MARTIN O’NEILL celebrated his 300th game in charge of Celtic by witnessing yet another extraordinary comeback in the 3-2 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this afternoon.
The 73-year-old gaffer winced as the champions trailed 2-0 at the interval against Neil McCann’s rejuvenated side.
However, Sebastian Tounekti kicked off the startling revival with a wonder goal and Benjamin Nygren levelled with a typical opportunist’s effort.
As the game drifted into the sixth minute of stoppage-time, Mexico international right-back Julian Araujo struck with a ferocious drive high into the net for the winner.
And O’Neill was smiling again later on when leaders Hearts twice surrendered leads to lose 4-2 to Danny Ruhl’s side at Ibrox.
The Edinburgh side opened the scoring with a long-range effort from Mark Leonard, but that was nullified when a panicking Michael Steinwender sliced the equaliser into his own goal.
Claudio Braga put the visitors back in front with a neat header, but Youssef Chermiti claimed the first of a hat-trick before the interval.
The Tynecastle side are now on 57 points, three ahead of the champions who have a game in hand. The goal difference is now just plus four for Derek McInnes’ outfit.
The Ibrox club are on 55 points and one ahead of the Hoops who also have an extra game to play on their Glasgow rivals.
Celtic’s next league encounter is against Hibs at Parkhead a week today.
Before that, of course, there is the home Europa League clash with Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart on Thursday evening.