A spirited Livingston performance fell just short as they went down 2-1 away to Celtic this evening.
It was the proverbial game of two halves as the visitors were no match for a relentless Celtic side in the opening 45 minutes during which the home side should comfortably have had the game wrapped up.
As it was, the hosts netting with their only shot made for an intriguing second-half which was much more even and almost resulted in David Martindale's men snatching a share of the spoils.
Almost incessant pressure finally told as an Ayo Obileye own goal was added to by Kyogo Furuhashi to put Celtic two goals up. But Livi are made of stern stuff and answered back through Nicky Devlin just before the break although they couldn't find a leveller.
Ivan Konovalov was called into action early and often as the Hoops practically set up camp inside the Livi defensive third. The Russian stopper saved comfortably from Matt O’Riley before seeing efforts from Reo Hatate and Anthony Ralston go close.
Under intense pressure, there was a sense a goal was coming but the visitors will be hugely frustrated at just how it arrived with Obileye’s poor attempted clearance of a Liel Abada cross being diverted into his own net.
There was no letting up after Celtic had broken the deadlock with Konovalov producing a tremendous save to deny Furuhashi on the half-hour mark.
Having seemingly rode their luck into a one-goal deficit at the break, the Japanese strike rifled the ball home on 45 minutes to double Celtic’s advantage - only for Livi to immediately answer back.
Skipper Devlin, making his 100th Premiership appearance for the club, bundled home his side’s only shot of the half deep into injury-time to ensure they were still very much in the contest at the break.
The turnaround was nearly completed three minutes after the restart when Cristian Montano went close with a fizzing effort that went narrowly past Joe Hart’s post.
Celtic struggled to recreate their high intensity, free-flowing play from the first-half and almost paid the price.
Hart was called into action once more as he stopped a thundering Stephen Kelly drive from distance midway through the half as Livi looked to drag themselves level.
Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, reacted by making a double change with Sead Haksabanovic and David Turnbull introduced in a bid to wrestle back control.
The Scotland international went close with the hosts’ first effort on goal after the break - some 23 minutes into the half. His strike falling a foot the wrong side of the woodwork for his liking.
The home side’s frustration in the second-half was perhaps best summed up when Abada appeared to settle the contest on 72 minutes with a smart finish, only for it to be ruled out for offside following a lengthy VAR check.
Neither side created a chance of note following that incident as the points stayed in Glasgow.
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