Frustrated Ange Postecoglou insists he was forced into his own a massive overhaul of the Celtic staring line-up by injuries.
A much-changed side were held to a goalless draw by Covid-hit St Mirren as the Australian's struggled to break down a patched up Buddies, who were without 11 players of their own.
It leaves the Parkhead outfit six points behind Rangers with just one game remaining before the rearranged winter break.
The likes of Kyogo and Joe Hart were absent from the side that lifted the Premier Sports Cup sparking suggestions that they had been rested.
But Postecoglou states all players that were missing in Paisley were suspended or injured in a blunt post-match Q&A.
When asked on BBC Sportsound if Hart was among the injured players going into the clash, he said: "Yeah, all the players out are unavailable.
"Nobody was rested tonight. I don't know where that came out. I don't rest players.
"If they want a rest, they can rest when they are 45.
"Everyone who wasn't playing tonight was unavailable, either suspended or injured, that was the case."
Postecoglou claims the only thing lacking from Celtic's display was the killer instinct in the final third.
He added: "The whole game, we created many good opportunities and got into good areas.
"We needed to be a little bit stronger in those areas to take the opportunities we had.
"We kind of knew how the game would flow, but even in that context there was many opportunities to take advantage of the dominance we had."
