Subs Callum Osmand and Camilo Duran were the heroes as the Hoops came from behind to beat Besiktas 3-2 and get off the mark in the tournament at the fourth time of asking.

The Hoops struggled to get into the Besiktas penalty box before Duran, Osmand and Colby Donovan came on just after the hour mark.

James Forrest had forced the only save for the visiting goalkeeper before then and Celtic trailed 1-0 after Jordan Lotomba conceded a penalty on his first start.

But Osmand fired home with his first touch and set up Duran for the first of the Colombian’s two goals as Celtic emerged victorious in a thrilling finale.

Kasper Hogh and Sebastian Tounekti had offered little threat or safe possession of the ball and the difference in performance after the triple change was striking.

“It was designed to do exactly what it did,” O’Neill said of his selection choices.

“We have been playing Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Wednesday, whatever day it happens to be. We have played, I don’t know, nine games in 23 or 24 days.

“Some players needed a little breather and you can get re-energised from coming on the field.

“So I’m going to say that this was exactly our plan and those players who came on were going to come on at some stage or another in the game.”

The crowd played their part in a memorable final half-an-hour as Celtic secured a fourth win in 11 matches.

Fans had reacted angrily after a 2-0 defeat at Falkirk on Sunday, but the players got them back on their side with their reaction to going behind and when Duran netted seconds after Besiktas equalised in the 86th minute.

“They were a credit to the football club and you can’t get a bigger accolade than that,” O’Neill said. “They were really, really terrific.

“We could have caved in. We were doing fine then the penalty goes in, but we came roaring back. Substitutes made a big, big difference, got a lot of pace up front, but I was just delighted with the whole team.

“It might just give us a platform to charge on. It’s not going to be easy, but at least we can park the European events for a few weeks’ time, but this definitely gives us a chance.”