No striker, no goals and no chance of the league
Title’s surely gone as shot-shy Hoops drop points again
No strikers, no goals and now – surely it’s beyond any doubt – there will be no title for Celtic.
Failing to beat Livingston at home – their first goalless draw in nearly two years – just about put the tin lid on a desperate campaign for the set-to-be dethroned champs.
Gavin Strachan’s makeshift side, with Neil Lennon and 13 players still self- isolating, could only record ONE shot on target against the Lions.
And towards the end here, Livi were the side who looked more likely to secure three Premiership points.
Celtic are now 20 behind leaders Rangers with two games in hand before the Ibrox men take on Motherwell today.
But any faint hope Hoops fans had of catching their Old Firm rivals has now gone.
And with the second part of a double-header against Davie Martindale’s in-form Livi up next on Wednesday you wouldn’t rule out more dropped points.
But David Turnbull vowed to keep fighting as they look to get the isolating stars back.
He said: “It was a tough one to take. It wasn’t a good game but we have to dig these results out. We didn’t do that, which was sad. We’re missing bodies and it’s tough but we just need to get on with it.
“We need to keep fighting for everybody.
“Livi came and played the way they always do but we need to handle it better.
“It’s been a weird time and it’s tough not having any strikers but we have to cope with it better.”
Without any of their main attackers yesterday, Celtic were powder-puff up front.
Jeremie Frimpong’s firsthalf shot was the closest they came to scor ing – but
Livingston had their chances to win it.
Despite being depleted, Celtic could still call on first-team regulars.
Nir Bitton returned from a ban to partner Shane Duffy at the back and there was a surprise recal l for Tony Ralston at right-back.
It was his first start for the club since May 2019 and that saw Frimpong in an advanced wide role ahead of him
In midfield, it was Lennon’s first choice trio of late – Callum McGregor, Ismaila Soro and Turnbull. With the four main
strikers at the club – Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Grif f iths, Patryk Klimala and Albian Ajeti – all out, Celtic opted for Tom Rogic up top, with Turnbull off him and Mikey Johnston on the left flank.
Livingston, off the back of their terrific winning run ,went for Celtic’s jugular from the off.
They were very much the team on the front foot.
They pressed Celtic high up the pitch, hunted in packs and piled bodies into the box at every opportunity.
They refused to let Celtic settle and put their fragile backline under pressure.
Boss Martindale’s only disappointment will have been that they didn’t test Conor Hazard in goal enough. Jon
Guthrie hit a volley just over and Josh Mullin’s free-kick had the Irish keeper scrambling.
Celtic struggled to get out and their first shot took 16 minutes to materialise.
After their best passage of play so far, McGregor fired over from the edge of the box.
To be fair to the Hoops they had the golden chance of the half to take the lead through Frimpong.
It came from good fortune – a Ciaron Brown tackle saw the ball break into the path of the Dutch kid in the box.
He took a pop at goal from an acute angle but Livi keeper Max Stryjek saved well at his near post.
That was about it from Celtic who looked devoid of any conf idence – even Lennon’s regulars out there.
The Rogic experiment in attack wasn’t working.
The big Aussie is brilliant receiving balls on the half turn – not with his back to goal.
Of course, there was a chasm in attack for Celtic with the likes of Edouard not there.
But this whole team looked shot to pieces.
Remember, every player on the pitch had been in Dubai supposedly recharging to ensure they were ready to hit the ground running when they got back into action.
Their starting position after half-time was higher up the pitch, which helped.
But that also left them vulnerable to a counter attack and Scott Robinson almost fired Livi into the lead with a shot that flew inches wide.
Then, after a brilliant Mullin cross, neither he nor Scott Pittman could convert.
Robinson, despite his size, was still winning headers against Duffy and Bitton, causing no end of problems.
And when Livi got balls into the box they looked dangerous.
Efe Ambrose should have made his former club pay from a Mullin corner – but flashed his header wide.
Strachan – and Lennon at home – would have been desperate to change it up.
But with all due respect to the Parkhead kids on the bench, it was difficult to see anyone capable of havingg the desired impact.
Ewan Henderson and Armstrong Okof lex were thrown on, more in hope than expectation towards the end.
But if anything, Livi were the team pushing for a winner.nner.
Mullin almost grabbedd it late on but his deflected shot clipped the top of the crossbar.
Then Nicky Devlin fizzed one just wide of Hazard’s goal.
At the other end, Okoflex failed to connect with a cracking Ralstonn cross that was begging too be put in.
And with that, Celtic had to settle for a draw they barelyarely deserved.