THE OX FACTOR

English superstar leaves it late to bag stunning winner and keep Celts in title hunt

- MICHAEL GANNON AT CELTIC PARK

CELTIC were in grave danger of being wounded by the Lions - only for the Ox to show his teeth.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got a huge roar when he came off the bench with the Hoops desperately searching for a winner.

And the former Arsenal and Liverpool star delivered big time just 14 minutes later with a sensational curling strike in stoppage time to keep Celts in the title race.

Martin O'Neill's men were in major trouble as the clock hit 90. The Hoops led after Marcelo Saracchi’s opener but should have been out of sight by halftime.

Never mind the Ox, Celtic couldn't hit a cow on the backside with a banjo. And the lack of a killer second gave Livi hope before they were gifted the chance to get level when Reo Hatate needlessly booted Robbie Muirhead in the box.

The Lions hitman converted and sent panic around Parkhead.

Celtic struck in stoppage time to salvage the Scottish Cup at the weekend but this time didn’t look like repeating the feat.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had other ideas though as he picked up the ball outside the box, dashed inside and then sent a low swerving drive past Jerome Prior. It was cruel on Livi after busting a gut to claim a valuable point in the battle to beat the drop.

But it was an immediate impact from Celtic's big-name signing - and the new Hoops hero might just have kept his new team in the hunt for the title.

OX DIFFERENT GRAVY