Celtic Cruise Past Livingston With Nygren Double Despite Fan Protests

Benjamin Nygren’s second-half double helped much-changed Celtic to a 3-0 triumph complete Livingston arsenic supporters again demonstrated anti-board sentiments. Frustrated by perceived transportation inactivity successful caller weeks, fans repeated their chants of “sack nan board” which had first rung astir Parkhead during and aft nan goalless tie against Kairat Almaty successful nan first limb of nan Champions League playoff connected Wednesday night.

In nan 13th infinitesimal of a goalless first half, nan ultras-style fans group Green Brigade held up banners that publication “zero ambition”, “neglect team”, “rinse fans” and “basic board”, albeit location seemed small vocal backing from nan remainder of nan ground.

The Livingston goalkeeper Jérôme Prior made a sensational prevention from nan Hyun-jun conscionable earlier nan interval but was beaten by Nygren 2 minutes aft nan restart. The Celtic winger fired successful a 2nd successful nan 71st infinitesimal earlier substitute Johnny Kenny added a 3rd 5 minutes later.

Having taken 9 Premiership points from nine, Celtic moved 7 clear of Rangers and put much unit connected their Old Firm rivals who recreation to St Mirren connected Sunday, but Champions League qualification could beryllium pivotal for Brendan Rodgers. Celtic look a 7,000-mile information travel to Kazakhstan for nan 2nd limb against Kairat connected Tuesday, erstwhile nan winners tin slope connected £40m for reaching nan convention shape of European football’s elite nine competition.

With 1 oculus connected that prize, Rodgers rang nan changes, pinch only nan goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, nan defender Liam Scales and Nygren remaining. There was a debut for nan Japanese left-back Hayato Inamura and a first commencement for his compatriot Shin Yamada.

Celtic fans clasp up banners successful nan stands showing their dissatisfaction pinch nan club’s board. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

Just arsenic nan Green Brigade made their feelings astir nan committee known, Yamada knocked a transverse from Arne Engels past Prior but nan Belgium midfielder was confirmed offside aft a cheque by nan video adjunct referee.

The Livingston attacker Stevie May replaced nan injured Shane Blaney successful nan 28th infinitesimal and David Martindale reshuffled his side, but nan accent remained resolutely connected defence.

Seven minutes later, Prior tipped Yamada’s looping header from an Inamura transverse complete nan barroom for a area which came to thing and past a Yamada changeable hit nan Livingston keeper only for Daniel Finlayson to clear disconnected nan line.

Prior made a fabulous prevention successful added time, someway pushing Yang’s powerful header from point-blank scope connected to nan bar, pinch Livingston scrambling nan shot to information and much “sack nan board” chants were heard earlier half-time.

Celtic Park relaxed somewhat early successful nan 2nd half erstwhile Prior spilled a right-footed thrust from nan consecutive to Nygren who tapped into nan quiet net.

In nan 58th minute, Rodgers brought connected Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Daizen Maeda for Luke McCowan, Yamada and Paulo Bernardo.

Prior thwarted Nygren erstwhile he collapsed done but nan Sweden guardant made nary correction erstwhile nan keeper pushed distant a transverse from Engels, firing precocious into nan nett via nan woodwork from 14 yards.

Five minutes later, Maeda group up Kenny, connected for Yang, to sound successful a 3rd which gave nan scoreline solidity, but nan rift betwixt fans and committee rumbles connected successful nan background.