Celtic ended a miserable run of three straight defeats with a convincing 2-0 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park, but their preparations were thrown into chaos when one of their team buses broke down outside the hotel, forcing players, staff and officials to pile onto a single coach.
Camilo Duran and Benjamin Nygren scored the goals as the reigning champions bounced back in style to reclaim top spot in the Premiership.
Bus breakdown disrupts travel plans
Manager Martin O'Neill revealed the club had used two buses since the COVID era, but one failed to work on this occasion.
O'Neill said: "News flies in quickly, doesn't it? Yeah, we have two buses generally."
"I think that's been a thing since COVID time. The two buses were at the hotel, but one of them didn't work. And so we all piled on to the one bus as it should be really because players and management teams should really be going together."
"But we've had this idea about buses. I think Stevie Woods was telling me, way back we travelled to Ross County or something, there were six buses. Plenty of space in them anyway."
Dominant display at Fir Park
The Hoops dominated from start to finish, pinning Motherwell back and racking up 25 shots on goal in a one-sided contest.
After Duran's early opener, the visitors should have been out of sight before Nygren netted a killer second.
O'Neill said: "We played really well today, we created a lot of chances and from start to finish I thought we were excellent. We had a lot of chances and we could have done."
"The first goal's really important, a great goal by Camilo. And then it settled us down which was good, although I thought up until then we had a lot of possession. So in terms of chances, yeah we could."
"A lot of things have flashed across the box, a number of chances both halves, but delighted to win."
O'Neill reflects on pressure and key performers
Asked if he felt relief at full-time after a horror run, O'Neill said: "I genuinely didn't feel it like that. Maybe I should have done."
"The pressure to win football matches is always on. And maybe in that aspect, yeah, I felt pressure."
"If we'd been beaten today, of course, that's like four in the trot, so, that doesn't help any manager. But we didn't. We won and so we look forward to Thursday and following Sunday."
"I think that we have to take the criticism at the time. Yes, we lost three matches in a week."
"Two to our big rivals, the European games, so yeah. But we fought back today and let's see what Thursday brings."
While new Colombia cap Duran ended his five-game goal drought, Kasper Hogh's barren spell stretched to eight matches - although the £11million striker did at least provide an assist.
O'Neill has no concerns about his big-money frontman and said: "Well, he slipped up at a time when it looked as if he was going to score and I think it's one of those, I think he just needs a goal."
"The rest of his game I thought was really fine, he just needs a goal, that's what strikers thrive on. I think if you're creating I think sometimes it will go in. Hopefully something will fall to him."
Jota returns and Carter-Vickers doubt
Returning hero Jota was given a rapturous welcome back by the away end after a hellish 18 months injured. The Portuguese winger won't face former club Benfica on Thursday after being left out of the Europa League squad.
O'Neill was thrilled to see the £8m star back in action after a late 20 minute cameo, saying: "I think he'll be great for us, really great. Personally speaking I didn't think that he would be back as quickly as this. I was probably thinking more like end of November time or something like that."
"But no, he's been training with us for a number of weeks, played a half in the bounce game that we had last Friday and has come on there."
"So I've just spoken to him just before coming up the steps and he's feeling really good, really good. So I think he will be, if he stays clear of big injuries again, I think he'll be a big asset to us."
Meanwhile O'Neill confirmed crocked Carter-Vickers will likely miss the midweek trip to Lisbon as the stopper recovers from a strain. He added: "He might not be fit for Thursday. I think he's got a strain and he's missing this one."
"Physios and the medical team have told me that Thursday might be too early."
