CHRIS JULLIEN STRUGGLES AGAINST LYNDON DYKES AGAIN
The French defender has spoken on numerous occasions about how the last game here between the sides was a real lesson for him as he came up against the physical challenge of Dykes, but it seems he didn’t heed those lessons all that closely.
Once again, the strength of the Livi forward caused Jullien problems, and he shrugged off the Celtic defender all too easily to advance on goal and cut back for Scott Robinson to fire the home side ahead at the start of the second half.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT WITH EFE
For all his undoubted attributes, Celtic fans - and Neil Lennon in particular – are all too familiar with the other side of Efe Ambrose’s game, and the full range from the sublime to the ridiculous was on display here once more.
He started the game by producing an outrageous dinked pass in the packed midfield to release Stevie Lawless, but before the half was out he had taken a fresh air swipe at Greg Taylor’s pass to Callum McGregor which the midfielder then smacked into the net, then needlessly put Taylor on his backside on the edge of the area to pick up a yellow card.
He steadied himself again at the break though, and strolled the second half. What's he like?
GOALIES AREN’T ALWAYS OVERPROTECTED
It is perhaps a sign of how cosseted goalkeepers have become that Fraser Forster looked at referee Willie Collum in full expectation that he would receive a foul for a challenge put in on him by Jon Guthrie under a long throw, and he looked shocked not to hear the whistle sound in his favour.
The whistler got it right though, and worse was to follow for the Celtic keeper as he looked back to see Guthrie hooking the ball over his shoulder and into the net for the Livi equaliser.
It was the type of challenge that you have seen free-kicks given for, usually to the huge annoyance of supporters, and it was refreshing to see a fair challenge on a keeper allowed to pass.
Forster had to be stronger, and he will be disappointed not to have held onto the ball.
ELYOUNOUSSI AHEAD OF GRIFFITHS?
Some eyebrows were raised in the Celtic end when the team lines came through and Griffiths was once again missing from the starting 11, with Elyounoussi preferred as a central attacking option again as he was against Copenhagen.
It’s not that the Norwegian had a bad game, but eyebrows were again raised when he was replaced by Rogic rather than Griffiths when Celtic were trailing, before the striker was eventually thrown on with a little over 15 minutes left.
It left a feeling of Neil Lennon trying to fix something that wasn’t broken in the first place.
EDOUARD TAKING TOO MANY TOUCHES?
It may sound strange to pick out one of Edouard’s key strengths as a possible weakness, but there are times when the striker would perhaps benefit from taking less touches, particularly in and around the area.
There were a couple of times in this game where he showed great footwork in the box without really going anywhere, and ended up crowded out as a result.
When he did get an early shot away, he was desperately unlucky to rattle the inside of the post.
He then showed just how dangerous he can be when he uses his running power and strength, driving at the Livi defence to create the leveller for Rogic.
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