It feels inappropriate to just choose one Celtic performer for praise this afternoon, but the return to form of Jota feels absolutely pivotal in the title-race.
Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic also decided to return to their best this afternoon in big individual performances. James Forrest and Daizen Maeda also turned up and got their respective names on the scoresheet.
However, it was the performance of Jota that will have left every Celtic supporter salivating. Because if ever we needed a Celtic winger to turn in a performance, it’s at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
And it’s safe to say Jota delivered. He was Celtic’s main outlet down the left flank in a starting lineup that initially had the supporters worried. With big concerns over our wide men’s displays recently, we were all hoping that Giorgos Giakoumakis was going to prove the difference-maker before the teams were announced.
Yet he was left on the bench as Jota took centre-stage and proved to be Livingston’s main menace. Despite being on a plastic pitch, the Portuguese loan star dazzled with his footwork. Nicky Devlin couldn’t handle him as Jota’s unpredictability was on full show. It was impossible to know whether he was going to go and put in a terrific ball with his left or cut inside and produce wonders with his right.
He often ended up doing both in the first half and he set the tone. It became clear from Jota’s work alone that this wasn’t going to be just another hard grind at Livi. Chances were going to arrive because the youngster was on his game.
Jota chooses perfect time to return to top Celtic form
It was his corner in the 17th minute that cause absolute mayhem in the Livingston box. Carl Starfelt won the initial header, with Maeda glancing home the rebound after Max Stryjek’s save.
Jota also provided a real cutting edge in the second 45 when his pinpoint through ball found Forrest running in on goal. James did the rest with a superb left-footed finish that had Celtic on easy street.
You could sense Livingston were seriously concerned whenever Jota was on the ball. There was a panic as they constantly got deeper and deeper. Had he not been playing at the level he was, this had the potential to be a lot more difficult.
And what’s even more pleasing is that this performance has come after a recent dip in form. The Benfica loan star hasn’t been up to his usual standards since returning from injury back in January. With only 2 goals and 1 assist in his 10 games since the new year, Jota will have known that a pick-up in performance levels was a requirement [Transfermarkt].
The big challenge for Jota now is to continue operating at that level. Turning up and helping Celtic to pass a major title challenge today is a big step for him. But with the intensity of this title run-in combined with our Scottish Cup campaign, this needs to be the moment in which his form returns back to its normal high standards.
Celtic got exactly what they deserved today with promising signs all over the pitch, but make no mistake, the majority of it came from Jota’s display.
In other news, Ange’s big call pays off, Jota response; 3 things learned as Celtic beat Livingston
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
