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Celtic frustrated by dogged Livingston but go top of Scottish Premiership for first time this season

Tom Rogic of Celtic shows his frustration after he puts the ball just wide of the goal - Getty Images Europe
Tom Rogic of Celtic shows his frustration after he puts the ball just wide of the goal - Getty Images Europe

Livingston 0 Celtic 0

Celtic went to the top of the Scottish Premiership for the first time this season by virtue of a better goal difference than Heart of Midlothian – over whom they have a game in hand – but Brendan Rodgers’ players were made to slog for their reward by a dogged Livingston side. Livi beat Rangers at the Tony Macaroni Arena last month and by depriving Celtic of two points on this occasion, Gary Holt’s side halted the Hoops’ run of five successive domestic victories, during which they had scored 23 goals.

It no doubt helped the home players’ cause that they were on their artificial turf, from which black plastic pellets sprayed in the wake of every pass and tackle, but Livingston also held their own in central midfield where Shaun Byrne and Scott Pittman were prominent. Livi showed three changes, with Bobby Burns, Keaghan Jacobs and Steven Lawless coming in, Craig Sibbald dropping to the bench and Jack McMillan and Ricki Lamie injured.

Celtic brought in Kris Ajer for Filip Benkovic but – alarmingly for Alex McLeish, whose Scotland squad frays by the hour – Craig Gordon was ruled out because of hip and knee injuries sustained in the Europa League victory against RB Leipzig and will miss the Scots’ Nations League games against Albania and Israel.

Gordon was replaced by Scott Bain who, by the interval, had been the busier goalkeeper, although most of the first half action was desultory and dull. Byrne’s booking for diving was one of the few notable moments, although his team mate, Dolly Menga, could have incurred a tougher sanction for pushing his head into Ryan Christie’s face, but the striker escaped with a caution.

Christie produced Celtic’s first menacing moment with a drive which was blocked by Liam Kelly, with Tom Rogic striking the rebound off a defender and over the crossbar. It took all of 30 minutes for this much incident to be generated and there was another lull before Livingston created a surge of pressure which saw them force three successive corner kicks, two of which were met by Liam Gallagher with headers that were tipped over by Bain.

Celtic are top of the Scottish Premiership table for the first time this season despite the goalless draw - Credit: PA
Celtic are top of the Scottish Premiership table for the first time this season despite the goalless draw Credit: PA

Celtic’s retort almost broke the deadlock when James Forrest skimmed the crossbar with a tidy angled effort. The assumption that this would be the cue for the champions to raise the tempo and produce their close passing game after the restart was not fulfilled and it was Celtic who were reduced to scrambling clear an effort from Pittman 10 minutes after the break.

Bain immediately added to the visiting support’s anxiety when he lost a corner kick in flight and had to be rescued by Ajer. This was the high-water mark for Livingston as Celtic at last found their rhythm and directed thrust after thrust towards Kelly and his defenders. Many foundered on the barrier of yellow jerseys on the edge of the box but even when a tantalising gap emerged, Kelly was on his game.

One save encapsulated his performance, when Rogic beat off two challenges to strike a shot that was lancing towards the top corner of the net until Kelly somehow got sufficient glove on the ball to touch it over for a corner kick. The closing moments, plus five minutes of stoppage time, stretched Livingston to their limits, but their line held its ground for a precious and merited draw.

“We’re very happy with the point. The performance was excellent, individually and collectively,” Holt said. “We give the players roles and responsibilities and they carried that out to a tee.

“We had chances but then you look at our keeper, who got man of the match and he's produced some wonder saves. That is his job, and he knows that but it just adds and highlights how well he’s done for us and adds to his credentials for being a top goalie.”