I watched another Celtic late show - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain intervention papered over major cracks

Here are three takeaways from Celtic Park:

Oxlade-Chamberlain intervention papers over some major Celtic cracks

For the second home match in a row, Celtic had cause to give thanks for a late, late strike for covering their blushes. On Saturday it was Junior Adamu’s flick that denied Dundee a stunning Scottish Cup victory and then on Wednesday night it was Oxlade-Chamberlain who broke Livingston’s hearts just when they thought they had done enough to earn a point.

Oxlade-Chamberlain marking his first appearance in Scottish football by scoring an injury time winner understandably dominated all the post-match headlines but also helped to shift the spotlight away from the fact that Celtic were once again woefully profligate in front of goal.

Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior and his defence deserve to take a lot of the credit for frustrating Celtic for so long but, in truth, the quality of the finishing left a lot to be desired, too. Sebastian Tounetki, Benjamin Nygren, Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda and Tomas Cvancara all passed up makeable chances that would have made this a much more comfortable evening for Celtic. Tougher opponents won’t give them as many opportunities. Celtic need to find a clinical edge or risk paying the price in the run-in.

Late, late show continues to provide great drama

You probably have to go back to the 1980s to find the last time three sides were battling it out for the Scottish title. And if that scenario wasn’t tense enough as we get closer to the run-in then for extra drama there were decisive goals scored in the 88th minute or later in each of the three midweek matches involving the championship challengers.

That’s maybe not great for the health of the stressed-out managers of each club – or, to be honest, of the journalists having to rewrite their match reports every night on deadline – but for the rest of Scottish football, especially the neutrals, then it’s fascinating stuff. Every matchday brings some sort of potentially season-defining contest, with Hearts’ visit to Rangers on Sunday the next instalment in what has been one of the most enthralling campaigns for quite some time. As former PM Harold McMillan might have observed; Scottish football fans, you’ve never had it so good.

A roar or two left in the Livi lions yet

On the face of it, Wednesday night was another dismal chapter in this wretched season for Livingston. Not only were they denied what would have been a morale-boosting point at Celtic Park they then trooped off the park to be greeted by the news that the team they are trying to chase down in 11th spot, Kilmarnock, had won to move nine points clear of them.

In truth, however, this was a performance that ought to give manager Marvin Bartley hope for the 12 matches ahead. The points gap may yet prove insurmountable but the dogged manner in which his team played, never letting their heads go down, could yet prove the foundation for the unlikeliest of rescue missions. If they can stay in touch until the split, then you never know.