Celtic 4-2 Livingston: Brendan Rodgers ‘wasn’t comfortable’ as Daizen Maeda’s hat-trick helps holders into Scottish Cup semis

Holders Celtic were given an almighty fright by Livingston before reaching their ninth Scottish Cup semi-final in 10 years, with manager Brendan Rodgers conceding he “wasn’t comfortable” until two late goals.

Celtic were looking to recover from last weekend’s league defeat by Hearts and Rodgers admitted “today, we didn’t play well, but we won and that makes me very happy”.

Indeed, the Premiership’s bottom side threatened another shock as they twice came from behind to level in search of their first-ever win at Celtic Park.

Daniel MacKay’s fine finish was sandwiched between two Maeda goals within an action-packed opening 22 minutes.

Tete Yengi superbly fired Livingston level again 10 minutes after the break, but Celtic’s Japanese forward was on hand to ease home nerves as extra-time loomed before his international colleague added the final flourish.

The talk just before kick-off was more about who was not in the respective starting line-ups rather than who was playing.

Livingston boss David Martindale admitted he was depressing himself explaining why he had made five, mainly forced, changes but saw a chink of light in the absence of Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

It looked like any optimism would be misplaced when Celtic forged ahead after only seven minutes.

Nicolas Kuhn, handed a start in place of the suspended Yang Hyun-jun, turned in from the touchline and delivered a superb ball behind the visiting defence and fellow winger Maeda provided the clinical finish.

Seven minutes gone and a long day for Livi looked in prospect, but they were soon level when MacKay was found by a long ball and the on-loan Hibernian midfielder thumped it high past goalkeeper Joe Hart.

However, hesitancy as they tried to clear their penalty box meant the visitors were only level for another 10 minutes.

Matt O’Riley pounced to fire a shot off the legs of McGovern and, although the veteran goalkeeper did well to deny the midfielder, he was unable to get enough on Maeda’s diving header on the rebound to deny the Japanese international.

Yengi had already headed just wide before the former Ipswich Town forward pounced on lost Celtic possession, turned O’Riley inside out, and fired superbly into the far corner.

Celtic looked shaken and were thankful for Hart’s legs as Michael Nottingham’s header was cleared off the line.

At the other end, McGovern was performing heroics of his own to thwart Celtic until two substitutes made the difference – James Forrest setting up Maeda for his fourth and Kyogo slotting in the killer fourth.

Player of the match – Daizen Maeda (Celtic)

Resources off bench make the difference – analysis

The pressure was back on Rodgers and his side after they fell short when given the opportunity to go back to the top of the Premiership last weekend.

Defeat by Hearts was compounded by the loss of captain McGregor and Carter-Vickers through injury and their leadership was clearly missing.

Rodgers’ side enjoyed their traditional lions’ share of possession, but they looked vulnerable at the back before their superior resources off the bench proved the difference and kept them in the hunt to lift the cup for a 42nd time.

The Northern Irishman suggested that Celtic, more than any other team in the country, are expected to not only win but also put in a show, but on this occasion he will simply be pleased to have made it 15 wins in 15 Scottish Cup ties as the club’s manager.

Martindale had bemoaned his need to field a “makeshift” midfield such were Livingston’s absences, but he has made his name from making the most of the players at his disposal – and so it was again.

They will be disappointed to exit the cup considering they came close to going ahead at 2-2, but the league remains their priority.

Martindale has found a bit of a gem in Yengi and the big striker could yet be the difference between staying up and going down as the West Lothian side look to show similar battling qualities and clinical finishing in the Premiership run-in.

What they said

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: “We got ourselves into the semi-final and you can see the players we had missing and the difference that makes. We gave them too many possibilities and the centre-halves need to be higher up the pitch.

“But you’ve still got to show that mentality and that drive and that ambition to keep wanting to get there.

“Also a big credit to Livingston because it’s been a really difficult year for David and his team, but they came here and they fought and made us work right to the very end to get to the semi-final.”

Livingston manager David Martindale: “It was a good game, but it was disappointing at the same time because I thought we had a wee opportunity.

“We get sucker-punched into the third goal. Fourth goal, I’m not really too fussed about. We just threw caution to the wind.

“It’s probably one of the few occasions we’ve come here and we’ve genuinely been in the game.”

What’s next?

Second-top Celtic host St Johnstone next Saturday in the Scottish Premiership (15:00 GMT) at the same time bottom-of-the-table Livingston visit Hibernian.