O’Neill complains at ‘raw meat’ challenges on injury-hit Celts

Livingstone 2, Celtic 4

Henri Camara was forced out of the Bank of Scotland Premier League win at the City Stadium following a hefty tackle by Livi defender Emmanuel Dorado in the 33rd minute. Defender Stephen McManus was also stretchered off during the first period.

However, the Parkhead boss was left bemused when Neil Lennon, Paul Lambert and John Hartson were all cautioned within the closing 15 minutes. O’Neill said: “I thought a few of the challenges had an element of raw meat about them. The fellow has caught Henri round the back. Stephen has a nasty gash on his knee from a stud. I thought that was a pretty aggressive Livingston side and it was getting a bit heated.

Didier Agathe, Alan Thompson, Rob Douglas, Joos Valgaeren, Ulrik Laursen, David Fernandez, Shaun Maloney and John Kennedy were already missing.

Hartson was even forced to play on after having stitches in a head wound, while O’Neill revealed others are playing through the pain barrier.

Fortunately for O’Neill, the Hoops had cruised to a four-goal lead through strikes from Stilian Petrov, Camara, Hartson and Sutton before the injuries began to pile up.

LIVINGSTON: McKenzie, McNamee, Rubio, Dorado, Stanic (Libbra 85), McLaughlin, Easton, Lovell, O’Brien, Snodgrass (Brittain 45), Hamilton (Lilley 77).

CELTIC: Marshall, McNamara, Balde, Varga (Lambert 45), McManus (Pearson 26), Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Wallace, Camara (Juninho Paulista 37), Hartson.

Referee: A Freeland (Scotland).