Martin O’Neill’s ruthless half-time record and every substitute used to rescue points for Celtic

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Another game and another half-time intervention from Martin O’Neill proved to be the difference-maker as Celtic overcame Motherwell at the weekend.

With the score locked at 1-1 and the game threatening to go either way against a very tricky opponent, O’Neill wasted no time in introducing eventual goalscorer Tomas Cvancara for Sebastian Tounekti.

The proactive move paid dividends because it was Cvancara’s penalty that put Celtic ahead, before the much-improved Hyunjun Yang put the cherry on the cake against ten-man Motherwell.

This tactical surgery has become a trademark of O’Neill’s second spell at Paradise, with the manager perhaps showcasing his ruthless side, or the number of issues with this team.

• READ MORE: Hyunjun Yang reveals the ‘extraordinary’ conversation with Martin O’Neill that transformed his Celtic form

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How many half-time changes has Martin O’Neill made at Celtic, and has it had an impact?

Across his two tenures, O’Neill has repeatedly demonstrated that he is not a man to wait for a game to pass him by.

Whether it was the massive triple substitution that sparked the incredible 3-2 comeback against Kilmarnock or the tactical tweaks that helped steady the ship during high-stakes encounters with Rangers and Bologna.

Either way, the Irishman’s half-time record is becoming a fascinating sub-plot of the season.

From the Scottish Cup win over Dundee to European nights against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, which still ended in defeat, his willingness to gamble early has often been the catalyst for second-half success.

It is clear that for this Celtic side, the half-time whistle is not just a break, but an opportunity for the manager to redefine the contest.

And 67 Hail Hail has taken a look at every change O’Neill has made at half-time, and what type of impact it has had.

• Vs FC Midtjylland, Europa League
• Two changes: Osmand and Maeda for Forrest and Kenny
• Half-time score: 3-0 to Midtjylland
• Full-time score: 3-1
• Did the substitutes score or assist: Yes

• Vs St Mirren, Premiership
• One change: McCowan for Kenny
• Half-time score: 0-0
• Full-time score: 1-0
• Did the substitutes score or assist: No

• Vs Hibernian, Premiership
• One change: Ralston for Donovan
• Half-time score: 2-0 to Celtic
• Full-time score: 2-1
• Did the substitutes score or assist: No

• Vs Bologna, Europa League
• One change: Nygren for Tounekti
• Half-time score: 2-0 to Celtic
• Full-time score: 2-2
• Did the substitutes score or assist: No

• Vs Kilmarnock, Premiership.
• Three changes: Cvancara, Tounekti, and Oxlade-Chamberlain for Adamu, Yang and Hatate
• Half-time score: 2-0 to Kilmarnock
• Full-time score: 3-2 to Celtic
• Did the substitutes score or assist: Yes

• Vs Dundee, Scottish Cup
• Two changes: Nygren and Forrest for Bernardo and Mvuka
• Half-time score: 0-0 at HT
• Full-time score: 1-1
• AET: 2-1 to Celtic
• Did the substitutes score or assist: No

• Vs Rangers, Premiership.
• Two changes: Tounekti and Hatate for Adamu and Oxlade-Chamberlain
• Half-time: 2-0 to Rangers
• Full-time: 2-2
• Did the substitutes score or assist: Yes

• Vs Motherwell.
• One change: Cvancara for Tounekti
• Half-time score: 1-1
• Full-time score: 3-1
• Did the substitutes score or assist: Yes