SPL: Celtic in last gasp win

Celtic 3, Livingston 2

Henrik Larsson’s last-minute goal allowed 10-man Celtic to snatch all three points at Parkhead.

Until last week’s defeat against Aberdeen, Livvy had been the only team this season to take points from Celtic and they twice fought back through Oscar Rubio and Francisco Quino to draw level.

But a Larsson double and Lubomir Moravcik’s opener sealed the win, despite Joos Valgaeren’s dismissal late in the game.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Celtic piled the pressure on the Livingston goal.

Towering defender Bobo Balde saw his header, from just a couple of yards out, blocked by the Livingston goalkeeper. Then, from the resultant flag-kick Hartson cracked the ball off the post before the Livvy defence eventually cleared the danger.

Celtic’s chances of snatching the win became slimmer after 78 minutes when they found themselves down to 10 men. Joos Valgaeren was guilty of a nasty challenge on substitute Nathan Lowndes and the referee did not hesitate to show him his second yellow card before producing the red.

But the home side managed to snatch all three points right on the final whistle when Larsson met a Thompson cross to tap home from two yards out.