any use to us when we need them. It’s a huge month ahead.
Hearts winning last night doesn’t worry me too much. Had they dropped more points so quickly off the back of St Mirren then they’d probably have collapsed at Ibrox. They’ll be right up for that game now.
Happy St. Paschal Day! Ave Ave
Petition:
One Celtic. Back our Board, Manager, Players and Charity.
https://c.org/kC24nkswRn
Destiny of the league is still in our hands.
All eyes on the huns, we need to beat them to win the league.
hears will finish 3rd
Regards the Scottish Cup ticket allocation, it’s a SFA competition, different rules! If the doggies don’t give us the full 20% allocation (Broomloan plus the corner), tell’em to shove it, all deals are off.
I watched the Edinburgh Derby, 2 big strong physical teams,not much skill on show Nicky Cadden apart, draw would have been fair though Hibs were to blame allowing the wingback 30 yards of space to put a low hard cross in that created the goal, what struck me was the size of the players and those coming off the bench we are Liliputians in comparison.
it should be a complete non-story getting 20% of the tickets since thats the rules.
the big story would be if we didnt get 20%.
but we know how rules are bent when it comes to ibrox teams.
celtic better be insisting thats the case, no compromise, broomloan plus corner. nothing else.
if they back down then im starting a campaign to kick them out the club.
my slogan will be ‘Sack The Board’.
i think it will catch on.
Celtic will get the Broomloan with the corner empty for segregation taken off the allocation of 20%, the board wont fight this, Celtic will also get half the gate after costs.
“As well as a points gap, we have an eight goal difference to make up on Hearts.”
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You would almost think we had sold a bunch of reliable goalscorers and not replaced them…….
Game day.
Bring it on.
Can’t wait.
BTW – R2ngers also required the VAR, John Beaton to ignore a blatant hand ball penalty offence … denying Livi the chance to go 2-0 up.
Could cost Livi their Premier League status.
.. and in case you missed it ….
John Beaton LOVES Rangers.
(His words, not mine)
Celtic will get the Broomloan with the corner empty for segregation
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why does it need to be empty?
we currently get the corner and segregation.
in fact it will be easier to segregate because they only need 1 bit of segregation instead of 2
Genuinely saddened (bluff !) by the news of Thomas Franks’ sacking.
The guy took unfashionable, idealistic Ange Postecoglou’s 1.0 points per game squad
… spent £200m and
transformed them into a 1.1 PPG outfit.
2.3 PPG gives a great chance of being crowned English champions.
Just 1.2 PPG to find
£200m = 0.1 PPG improvement .. so a mere £2.4 billion investment should do the trick
A one off premium on 60,000 season tickets for a single season could fund it.
£40,000 per season ticket.
Go on Daniel. You can do it !
Paul67 et al
Indeed. Celtic scored 10 goals in their last two SPL games back in 2003 and still lost the title on er “goal difference”. Dunfermline’s performance at Ayebrokes might have had something to do with that. And Alan Thompson’s penalty miss down @ the Rugby. Then again you cannot score goals to order (but you can let them in) so lets leave the predictions to those of us who will actually put good money on a high scoring match, with Yang scoring anytime. Guessing the mood in the campsie is positive, and the spirit willing. We all know what is needed…..three points, all goals welcome.
back to basics
Daniel has left the building…..
Sionnaigh on 11th February 2026 12:22 pm
Happy St. Paschal Day! Ave Ave
Petition:
One Celtic. Back our Board, Manager, Players and Charity.
https://c.org/kC24nkswRn
Piss off .IT is THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES. My 57th wedding ann. NUPTUAL MASS AND PAPAL BLESSING.
SO THERE STICK YIR BOARD LOVING PETITION ROON YE.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL
How much does a culture change cost?
Their fans take a masochistic pleasure in their failure, Ange tried to hold up a mirror to it, it’s a mentality that any self respecting Aussie wouldnt understand. Unfortunately it didnt archieve anything other than make him unpopular.
They need a really strong character who can change the culture of the whole club while getting results for long enough that they don’t turn on him and get him sacked. Ange was strong enough, but ultimately not good enough.
Levy’s gone but it looks like the new board aren’t strong enough. The fans are after the new Chsirman, CEO and the technical director already, they’ve given in to the mob, it’ll be the same with the new guy, unless it’s Pocchetino who’ll get a bit longer.
Rangers vs Celtic will take centre stage on Sunday, March 8.
The clash at Ibrox will kick-off at 1pm and broadcast live on Premier Sports
We need to look at the goal difference, tonight we should be chasing goals till the last kick of the ball, not playing out time
Have Spurs moved for Danny Rohl yet? Or are they waiting to see if McCann and Doddsy can be prised from Kilmarnock? North London must be a tense place this afternoon.
we currently get the corner and segregation.
in fact it will be easier to segregate because they only need 1 bit of segregation instead of 2
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the segregation netting at the north west corner now works in our favour to have approx 9000 supporters in the full broomloan and the corner,
heard it said , the police prefer a full away support as it is easier to segregate outside the ground, the good old parking and walk to the park, like when rangers were alive.
The Bada Bing on 11th February 2026 2:00 pm
We need to look at the goal difference, tonight we should be chasing goals till the last kick of the ball, not playing out time.
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I expect the WhatsApp message from referee Calum Scott to the pitchside officials for tonight will go something like this: ‘If Celtic winning 1-0 I want eight minutes of additional time to give Livvy a chance. If Celtic are leading by two or more, then no additional time for them to claw back goal difference. Is that clear?’ Sorted.
The problem with Spurs is they are followed by entitled supporters. When expectations are not met, entitlement turns toxic, and toxicity can become genocidal.
Digby Brown pursue Celtic for a client
https://news.stv.tv/west-central/celtic-faces-further-legal-action-over-historic-abuse-allegations-at-boys-club
HH
‘If Celtic winning 1-0 I want eight minutes of additional time to give Livvy a chance. If Celtic are leading by two or more, then no additional time for them to claw back goal difference. Is that clear?’ Sorted.
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as sad as i am, i am going to add up all the additional minutes played for the 3 teams in the league.
I am convinced when we are leading well, we get less time added.
Favourite Uncle
Happy Anniversary 🤣🤣
HH
beyond the cheating in the final games, easy to lose sight of us chasing goals in the dundee game, to lose a 2nd in the 90 plus minute.
for tonight ? shoot on sight and often. looks like a wild night again weather wise.
but just as important, do not lose a goal.
aye, still hurts me.
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Celtic sweep to the top
Shaun Maloney celebrates scoring against Dundee
Maloney was excellent in the debut for Celtic’s new strip
Celtic 6-2 Dundee
Doubles from Alan Thompson and Shaun Maloney set Celtic on their way to an emphatic victory that swung the pendulum back in their favour at the top of the Scottish Premier League.
Celtic not only overtook Rangers to go three points clear but turned a two-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage should the two sides be equal on points at the end of the season.
Martin O’Neill’s side also now have scored more than their city rivals as they threw down the gauntlet before Rangers travel to face Hearts looking to win by the two goals they need from their game in hand.
Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby were the other scorers at Celtic Park as Rangers were left cursing a series of missed chances during their 4-0 defeat of Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Celtic might also rue the loss of a last-minute goal by Lee Mair for a Dundee side that appeared to have their minds on their forthcoming Scottish Cup final appearance.
No Mair misery for O’Neill
But, for now, O’Neill’s side can head with a spring in their step for Seville, where goalkeeper Rab Douglas will hope to feature after returning from injury to sit on the bench against Dundee.
Javier Sanchez Broto, cup-tied for the Uefa Cup final, continued in goal and, with Chris Sutton suspended and John Hartson injured, Maloney was given a rare start up front.
Dundee rested influential midfielder Georgi Nemsadze and were missing injured striker Stuart Lovell.
His replacement, former Celtic striker Mark Burchill, was denied by Broto before Celtic’s pressure produced a 14th-minute opener.
Larsson beat the offside trap to pull down Alan Thompson’s chip over the defence, rounded goalkeeper Julian Speroni and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
But the home crowd was silenced after 26 minutes, when Novo left Joos Valgaeren trailing before squaring to Barry Smith, who wrong-footed Broto from 15 yards.
The former Celtic defender looked slightly embarrassed, but the home side’s blushes were spared a minute later.
Barry Smith holds off Celtic’s Henrik Larsson
Barry Smith and Henrik Larsson both scored at Celtic Park
Larsson directed Stilian Petrov’s cross into Thompson’s path and the midfielder stooped to head home from five yards.
Thompson’s second came three minutes later, sending Didier Agathe’s cross into the back of the net with his weaker right foot.
Scotland defender Lee Wilkie suffered a nightmare against Rangers earlier in the month and gifted Celtic their fourth goal seven minutes after the break.
He tried to dribble out of his own penalty box and lost the ball to Maloney, who slotted the ball past Speroni.
The Scotland Under-21 striker added his second after 63 minutes, being sent clear by Thompson before side-footing the ball into the far corner of the net.
Wilkie was substituted soon after as he at least was spared further suffering.
Agathe’s cross was headed back across the face of the goal by Bobo Balde for Mjallby to side-foot home after 77 minutes.
Dundee striker Nacho Novo missed his second great chance of the half before Jonay Hernandez crossed for Mair to head home seconds before the end.
Celtic: Broto, Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Thompson, Larsson, Maloney (Smith 82).
Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNamara, Fernandez, Crainey.
Booked: Thompson.
Goals: Larsson 14, Thompson 27, 30, Maloney 52, 63, Mjallby 77.
Dundee: Speroni, Smith, Wilkie (Brady 69), Khizanishvili (Forbes 55), Hernandez Santos, Mackay, Rae, Mair, Novo, Milne, Burchill (Carranza 72).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Nemsadze.
Goals: Smith 26, Mair 90.
Attendance: 57,542
Referee: T Brown.
Bondi should get torched here
Very heavy pitch tonight, 5 subs will be needed to keep tempo up
We need to get as many new signings on the pitch the next two games.The present incumbents have shown little in converting chances.The midfield has a ,same,same about it.Get the new guys on,plenty of time to change with the subs.Try,if it works,we can rest players,and have found others.
The Ox must start tonight.Only 3. Games to get up to match speed.
FFS Celtic,no nannying about.Get them playing.
tickets for Celtic v Hibernian on Sunday, February 22 (Kick-off 3pm) will go on general sale from 10am tomorrow, Thursday, February 12.
Today I bring to the blog the sad news of a breaking and needless vandalism at St Alphonsus last night.There is a stil of the burglar and he left a dna sample as he was caught spitting on camera, for police seek.
VFR ex of this Parish,is the comms guy for there and St Mary’s, showed more pics of this disgusting act,I hope police get the burglar.
https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/cruel-vandal-breaks-glasgow-church-33405604?utm_source=app
HH
the Bada Bing on 11th February 2026 3:17 pm
Bondi should get torched here
well said, vile human!
Confirmation of the ol frim game
Apologies for rekkkord link
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-vs-celtic-scottish-cup-36691712?utm_source=app
HH
Don’t know much about Bondi, but it looks like she is doing the torching