Hamilton boss Brian Rice says Celtic could have been spooked had David Moyo taken a gilt-edged chance to make it 1-1, and said his side were 'exceptional' at Celtic Park.
The Accies gaffer pointed out that Neil Lennon threw on Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie, while he put on Andy Winter and Reegan Mimnaugh, as an example of the gulf in class.
But he said had Moyo taken his chance it might have rattled the champions.
Rice said: "I thought the boys were exceptional. I've come here against as strong a Celtic team as possible, and we've lost 2-0 with an early goal in the first half and an early goal in the second half but we never crumbled.
"We stuck to our plan, defended resolutely, I thought we defended fantastically well and there were a lot of good performances.
"I'm proud of the way the boys played and I looked at the end there and had a smile on my face, with them bringing on Tom Rogic and Ryan Christie, and I'm bringing on Andy Winter and Reegan Mimnaugh - I think that just shows you where both clubs are.
"So for us to come here and play like we did I'm delighted.
"We've been here tonight against Celtic, very difficult, but I think you saw the spirit and the effort from the boys.
"We had a couple of chances in the first half that we should have taken. That might have spooked them a wee bit. I'm not saying it would have, just that it might have spooked them a wee bit.
"David Moyo's was a fantastic chance, and we had spoken about that before the game. We knew we would have to defend, and for a lot of the game, but we also knew that a chance or two would come along.
"In the first half Scott McMann had a header from a corner but David Moyo's chance was a brilliant one for us.
"It wasone of those nights where we didn't take it, and what could have been could have been."
Rice added: "Celtic are the strongest there and we're Hamilton Accies coming to Celtic Park. It doesn't matter if there are 60,000 here or not, it's going to be very difficult.
"They've lost two league games this season to Rangers so it was always going to be difficult but the spirit my boys showed, their shape, defending and trying to get forward when we could, I couldn't ask any more than that tonight."
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