Martin O’Neill praises Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s immediate impact after the Englishman scores a stoppage-time winner off the bench to secure Celtic a vital 2-1 victory over Livingston.

Match Summary

Celtic appeared headed for a straightforward win against the Premiership’s bottom club when Marcelo Saracchi opened the scoring with his first goal for the team. However, Livingston fought back with Robbie Muirhead’s penalty to level the score, setting up a tense finish.

Entering the fray in the 92nd minute, Oxlade-Chamberlain curled a superb strike from the edge of the box into the net during added time. This dramatic goal ensures Celtic capitalizes on Rangers’ slip at Fir Park, narrowing the gap to one point with a game in hand.

O’Neill Delighted with New Signing

O’Neill lauds the former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder’s contribution. “He’s been a class player, there’s no question about it,” O’Neill states. “He’s played for big teams and he’s performed brilliantly. I’m just really delighted to have him.”

The Celtic boss highlights Oxlade-Chamberlain’s game-changing influence. “Getting him onto the field, he turns the game for us, which is brilliant,” O’Neill adds. He notes the player’s quick adaptation, strong training performances, and composure under pressure.

“It was frantic on the pitch and frantic in the dugout as well,” O’Neill recalls with a smile. “The minute it left his foot, I thought, ‘this is in’. He’s incredibly modest about his achievements and he wants to do well.”

At 32, O’Neill believes Oxlade-Chamberlain remains at his peak despite a stint in Turkey. “He’s come up here and he wants to have a go, which is great.”

Call for Greater Clinical Edge

Despite the win, O’Neill urges his side to sharpen their finishing. “Honestly, I think we could have been well ahead after 20 minutes,” he says. “We’ve said to the players at half-time, the game’s still in the balance because Livingston are very strong with set-pieces.”