Celtic spirit reminds O’Neill of glory years

When your manager is a club legend and he starts comparing you to the side that made him such, you know you must be doing something right.

It might just be a clever bit of psychology to do so, but if it helps Martin O’Neill lead Celtic to another Scottish title, he will have worked his magic again.

It was the third time in a week that Celtic had rescued victory from the jaws of a damaging result.

Last weekend, they looked to be exiting the Scottish Cup before Junior Adamu equalised in the 90th minute and Sebastian Tounekti scored the winner in extra time to secure a quarter-final place.

On Wednesday, they were seconds away from dropping a league point at home to bottom side Livingston, only for latest signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to produce a dream debut winner, again in the 90th minute.

This time, Kilmarnock looked destined for what would have been a deserved point until Julian Araujo smashed their resistance with a stunning strike seven minutes into overtime.

For some, it would have been a reminder of the “relentless” nature of Ange Postecoglu’s title-winning Celtic side.

For O’Neill, it brought back memories of his own glory days. Of the famous names like Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson who contributed to three league titles, three Scottish Cups, a League Cup and a journey to the Uefa Cup final.

“I managed, coached, a really top-quality side here 20-odd years ago who had loads of spirit, loads of resilience, loads of ability,” the 73-year-old Northern Irishman told BBC Scotland.

“And these lads here are emulating that in many aspects and sometimes surpassing.”

Late goals are certainly becoming a bit of a habit for his current charges since he returned for a second spell as interim manager following the dismal short spell under Wilfried Nancy.

Celtic have now scored six winning goals in the 90th minute or later in the Premiership this season, the most by any team in a single campaign since it was rebranded in 2013, surpassing the previous best by Rangers in 2016-17.

Indeed, until Araujo’s winner in Ayrshire, the Old Firm sides were sitting on eight goals apiece in the 90th minute or later in the Premiership this season.

However, it is the kind of spirit that has been gradually pegging back Derek McInnes’ pacesetters as the traditional giants of Scottish football start to get their act together.

“The spirit the players has been absolutely fantastic,” McNeill said.

“It was a wonderful second-half performance for us. Kilmarnock adapted to the conditions, the rain, the pitch, much better than we did and sometimes you just have to dig in – and that’s exactly what we did.”

Celtic’s board has been under pressure this season for their recruitment, both on the field and off it, but their latest moves appear to be bearing fruit.

Adamu, the striker who arrived on loan from Freiburg last month, saved their blushes against Dundee and Tounekti, the summer arrival from Hammarby, secured cup progress before his opener inspired the comeback against Kilmarnock.

Right-back match winner Araujo was another January arrival on loan from Bournemouth, while former England midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain grabbed the midweek winner days after being plucked from half a season without a club.

Of course, O’Neill’s introduction of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tounekti and another January arrival, Czech Republic striker Tomas Cvancara, at half-time also proved to be a managerial masterstroke.

Despite the plaudits, O’Neill recognises that flaws remain.

“I thought we were very poor in the first half,” he said. “As a team defending, we weren’t that good then we keep giving the ball away at times, but the second half was totally different.

“We made the changes at half time and then Seb scores a wonder goal for us and puts us right back in the game, culminating in us winning the match.

The win at Rugby Park had former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner harking back to yet another era.

“They know now that this game is not 90 minutes – it’s now now 96-97 minutes and they will keep going to the final whistle,” he said.

“And that’s the making of a championship-winning team. We did it in ’87-88 and we won games when we were almost out of it and that’s what it takes.

“You keep going. You might not play brilliantly in all of the games.”

Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell suggested “small margins are going Celtic’s way” right now.

“They do not stop and you see the reaction of the players, the fans and the togetherness and the players will be in there on top of the world because that is a huge result for Celtic.”

With Rangers producing a comeback of their own to beat Hearts 4-2 in the later kick-off at Ibrox, only three points separate the top three title contenders, with third-top Celtic having a game in hand.